Why Prepare for an AP Exam?
AP courses are generally more challenging than their traditional high school counterparts and many students have a hard time deciding if they are right for them. Specifically, will the benefits outweigh the work?
There Are Quite a Few Bonuses
AP courses are designed as college-level courses. When admissions officers see them on your transcript, it indicates that you can handle the challenges of college-level coursework. Secondly, since many schools weigh your AP course grades to reflect the difficulty, an A or 4.0 in an AP course could become a 4.3 on your transcript. That's a pretty nice boost to your overall GPA.
In addition, many colleges offer credit for a good score on an AP exam, potentially allowing you to place out of an introductory course. And if you take enough AP exams, some colleges may award you sufficient course credit to qualify for sophomore standing. Not only will you graduate early, you'll save a considerable amount of money in tuition costs.
Which Ones Should You Take?
The simple answer is: Take the ones on which you think you'll perform the best. Remember, these courses are considerably more challenging than your typical high school course. A good grade, combined with the difficulty multiplier, can have positive effects on your GPA, as well as show the admissions committee that you're ambitious.
