Advanced Placement (AP) classes are more than difficult classes; they can be a major part of your education and account for your future. How so? AP classes offer students a sampling of material typically covered in college while students are still in high school. AP classes not only allow students to explore how academic level courses might be in college, but they also allow you to show that they are ready for university. But being smart about taking AP classes is less about taking a lot of AP classes and more about which AP classes fit your interests, skills, and possible career direction.
Why It’s Important to Choose the Right AP Courses
Every student has different dreams to pursue. Some want to follow a specific career in STEM fields like engineering, medicine, or computer science.
Many students want to study humanities, arts, or business. Selecting AP courses related to these subjects is not only positive to enhance your college admission applications, but also to give you a running start in developing skills you will need in college. Admissions officers look beyond the number of AP courses you take; they reference whether you can show interest and your academic focus.
Matching AP Courses with Career Goals
Here is a closer look at relating AP courses to your possible career path:
1. STEM Careers (Engineering, Medicine, Computer Science, Research)
If you envision yourself with a career in a STEM field, coursework with AP math and/or science classes should be the foundation of your course schedule
- AP Calculus AB/BC: Paramount for any student pursuing an engineering, data science, physics/astrophysics, or computer science career.
- AP Biology: Beneficial towards aspiring doctors, biologists, and medical researchers.
- AP Chemistry: A strong foundational class for any future chemist, pharmacist, or physician.
- AP Physics (1, 2, or C): A solid class in preparation for a career in engineering, astronauts, or robotic engineering.
- AP Computer Science A/Principles: A must-have class for software developers, AI professionals, or IT professionals…
These courses will provide a foundation for your future college coursework, while applying your critical thinking skills and reasoning skills.
2. Business and Economics Careers
If you plan to pursue a career in finance, entrepreneurship, or management, your AP course selection should include a mixture of quantitative and qualitative skills and task sets.
- AP Economics – Micro and Macro – This is a great starting point so you can demonstrate that you understand markets, trade, and financial systems.
- AP Statistics – This is also practical if you are considering a career path in finance, economics, or any role requiring data-informed decision-making.
- AP Calculus AB/BC – This coursework is helpful if you are planning on taking advanced business and/or economics courses in college.
- AP Psychology – This one is helpful to understand human behavior, especially if you are aiming for a role in leadership, marketing, or organizational management.
Taking these courses demonstrate to colleges that you can think quantitatively and strategically.
3. Humanities and Social Science Careers
Students who want to focus on law, politics, education, or communication should also take advantage of AP courses that develop their critical reading, writing, and reasoning skills.
- AP English Language and Composition: This course offers opportunities for students to develop their persuasive writing skills; students also learn to critically evaluate an argument. You will read a lot of content that may be beneficial to your future if you are considering law, journalism, or teaching.
- AP English Literature and Composition: This might be a good course if you are interested in being a writer, professor, or literary scholar.
- AP U.S. History, AP World History, AP Government and Politics: These courses would be excellent preparatory courses for careers in law, international relations, or public policy.
- AP Psychology: This course will allow you to have a better grasp of how humans behave and how they make decisions, significant advantages for a career in education, law, or counseling.
Several colleges like to see students show depth in the humanities if this aligns with their intended career.
4. Creative Arts and Design Careers
For students who have their goals established in design, performing arts, or creative industries such as fashion design or video production, there are AP courses that not only develop strong foundational skills but also highlight their commitment as artists with intentions to grow.
- AP Art and Design (2D, 3D, Drawing): Ensemble that is perfect for students planning a future as, among others, an architect or graphic designer, or perhaps a fine artist.
- AP Music Theory: A great opportunity for music students and those wanting to go into the industry as composers or sound engineers.
- AP English Language/Literature: Important for students in arts-related careers because communication is critical.
- AP Art History: Valuable for most “arts-centric” professions, such as museum studies, any design profession, cultural studies, or cultural history
These AP courses demonstrate creativity and intellectual curiosity, traits that will separate them from less creative and intellectually curious applicants.
Balancing Passion and Strategy
Understanding that in addition to developing AP courses that align with your career goals, is finding the right kind of pace and balance in your curriculum. Taking too many AP classes can lead to burnout. Remember to choose classes where you’ll find value, and not for the sake of taking an AP class. Choose classes that are related to your passions, that match your goals (career or otherwise), and that leave you with flexibility to engage in extracurriculars, serve in leadership roles, and take care of your mental well-being!
To wrap up, an AP class is designed to gain experience and help you find what you’re passionate about beyond little persuasive letters you add to your college application, or having an inflated GPA for no real reason. AP classes can be used as a means to prepare for your future career and consider classes where you have a solid academic background and a longer-term purpose unrelated to college admission. If you balance your classes in this way, you’re gonna look good on your college application. And, you’re gonna learn stuff while you’re still in high school that can definitely help you out after high school.
In essence, think of AP classes as building blocks that simply take you closer to what you want your career and future to be!
How The Princeton Review Can Help
Selecting AP courses that are centered on your career ambitions or any future aspirations can be overwhelming, especially with other school commitments, extracurricular activities, or future orientations. This is where The Princeton Review is your trusted partner.
- Academic Counseling: Princeton Review advisors support you in determining which AP courses align with your skills and objectives. Whether you’re hoping to go into the medical field, business school, or the arts, the advisors will develop an individual course roadmap for you to be ready for your next steps.
- Tutoring and Test Preparation: What you score on your AP exam is as important as the APs you choose. The Princeton Review offers specialized AP prep programs, live online tutoring, and practice resources to develop mastery of subjects and increase your confidence for exam day.
- Admission Counselling: Beyond AP classes, admissions counselors work with you to put together a holistic profile for competitive universities. They’ll assist you in demonstrating your AP performance in your applications and personal statement, while detailing the explicit link between your courses and your post-graduate/career plans.
- Flexibility: Princeton Review offers both online and in-person programs, so students can prepare with the schedule that suits them- whether that is full-length prep courses, intensive bootcamps, or one-on-one coaching.
Overall, The Princeton Review not only helps you get great scores on your AP exams- it helps you choose the best classes and tie them to your larger career aspirational plans- so you can feel comfortable and confident making choices that will ensure your transition to college and your success afterward.