Advanced Placement Classes: The Controversies and Benefits As the bell rang to end second period, I immediately began to dread my third period AP English class. There was always a chill in the classroom that made me even more miserable to be in the class. I never saw myself in this class, but I was enrolled in the course after being persuaded by my teachers and guidance counselor. As the year progressed, I began to see the benefits of my placement in this advanced course. I learned many new skills that helped me to transition to college and perform better in my college classes. As colleges are becoming more competitive and expensive in America with each passing year, the question arises; What can students in high school do to give themselves a competitive edge and make themselves more qualified for college admission? The answer can vary depending on the one answering the question. Some may say extracurricular activities, more community service hours, better SAT and other standardized tests scores, or more challenging and rigorous courses. Students are always looking to gain an edge for their college applications; this is where advanced placement, or AP classes, become popular in high schools. Students are given a choice of …show more content…
I remember one of the organization representatives telling me and my fellow classmates that taking only one AP class would cause college admissions to take a second or third look at our applications and how attractive AP classes were to college admissions offices. Obviously, this convinced me. I knew I wanted to start applying to colleges with my best foot forward. Although I was unsure about my placement in this course, and I struggled to keep up in the beginning, ultimately, I am grateful that I was put in this course because of my personal and academic growth as a result of this