What APs Should I Take?

Throughout the school year, we get quite a few questions, largely regarding what AP Classes students should take in high school. Today I'm gonna dive into my recommendations, based on a multitude of factors. But first off- pick your APs based off your interests above all. 



AP Classes by Grade Level

Different AP courses are offered at different schools for different grade levels- check with your school administrations for my more information. Here are the best, most suitable options for every AP courses by grade. 

  • Freshman Year: AP Human Geography, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Environmental Science
  • Sophomore Year: AP Art History, AP English Language and Composition, AP Psychology, AP World History: Modern, AP Physics 1, 
  • Junior Year: AP Seminar, AP Art-Related Courses, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Comparative Government and Politics, AP European History, AP United States History, AP United States Government and Politics, AP Statistics, AP Computer Science A, AP Biology, AP Physics 2, 
  • Senior Year: AP Research, AP Music Theory, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Calculus AB or BC, AP Chemistry, Both AP Physics C, the AP Languages

AP Courses by College Major/Career Interests

Some AP classes bode well with specific college majors, and others not so much. Here are some majors that you may wish to consider taking AP classes related to. 

  • Business Management: AP Statistics, AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Computer Science A, AP Language
  • Engineering: AP Calculus BC, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP Environmental Science, AP Computer Science Principles
  • Education: AP Statistics, AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP Human Geography, AP World History: Modern
  • Medicine: AP Chemistry, AP Statistics, AP Psychology, AP Biology
  • Cooking/Culinary: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Human Geography, AP Statistics
  • Politics and Activism: AP United States History, AP United States Government and Politics, AP Comparative Government and Politics, AP Human Geography, AP English Language and Composition, AP World History- Modern
  • Art: AP Art History, AP Psychology, AP European History, AP Studio Art, AP Computer Science Principles
  • Finances/Economics: AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics, AP Statistics, AP Computer Science Principles, AP United States Government and Politics
  • Law: AP United States Government and Politics, AP Comparative Government and Politics, AP Statistics, AP Computer Science Principles, AP United States History
AP Course Prerequisites 

Many AP courses will require or heavily suggest existing knowledge to be able to excel. 
  • AP Studio Art: 2+ years of art course experience
  • AP Music Theory: Extensive background knowledge of music
  • AP European History: Background in World History, especially AP World History-Modern
  • AP Macroeconomics: Algebra 1
  • AP Microeconomics: Algebra 1
  • AP United States History: Previous AP History course
  • AP World History-Modern: Experience with geography, especially AP Human Geography
  • AP Calculus AB/BC: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus 
  • AP Statistics: Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry 
  • AP Computer Science Principles: Algebra 1
  • AP Computer Science A: Previous coding experience
  • AP Biology: Honors Biology experience
  • AP Chemistry: Honors Chemistry experience; Algebra 1
  • AP Physics 1: Physics experience, Algebra 1
  • AP Physics 2: AP Physics 1, Algebra 1
  • AP Physics C: AP Physics 1 and 2, Calculus and Pre-Calculus experience
  • AP Languages: 3+ years of language learning experience

AP Courses by Difficulty

As with an education program, Advanced Placement courses range in difficulty content-wise. Some are easier, and some are harder. With Pre-College Central, we rank them on a 1-5 scale, with 5 being hardest and 1 being easiest. 
  • 1: AP Comparative Government and Politics, AP Psychology, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Environmental Science
  • 2: AP Studio Art, AP Art History, AP Human Geography and AP United States Government and Politics
  • 3: AP Seminar, AP English Language and Composition, AP Macroeconomics, AP World History: Modern, AP Computer Science A, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Physics 1, and AP Physics 2
  • 4: AP Research, AP English Literature and Composition, AP European History, AP Microeconomics, AP United States History, AP Calculus AB, and AP Chemistry
  • 5: AP Music Theory, AP Calculus BC,AP Physics C and AP language courses

Best AP Courses to Self-Study

Wish to take an AP class that you just can't get a teacher for? Certain AP courses work better for this than others. We'll dive into this in the future, however, here are the best known AP courses you can self study: 
  • AP Environmental Science
  • AP Human Geography
  • AP Psychology
  • AP United States Government and Politics
  • AP Comparative Government and Politics
  • AP Microeconomics
  • AP Macroeconomics
We highly advise against self-studying the AP Mathematics, or most of the AP Science courses, except AP Environmental Science. 

AP Courses You Can Take Online

Some platforms let you take AP courses online- oftentimes as an aid to self-studying, with some teacher assistance. Most schools will not include these on official transcripts, and it is not worth paying a "certificate fee" if offered. Links are not endorsements, they are simply information holders. 
We hope this post helped you decide on some AP courses! Join us on Discord if you have any questions or need help with choosing. 

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