Advanced Placement: Opportunity or Overload?

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For decades, Advanced Placement (AP) courses have been a symbol of academic ambition, but for many students, they also mean stress, long hours spent studying, and intense pressure. As enrollment rises, so does a key question. Do AP classes truly offer an advantage, or are they overwhelming students who are trying to keep up? 

For many students, the decision to enroll in AP courses is driven by ambition and long-term goals for the future. Lydia Choi (11) chose to enroll in AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Physics, AP Microeconomics, and AP Macroeconomics, only some of which are offered at Hamber. Choi explained that she “decided to take them because I want to go into sciences, and so I tried to take all the sciences I could this year.” 

Similarly, Finley Kamimura (11) shared that his main motivation behind taking AP classes is university admission. He chose rigorous courses like AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C, and AP Chemistry to “impress… universities [I] want to go to.”

Zoe Gao (12) echoed this goal but also emphasized exploration, stating that she is taking AP courses because she wants to pursue studying math or physics-related majors in university, and wants “to get a sense of what college-level courses look like.”

Like Choi, students often choose AP classes to explore interests, especially in fields like science, while also strengthening their academic profile. Others are motivated by the opportunity to earn college credit or to challenge themselves alongside like-minded peers. Gao highlighted this benefit, noting that “getting a 4 or 5 in the exams can get college credit,” allowing students to potentially skip certain university courses.

The difficulty of AP courses varies widely depending on the subject and the student. Choi noted, “I think it depends on the class honestly […] some AP courses are easier than regular [courses] in my opinion, but some are definitely way harder.” 

Kamimura shared a similar perspective, saying that although AP courses are usually harder, they can feel about the same level of difficulty depending on a student’s strengths. Gao reinforced this by explaining that “AP courses are definitely more challenging” because “the teachers teach at a faster pace, and the material often goes into more depth.” One standout challenge for Choi is math. “AP Calc [...] that’s like the hardest AP I’ve ever taken,” she said.

Beyond the nature of the content, the sheer workload associated with AP classes is another major factor in assessing their difficulty. “It definitely takes more time than just regular classes,” Choi said, adding that she relied on strategies like watching College Board videos and practicing free-response questions to keep up. 

Kamimura emphasized the importance of consistency, noting that success in AP courses comes from “working consistently” rather than cramming before exams. Gao similarly relies on structured habits, explaining that she would “listen carefully in class, then review my teacher’s notes after class and finish the homework,” using additional resources when needed. 

Despite the stress, many students find value in AP courses. Choi shared that she appreciated how she can “challenge herself and meet peers that also motivate me to study.” Kamimura agreed, noting that one of his favorite aspects is bonding with classmates over challenging work. However, the drawbacks are just as clear. Gao adds that there are “a lot of tests,” which can become overwhelming when taking multiple AP classes at once.

Still, there are unexpected benefits. Choi points out that taking AP classes has improved her time management skills. “There’s too much coursework, and I actually have to keep track of all of it and not procrastinate.” Kamimura similarly explained that AP courses helped him build strong work habits and daily study routines.

Their advice to first-time AP takers is to choose wisely and build good habits. Choi recommends taking AP classes that align with your interests, while Gao suggests “not to take too many AP courses [when doing them] for the first time,” and to start with one or two.

Choi believes that AP courses can make a difference for university applications. “It obviously looks better on college applications […] colleges [think] the student can handle college-level work,” she shared. Kamimura agrees, stating that AP courses show initiative and prove that students can manage rigorous workloads. Gao added that they show “a student is willing to challenge themselves academically,” and can demonstrate their interests.