It’s almost that time of year again: teachers are beginning their course recommendations and students are starting to think about the 2017-2018 school. During course selection, starting on Thursday, Feb. 9, students (except seniors) will choose the classes they will enroll in next year.

Many students at BPHS will enroll in AP classes, but which are the most valuable to each individual? There is much to learn from every course offered, so it is helpful to keep in mind some of the main goals of AP courses during the decision-making process.

The rewards of challenging yourself with AP classes are plentiful, and according to the College Board, they include earning college credits and skipping introductory classes, in addition to the obvious benefits, such as standing out in college admissions and building college skills.

To earn said college credits, you must score well on the AP exam that comes with the end of the course. Most universities will give you credit or advanced placement if your score qualifies, and sometimes both. The number of credits and the qualification score varies from school to school, but you can check out each college’s policy here.

Something to keep in mind when thinking about subjects you would like to get credit for is the reality of passing the exam. Enrolling in an AP class in a subject you are completely uninterested in will take much more grit to pass than a class you enjoy. However, the course is designed to prepare students to take the exam, so most are capable of passing when the time and effort is put in.

One of the other rewards of taking an AP course and scoring well on the exam is getting out of introductory courses of the same subject when you actually go to college. This would allow you to move straight to upper-level classes within the topic and focus on work that interests you the most.

However, skipping the introductory courses within areas of your major doesn’t always prove to be convenient. An anonymous professor at a research university said, “many students get poor grades when they attempt to go to the next level, especially in premed and biology. My advice is to see AP classes as a head start rather than a replacement… especially at difficult schools.”

Another interesting point is that by taking AP exams on topics unrelated to what you may want to major in, you could be placed beyond the general education requirements and open up additional time on your schedule. This could allow you to pursue another major or minor, or take more electives.

For example, English teacher Mr. Bellini said, “I had to take a course on biology for educators called “Baby Bio” in college as a general education requirement, when I could’ve taken an exciting elective like photography.” In this case, taking an AP biology course may have gotten Mr. Bellini the credits he needed to test out of “Baby Bio” and take photography.

There are certainly many aspects to consider when choosing AP courses, so it is important to apply each one to the path you plan to take and determine its worth based on your individual strengths, weaknesses, and goals for the future.