Students should choose AP classes that excite them

High school sophomores and juniors witness the fall college admissions frenzy from the wings. They watch as their senior friends try to stay afloat in the rising tide of test-taking, essays, applications, interviews and the rigors of challenging classes. Sophomores and juniors know that in a year or two, they, too, will experience the stress of senior year.

However, underclassmen have their own pressures, and for many, they are academic. A common question heard from sophomores and juniors — and their parents — is whether to slog through a difficult class or drop it.

Usually, parents call me. They know that colleges evaluate applicants on many factors, and one factor is the extent that applicants have challenged themselves. The question often sounds like this: "My daughter is really struggling in an AP class. Is it better for her to get a C in the class, or to drop it?" I've heard college admissions officers address this question at information sessions throughout the country. Their stock answer is that it's best to take the challenging courses AND get high grades. Unfortunately, that sort of flip reply causes students to make decisions based on what colleges want, instead of what's best for them and their unique circumstances.

When evaluating applicants, colleges will look at the courses taken in the context of those available to them at their high school. No one is suggesting that a student should take all available courses; in most cases that would be logistically impossible. However, students who take several AP or honors courses (if available) will be demonstrating that they like to be challenged and, with strong grades, that they are ready for college-level work.

Colleges are interested in both the academic challenges that students take on and the grades in that coursework. Obviously, a tough course load combined with high grades looks impressive. However, I really doubt that colleges want students to struggle in courses that are excessively difficult or stress-inducing. For that reason, I think students should carefully choose the classes they take, and challenge themselves in subject areas that genuinely excite them and where they believe they can excel.

However, I've also seen students surprised to discover a new interest in a subject after taking an AP or honors-level course that they didn't anticipate enjoying. Sometimes a passionate teacher or a classroom full of eager students who love to analyze and criticize can light a fire under a student.