In high schools across the country, students said they feel the pressure to excel in AP and honors classes is more intense than ever. As students juggle demanding coursework, extracurricular activities, and college aspirations, these advanced courses shape their academic journeys in ways that reach beyond the classroom walls.

For freshman Aspen Dixon, enrolling in AP classes was about pushing her academic boundaries.

“I chose to take an AP class because I wanted to challenge myself,” she said.

Students often have a passion for one subject while finding others filled with vocab and memorization to be less so.

“My favorite honors class is honors geometry because I like math, and it comes easily to me. My least favorite AP class is AP human geography because I don’t like the material, I find it very boring,” Dixon said.

Despite the rigorous workload and extensive studying, Dixon values the improved study habits and note-taking strategies she’s developed. These skills, she said she believes will be invaluable in her future academic pursuits.

“I have noticed improvements in my study habits since taking an AP class. I now take more notes and spend more time studying,” Dixon said.

For freshman Yazmin Tate, the decision to take AP classes was driven by a desire to enhance her academic transcript.

“I chose to take an AP class because I’m reaching for a gold medallion, and it looks good on your credits,” she said.

While she favors the creative aspect of one subject, she’s less intrigued in the class with more workload.

“My favorite honors class is ELA because I’ve always been pretty good at ELA, and we do some creative stuff. My least favorite is AP human geography just because I’m a procrastinator and I sometimes get missing work which isn’t good, if you’re always procrastinating,” she said.

Despite the challenges, Tate said she believes AP courses have significantly improved her study habits, making her more organized and proactive.

“Yeah, they definitely improved quite a bit because I am more on top of things,” Tate said.

For 2023 graduate Fatima Abu, the allure of AP classes lay in the opportunity to better her transcript, a goal that motivated her to overcome the challenges.

“I decided to take an AP class because I wanted the college credit,” she said.

She enjoyed taking an AP that helped her in college.

“My least favorite AP class was AP U.S. history because it was very difficult and was a concept I struggled to grasp,” she said. “My favorite AP class was AP lang because that class is something I still currently use in college, and I believe the concepts we learned were important to help in our futures.”

Despite the heavy workload and frequent exams, Abu said these courses provide a realistic preview of college-level expectations.

“They paint the picture of how a college class is and prepare you for future college classes,” she said.

Their advice to future freshmen?

Be prepared for the shift in workload, try and remain organized, and keep a schedule so you fall behind.