Student Takes: AP Classes
- Eric Wang
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
**The media below contains the opinion of an individual student and therefore does not represent or speak to the values of Vestavia Hills High School and Vestavia Hills City Schools**
Photo courtesy of ontocollege.com
There is no shortage of myths, misconceptions, and frightening stories regarding each AP class. Some people say Mr. [Redacted] sprays disobedient children with a water gun, and others might mention Mrs. [Redacted]’s verb packets. So, in the spirit of the upcoming exam season, I’ve taken some time to ask our student population what they think of several commonly taken AP classes. Of course, names are anonymous to protect student PowerSchool grades and against teacher retaliation.
AP Chemistry:
An anonymous junior describes AP Chem as “the hardest class our school offers.” Others mention that “unlike math, in which you can kind of think of in one dimension, chem is… a two-step process for everything…” However, another junior disagrees and claims it’s incredibly easy: “I forgot to do an entire Free Response question on the mock and still got a 5.” Another student agrees: “As long as you pay attention and do the problem sets, you can get an A on every FRQ. It’s just overhyped.”
AP Physics 1:
“I learned how to sleep,” jokes a senior. A junior remarks that the “class can be slow, but if you like that kinda stuff, it’s pretty chill.” Personally, I can attest that the extent to which one enjoys AP Physics is largely dependent on whether or not one finds the content interesting. Otherwise, you might as well call the class “nap time.” Also, try to avoid sneaking onto your phone! Mr. Bittinger has an interesting history with texting in class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5OlJho4QII&ab_channel=VHHSNewsNetwork
AP Calculus AB:
“We haven’t even done FRQs,” says one junior currently taking the course. A former student adds, “It’s a hard test, but the bar for a 5 is so low.” Another student describes the AP exam as “so easy” and the free-response questions as “kinda light.”
So, which AP should I take? That depends on who you ask, and don’t forget to ask yourself. Ask yourself if you get along with the teacher, the amount of much summer work there is, and how much homework you’ll have to do. But for whichever AP course you decide to take (if any), make sure you choose the class(es) you’re comfortable with.