Hell on Earth: AP Classes
by Joseph Fernandes, Osvaldo Herrera, & Ranfis Villatoro
TRANSCRIPT: This is Joseph Fernandes, Osvaldo Herrera, and Ranfis Villatoro, from the Catalyst and we’re going to be talking about AP classes. AP, or advanced placement, classes are a new occurrence to the students of LPS, and many are finding them to be a virtual hell. AP classes are designed to prepare students for college with college level work loads and tougher than main stream curriculum. Since all three of us are in AP classes, we wanted to talk about AP classes to show students outside of the classes what they were like, and what they could expect going in to an AP class.
Recently, we got a chance to talk with a couple of students taking the classes as well as one of our own AP teachers, Mr.Devin, who teaches AP Literature. We asked them a number of questions about AP classes, including how they were doing in the class, what advice they could give for students going in to the class, and so on. We got a chance to talk with two students in AP classes to get their opinions on the class and what they thought of them. I got a chance to talk with Josh Garza, a student in an AP class, specifically AP World History, I asked him what AP classes are like. “It’s very difficult to get through the day with an AP class, because of the things we have to do.” Such things might include an entire chapter in one night in both a workbook and taking notes. I also asked Josh how he got in to an AP class, “Basically I got in to an AP class because I was doing good last year, and because I asked for it.” There is no GPA requirements for AP classes here at LPS SJ, but GPA is taken in to consideration on whether the student will get the class upon request.
I got to talk to Karla Tapia, another student in AP World History. I also asked her questions about the class, like Ranfis, I asked her what the classes are like for her. “I feel that the class is not hard, we have work to do and it’s not a lot for me, but it takes a lot of time doing the workbook, doing the notes, and doing the tests.” I also asked her if she would change anything about the class if she could.
“I wouldn’t change anything from the AP class because what we do, I understand, and we just have to complete the work.” I asked if she thought the AP classes were for her as well. “I do because I know that I’m able to do the work, but sometimes I get scared because the tests are hard and I don’t think I’m going to pass the exam in May.” The Exam in May she is talking about is the AP exam, the exam which determines whether or not you get the college credits for taking the class. Like Ranfis I asked Karla how she thought she got in to an AP class.
“I think I got in to an AP class by doing good last year, in my freshmen year, working hard, and getting straight A’s. You don’t necessarily need to have straight A’s to get in to an AP class, but you need to be ready for hard work, much harder than usual. Again, GPA is a factor when going in to an AP class, so someone with straight A’s will have a higher chance than someone with mixed/average grades.
Our last interviewee was Mr. Devin, our AP Lit teacher, as mentioned before. I talked to him and asked him what a student should expect going in to an AP class. “They should expect harder workloads, probably more homework, and being able to progress through the work at a faster pace than a normal mainstream class.” I also asked him what the teachers expected for their students. “Every school will have different expectations for their students, and every teacher will also have different expectations for their students.”
This means that not every AP class is going to be the same workload, in one AP class you may get completely different amounts of work as opposed to another.
I asked Mr. Devin what positives a student would get from participating in an AP class. “There are benefits you get from the AP class, you get college credit if you do well in the class, you are better prepared for college, and you get a weighted GPA. As a result, you gotta put out more effort and more work.”
In the end, AP classes are a new, challenging aspect of school here at LPS SJ. AP classes are meant to challenge students and prepare them for college with harder than normal class and homework as well as difficult tests. AP classes are easier to get in to than you may think, but you need to be ready for hard work, harder than you may or may not have had in your previous years.
admin @ February 13, 2009