So I’m deciding whether if I want to stay in some of my preAP class in high school or go all prep. I’m in my junior year. I know for sure if I stay in preAP, I’ll make around 70-85 in class. But if I go all prep I’ll make 90+. I’ve taken one AP class and 2 preAP classes in my sophomore year. In my senior year I’m going to take three AP classes (AP environmental science, AP calculus, and AP painting) and some preAP. I know colleges like to see you challenge yourself but they also care about GPA. So is it better if I go all prep and make all A’s or stay in preAP and make a B’s and C’s. I know for I can’t make A’s in preAP.
Why doom yourself to a “70-85” before a class even starts? Do you realize when you get to college, you’ll be taking college level classes? Have you already determined that you will make low grades on those as well, because of the level?
You can decide to make higher grades and get all As in the higher level subjects, and then do the work to get those grades. Get tutoring in person or online or whatever you need to do. “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.” Henry Ford.
Start thinking more positively so you can improve the outcome of your life and endeavors.
Honestly, colleges want to see you take and succeed in advanced courses. You should strive to take those hard classes and get A’s in them. You should buckle down and put in the effort. You can do it if you put in the work.
Well school already start for 2 weeks, my physic teacher honestly haven’t taught us anything while the prep classes already have tons of notes. All we did was math from pre-cal finding angles and conversion. We learn that last year. I really want to stay but when the test came out, the stuff in there, he didn’t even teach most of it. No notes were given to us at all during the 2 weeks. Just talk and he goes off topic A LOT with the students who talks a lot. I honestly want to stay but he doesn’t teach. I talk to my dean if I can swtich teacher and she said no. It’s adding more stress to me.
Oh and I was also thinking about going to AP physic but everyone say it’s hell. How hard is it exactly? Because I don’t want to go to AP Physic and fail.
I would take advanced classes. You can’t say “I’ll get 75-85” you can always change how you study and do better.
The teacher wants you to draw conclusions yourself. This is what college will be like. It’s not “memorize and regurgitate”. You have to synthesize the information, take notes highlighting what’s important (sometimes the teacher will say what’s important but often won’t, and you’ll need to figure it out by increasing your critical thinking skills), seeing if you can see patterns from exercises, etc.
The reality is that for colleges, a B in a PreAp class is better than an A in a regular class. So if you think you can get a B in your PreAp stick to it and do the work you’ll need to do for college success.
I know its a bit late, But if you want a “secret” to do well in AP / Pre AP classes try this: talk to your teacher. If you go to your teachers tutoring regularly (say twice a month, regardless of how your doing iin the class,) just ask her to review thing with you. If they see you in their class room, making an effort, and trying to improve it will make it a lot harder for them to give you a C. Plus its a good habit to start before college.