so you want to take 10+ AP classes...

megzcreates
4 Jun 202211:46
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this video, Megan, a former AP student and current McGill University student, shares her experience and tips on successfully managing a heavy AP course load. She emphasizes the importance of choosing APs that align with one's skill set and interests, easing into the AP curriculum to avoid being overwhelmed, and developing efficient study methods. Megan also stresses the value of maintaining an organized schedule, making friends in classes for support and collaboration, and considering self-study for unavailable or unaffordable AP courses. She addresses the financial aspect of AP exams and suggests applying for fee waivers if needed. Her advice is aimed at helping students excel academically while also enjoying their high school experience.

Takeaways
  • 🎓 **Choose APs Wisely**: Select AP classes that align with your skill set and strengths to maximize your performance.
  • 📚 **Research Classes**: Investigate the reputation of AP classes at your school and the teaching style of the instructors to ensure a good fit.
  • 📈 **Ease into the Curriculum**: Start with a manageable number of APs and gradually increase as you develop effective study methods.
  • 📅 **Organized Scheduling**: Use tools like Google Calendar to manage your study sessions, extracurricular activities, and social life.
  • 📝 **Efficient Note-Taking**: Find note-taking methods that work best for you, and avoid inefficient practices like excessive textbook reading.
  • 🤝 **Make Class Friends**: Form study groups and collaborate with classmates to share resources, motivate each other, and enhance learning.
  • 🤔 **Consider Self-Study**: If your school doesn't offer certain APs or if they conflict with your schedule, self-studying can be a viable alternative.
  • 💰 **Financial Considerations**: Be aware of the costs associated with AP exams but explore fee waivers if necessary to make them more accessible.
  • 📉 **Avoid Overloading**: Be cautious about taking on too many APs at once to prevent burnout and maintain a balanced lifestyle.
  • 🏆 **Leverage Background Knowledge**: Utilize any prior knowledge you have in a subject area to give you an edge when taking related AP exams.
  • 📈 **Time Management**: Plan your week ahead to allocate sufficient time for studying, assignments, and extracurricular activities.
Q & A

  • How many APs did Megan complete during her high school years?

    -Megan completed 14 APs during her high school years.

  • What is the first piece of advice Megan gives for choosing APs?

    -The first piece of advice is to choose APs very carefully based on your skill set and strengths.

  • Why did Megan avoid taking AP Physics and AP Chemistry?

    -Megan avoided taking AP Physics and AP Chemistry because she knew she would struggle in those subjects and they would be very time-consuming to achieve the scores she wanted.

  • How did Megan's involvement in speech and debate benefit her AP studies?

    -Megan's involvement in speech and debate, particularly in the X-Temp category, gave her a strong background in government, laws, and politics, which helped her in AP US Gov, Comparative Gov, and to some extent, AP European History.

  • What is Megan's suggestion for easing into the AP curriculum?

    -Megan suggests starting with one or two APs, gaining experience, and then increasing the number of APs as you figure out more efficient study methods.

  • How does Megan use technology to keep her schedule organized?

    -Megan uses Google Calendar to manage her extracurricular meetings, competitions, study sessions, and social plans, ensuring she stays on top of all her commitments.

  • Why is it important to make friends in your classes according to Megan?

    -Making friends in your classes creates a sense of camaraderie, provides additional support for studying and tutoring, and can make the rigorous AP curriculum less lonely and more enjoyable.

  • What does Megan recommend for students who want to take a lot of APs but can't fit them into their schedule?

    -Megan recommends self-studying for AP exams, as she has done successfully and has provided resources on her YouTube channel for this purpose.

  • How did taking AP exams financially benefit Megan in college?

    -By passing her AP exams, Megan earned 41 college credits, which allowed her to graduate in two and a half years, saving her around $45,000 in tuition and a significant amount of time.

  • What advice does Megan give regarding the financial aspect of taking AP exams?

    -Megan suggests that if the cost is a barrier, students should apply for fee waivers from their school or the College Board, as the benefits of passing AP exams can outweigh the costs.

  • What is Megan's final advice for students considering taking multiple APs?

    -Megan's final advice is that it is possible to take a lot of APs if desired, but it is important to take breaks and learn to balance the workload and lifestyle that comes with it.

Outlines
00:00
🎓 Choosing APs Wisely

Megan, a recent graduate from McGill University, shares her experience of taking 14 APs in high school and offers advice on selecting AP courses. She emphasizes choosing APs that align with one's skill set and strengths. Megan also advises researching classes and teachers to understand the workload and teaching style. Her success was partly due to her background in speech and debate, which prepared her for AP Government and History courses. She recommends starting with one or two APs to build study skills and confidence before increasing the load.

