Scarborough High School offers a variety of Advanced Placement classes that provide a challenging curriculum to academically-driven students seeking to prepare themselves for the rigors of college.

Unlike students taking college-prep and honors classes, AP students have to take a roughly three-hour exam in May, created by a not-for-profit organization called The College Board, testing their overall knowledge from the year. 

Some of the benefits involved with taking AP classes are being able to gain college credit, preparing oneself for the rapid pace of college life and academics, and strengthening one’s college application and resume. By taking AP exams, students can earn college credit while they’re in high school, providing them more flexibility when they get to college, and the ability to get ahead of the rest so that they may be able to graduate early.

Also, taking AP classes provides students insightful experiences as they have to strategically balance their workload and keep up with the fast pace of the AP curriculum, teaching students to be better prepared to handle stressors in college and beyond. Additionally, taking AP classes looks impressive to college admissions officers as it shows that the applicant strives to be challenged and push their academic boundaries. 

When asked if AP classes actually helped her prepare for college, AP alum Lauren Bornstein stated: “Taking AP courses gave me access to a level of critical thinking and analysis that I didn’t know was possible for high school students. It gave me a preview of what would be expected of me in college. While I do not remember any of my AP scores, I remember the confidence I felt in working through such high level courses in high school.”

Laurel Driscoll, a busy student athlete at Scarborough High School, said: “The key is to prioritize what’s important and effectively communicate with teachers. I will utilize any free moment in my day, whether it’s during lunch or passing time between classes, to complete assignments or study for a test or quiz. Track and field provides a fun environment for me to escape from the stresses of my classes, and ensuring that I’m staying on top of everything is crucial for me to have a peaceful state of mind.” 

Sabrina Ocampo, another busy student athlete at Scarborough High School, said: “I go to the study center a lot and wear noise-cancelling headphones to help me concentrate on my work. It’s definitely a struggle to find a healthy balance considering all the work and deadlines that are involved with the numerous AP classes I take and still find time to do the things I enjoy. I guess I just prioritize getting the difficult tasks out of the way first so that I can actually enjoy myself during track, field hockey and lacrosse.”

Ren Ciara Oenema is a student at Scarborough High School. This article was submitted as part of the school’s Extended Learning Opportunity program.