Nervous about AP courses? These students have some advice

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are undeniably rigorous, as they expose high school students to college-level curriculum, testing, and the study habits needed for success.

Many prospective and first-time AP students doubt their ability to take on this challenge. This especially goes for underserved students who often haven’t received the same encouragement to enroll in advanced courses as their peers.

However, AP courses don’t need to be intimidating, or exclusive to top-performing students. With the right support and encouragement from dedicated teachers, any student can excel in AP courses.

We asked current and former AP students to share the advice they’d give to students who may be nervous about taking the leap. Here is what they said.

Know your worth above all else. Oftentimes I struggle to know my worth and to feel like I belong – especially when I’m in a class where I’m the minority, and it’s always been like that my whole life. Like last year in my AP seminar class, I was the only black person, and that was when I realized how conditioned I was to it – I didn’t realize it until I was about two months into the class, and I looked around and I was like, it’s just me.

So I would say, know your worth, don’t let anyone deter you or say that you’re not amazing, you’re not great, you’re not bright – because you are. Nobody else can say that or make you feel that way; you have to know that inside, and if you believe it then you’ll be alright. 

Valentina Castillo

AP stands for Advanced Placement courses, so the name itself is very intimidating. But honestly, it’s like any other course, with just a little more work involved. If you are determined and really have a passion for the class, it will not be as hard as a university course.

So if you’re thinking of taking an AP course, just go for it, with no fear.

I read this quote one day when I first started high school, and it was like, the start of the journey is the first step. And, I mean, I didn’t even know if I was fully ready for these rigorous courses, and I was scared about everything that I heard about them. I got into my head. I was like, ‘I can’t do this.’ You’re your own worst enemy in these situations; you have to be able to put that aside and be like, ‘hey, I’m going to take this first step. I have help. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out, but I have to be willing to try.’ You just have to be willing to take that first step; it has led me to so many places.

So I suggest you take that AP class or that dual credit class that you want to take. It will help you tremendously in the long run, not only for college standards, but in life as well – the life skills that you learn in these classes are amazing. So do it, take the first step. You got this.

Honestly, don’t count yourself out before you even try. It’s totally normal to feel nervous, but that’s usually where the most growth happens – outside your comfort zone. You don’t need to be perfect, just willing to put in the effort. There’s help along the way, and even if it gets tough, you’ll learn a lot about what you’re capable of. These classes aren’t just about school – they help you build confidence and figure out how to push through challenges. 

Learn how EOS helps schools increase student enrollment and success in AP courses here.