05:01
📅 Staying Organized with APs

Megan discusses the importance of maintaining an organized schedule when taking multiple APs. She uses Google Calendar to manage her extracurricular activities, study sessions, and social life. She also recommends using a planner, digital or physical, to keep track of daily tasks and to plan ahead. This organization helps prevent tasks from being overlooked and ensures a consistent study routine. Megan also highlights the value of making friends in classes for support, study groups, and shared resources, which can lead to long-lasting friendships formed through shared academic challenges.

10:01
📚 Self-Studying and Financial Considerations

Megan suggests self-studying as an alternative for students who cannot fit AP courses into their schedule or whose schools do not offer certain APs. She has created various study videos on her channel to assist with self-studying. She also addresses the financial aspect of AP exams, noting that they can be expensive but are worth the investment. She advises students to seek fee waivers if they cannot afford the exam fees, as the potential college credits can save significant tuition costs and time. Megan concludes by encouraging students to take breaks and balance their lifestyle while pursuing multiple APs.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡APs
APs, or Advanced Placement courses, are college-level classes offered in high schools. They are part of the video's theme as they are the focus of the discussion. The speaker, Megan, shares her experience of taking 14 AP courses and provides advice on how to approach them effectively.
💡Skill set
A skill set refers to a collection of abilities and knowledge that an individual possesses. In the context of the video, Megan emphasizes the importance of choosing AP courses that align with one's skill set. She mentions that she only took classes she knew she would excel in, which contributed to her success.
💡Study methods
Study methods are techniques or strategies used to learn and retain information. Megan discusses how she developed more efficient study methods between her sophomore and junior years, which helped her manage an increased course load. She also mentions using resources like the Princeton Review for AP preparation.
💡Organization
Organization refers to the act of arranging and planning tasks or activities in a systematic way. Megan highlights the importance of maintaining an organized schedule, using tools like Google Calendar and a physical planner to keep track of her classes, extracurricular activities, and study sessions.
💡Extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activities are pursuits undertaken outside of a student's academic curriculum. Megan mentions balancing her AP courses with her involvement in extracurricular activities, such as being president of three clubs, which required careful time management and planning.
💡Camaraderie
Camaraderie is a sense of trust, friendship, and mutual understanding among a group of people. In the video, Megan talks about how the rigor of the AP curriculum fostered a sense of camaraderie among students, leading to shared resources and support during the study process.
💡Self-studying
Self-studying is the process of learning independently without formal classroom instruction. Megan suggests self-studying as an alternative for students who cannot take certain AP courses at their school or prefer a different learning environment. She has created videos on her channel to assist with self-studying various AP subjects.
💡Financial aspect
The financial aspect refers to the costs associated with taking AP courses and exams. Megan acknowledges the expense of AP exams and suggests that students seek fee waivers if necessary. She also calculates the potential savings in college tuition and time, which can offset the initial costs.
💡Time management
Time management is the ability to use one's time efficiently to accomplish tasks. Megan emphasizes the importance of time management in balancing a heavy course load and multiple responsibilities. She uses a planner to schedule her study sessions, extracurricular activities, and social time.
💡Background knowledge
Background knowledge is the existing information or understanding that a person has on a particular subject. Megan mentions that her prior knowledge from speech and debate competitions in high school gave her a strong background in certain AP subjects, which made studying for those exams less daunting.
💡College credits
College credits are units that represent the completion of a certain amount of coursework at the college level. Megan discusses how her success in AP exams allowed her to earn a significant number of college credits, enabling her to graduate early and save on tuition costs.
Highlights

Megan shares her experience of taking 14 APs in high school and offers advice to students considering a similar path.

Choosing APs should be based on your skill set and research into the classes that fit your strengths.

Megan emphasizes the importance of avoiding classes like AP Physics and AP Chemistry if you know they are not your strong suit.

Background knowledge in a subject, like Megan's experience in speech and debate, can greatly ease the process of taking related AP exams.

The reputation of a class and the teaching style of the teacher can significantly impact the AP experience.

Megan suggests easing into the AP curriculum to avoid being overwhelmed, starting with one or two APs.

Developing efficient study methods is key to managing a heavy AP course load.

Google Calendar is Megan's tool of choice for keeping an organized schedule, which is crucial for handling multiple APs.

Making friends in all your classes can provide academic support and make the AP curriculum less isolating.

Megan discusses the camaraderie among students taking rigorous AP courses and the benefits of sharing resources.

Self-studying for APs is a viable option, especially when certain courses are not available at your school.

Megan's channel offers resources for self-studying various AP subjects.

Financial constraints for taking AP exams can be mitigated by applying for fee waivers.

Megan argues that the benefits of AP exams, such as college credit and saved tuition, outweigh the costs.

She shares her personal experience of graduating early from college due to the number of AP credits she earned.

Maintaining a balance between rigorous academics and other aspects of life is essential.

Megan concludes by encouraging students to take on the challenge of multiple APs if they feel up to it.

Transcripts

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