What classes should I take next year? Are the hard classes worth it?
Students, when signing up for classes for the next school year, question what they should take for classes. There are harder classes than others, like most Advanced Placement Program (AP) classes are more challenging and time-consuming than normal high school classes.
“My most challenging class was AP Physics 1,” said Ada Nobel, a junior who also said that she thinks it is worth it to take the challenging classes because it boosts her GPA, and the AP classes could be eligible for college credit. Morgan Langstraat, another junior, said, “The most challenging part of AP Psychology was the amount of work given and the length of the assignments.” But she stated that her most challenging class wasn’t even AP Psych, it was Algebra II.
Stevens High School offers many AP classes, including math, science, English, and other subjects. The AP classes that Stevens offered for the 24-25 school year is; AP Calculus, AP English Literature (12), AP English Literature (11), AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP Pre-Calculus, AP Psychology, AP Statistics, AP US Government, and AP US History. You can find more information about these courses on the Rapid City Area Schools website.
To take an AP class, it is free of charge, but if you want to take the test at the end of the year and possibly gain college credit, then it costs money. In RCAS, the standard cost to take an AP exam was $102, and if submitted late, it increased to $142. The class in general can be worth it, for example, Morgan said, “Even though I did not take the exam, I learned a lot and have a better understanding of not just psychology but also other subjects.” The test, however, can come with more benefits, like qualifying as a college credit, and could boost your GPA.
“I would recommend AP Physics 1 to other students because the teacher is very fun and he doesn’t make the class boring,” Ada stated. Morgan agreed with her and said, “Yes, I would also recommend my AP class, Psychology, to other students because it helped me in many other classes.”
According to the Rapid City Area Schools website, most AP students who enroll in four-year colleges start school with some credit. This can be very helpful by having the possibility of a faster path to graduation, more flexibility in choosing a course, and potentially increasing admission chances at competitive programs. With a faster path to graduation, this can potentially save money on tuition and living expenses. Increased flexibility means that students can have some more freedom to explore different academic paths, take multiple electives, pursue minors, and even potentially double major. With the competitiveness of getting into high programs, colleges often view students with pre-earned credits favorably, as it demonstrates a strong work ethic and academic ability.
While AP classes at Stevens High School can be more challenging and time-consuming than regular courses, many students find them rewarding both academically and personally. The AP classes show college-worthy work and push students to grow and build valuable skills for college. Choosing the right classes is different for every student, but don’t rule out the ones that will challenge you.
“My most challenging class was AP Physics 1,” said Ada Nobel, a junior who also said that she thinks it is worth it to take the challenging classes because it boosts her GPA, and the AP classes could be eligible for college credit. Morgan Langstraat, another junior, said, “The most challenging part of AP Psychology was the amount of work given and the length of the assignments.” But she stated that her most challenging class wasn’t even AP Psych, it was Algebra II.
Stevens High School offers many AP classes, including math, science, English, and other subjects. The AP classes that Stevens offered for the 24-25 school year is; AP Calculus, AP English Literature (12), AP English Literature (11), AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP Pre-Calculus, AP Psychology, AP Statistics, AP US Government, and AP US History. You can find more information about these courses on the Rapid City Area Schools website.
To take an AP class, it is free of charge, but if you want to take the test at the end of the year and possibly gain college credit, then it costs money. In RCAS, the standard cost to take an AP exam was $102, and if submitted late, it increased to $142. The class in general can be worth it, for example, Morgan said, “Even though I did not take the exam, I learned a lot and have a better understanding of not just psychology but also other subjects.” The test, however, can come with more benefits, like qualifying as a college credit, and could boost your GPA.
“I would recommend AP Physics 1 to other students because the teacher is very fun and he doesn’t make the class boring,” Ada stated. Morgan agreed with her and said, “Yes, I would also recommend my AP class, Psychology, to other students because it helped me in many other classes.”
According to the Rapid City Area Schools website, most AP students who enroll in four-year colleges start school with some credit. This can be very helpful by having the possibility of a faster path to graduation, more flexibility in choosing a course, and potentially increasing admission chances at competitive programs. With a faster path to graduation, this can potentially save money on tuition and living expenses. Increased flexibility means that students can have some more freedom to explore different academic paths, take multiple electives, pursue minors, and even potentially double major. With the competitiveness of getting into high programs, colleges often view students with pre-earned credits favorably, as it demonstrates a strong work ethic and academic ability.
While AP classes at Stevens High School can be more challenging and time-consuming than regular courses, many students find them rewarding both academically and personally. The AP classes show college-worthy work and push students to grow and build valuable skills for college. Choosing the right classes is different for every student, but don’t rule out the ones that will challenge you.
