The sophomore year of high school is arguably the most important year. This is the year students begin to individualize their school portfolios with extracurriculars, volunteer work, and, most importantly, advanced placement classes. Not only do these classes give students college credit, but they also add rigor to their schedule. Yes, these classes are difficult, but they also show colleges that those students are ready for any challenge.
With that said, what is the best of those AP courses to take as a sophomore? At Plant, five common APs are taken: AP Computer Science, AP World History, AP United States Government, AP Art History, and AP Capstone Seminar. All courses have benefits and disadvantages, but which are the most important? In this article, I will describe which classes are the best.
5. AP United States Government
This is a very popular course taken at Plant. The class is broken up into two sections, AP Comparative Government and AP Politics Government. As a result, you do receive two AP credits for taking the course. This is an attractive trait for an AP: one year’s worth of work for two years’ worth of credits. Additionally, it is widely considered one of the easier content-wise APs to take.
Even though this AP seems perfect based on those traits, it is still not the best. This class is also commonly taken by juniors and seniors alike, meaning taking a sophomore year and possibly taking up another spot for an elective that sets you apart from your peers is unnecessary. Even though it is an incredible AP to take at some point in your high school career, it is simply superfluous when you could be taking another class specializing in something you may like to pursue later in life.
4. AP Computer Science
AP Computer Science, also known as comp sci, is widely considered an easy AP. The majority of the work for this class happens online, making it simply for tech-savvy people looking to decrease the weight of their backpacks. Additionally, it is an excellent resume builder for those wanting to enter technology after high school. Coding experience, especially if you pass the exam, benefits anyone who wants to enter that job market.
All of this is amazing, however, it is not as simple a task as it sounds. Many high school students enter this class expecting an easy A, but that is far from the reality of the class. Learning to code is similar to learning an entirely new language. It isn’t easy and takes patience and determination. If you possess these traits, it is a simple class as long as you complete the work. If not, it is not going to be an easy GPA booster.
3. AP Art History
At Plant, AP Art History is famous to take as a sophomore. It is taught by William Renninger, who has a very high pass rate for the exam and is known as a very interesting class content-wise. Furthermore, this class is not seen on every high school resume. Taking this class would allow you something to set you apart from other applicants for a job, college, and more while getting you college credit if you pass the exam.
This class does not come without its own caveats, though. It is also widely known as a very difficult class to study for. It requires lots of memorization and time dedication to do well in the class and on the exam, which can take a toll on your free time. Also, if you do not plan on specializing in any art history in college, it may be worthwhile to take another class that aligns with your interests more effectively.
2. AP Capstone Seminar
The AP Capstone Seminar is the running up for my favorite AP to take sophomore year. This class consists of lots of writing and individual research. I am biased because I enjoy writing and research. However, it has many more benefits. The class teaches you many essential skills used throughout the rest of high school and allows you to maintain essay writing skills to benefit you in the coming years of English. It also is one year of a two-year program, which many colleges look for as a sign of rigor, and if you pass both exams, you receive a capstone diploma. This diploma is a sign of a strong student and is very beneficial to have on your resume.
I think there is only one downside to taking this class sophomore year. If taken junior year, you can complete the second year of the program senior year. This way, when you are applying to college, the exam scores are still pending, and as long as you passed the first year’s exam, you can put pending for a capstone diploma, which essentially carries the same as a capstone diploma. So, if you do not feel as confident about your ability to pass the exam in the second year, it is an easy way to get around it.
1. AP World History
Finally, AP World History is the best AP to take as a sophomore. It follows the course curriculum for students looking for rigorous course selection and is a benchmark most advanced colleges look for. This class contains essential content for any other history class taken after that point and hundreds of years of valuable information. As a result, it is the best AP to take as a sophomore.