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Are there any disadvantages to taking AP courses as a 9th grader. I have just recently become aware that one state university system only considers the GPA of coursework completed in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades.

By Goodchocolate (Goodchocolate) on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 03:10 pm: Edit

I think it's a great idea. I'm sure it will be *very* hard for a freshman, but the first AP always is, so the sooner you take it, the better.

By Pink17 (Pink17) on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 07:28 pm: Edit

most colleges don't consider your 9th grade transcript, so if you think itll help prepare you for the next three (important) years, and you're up to the challenge...go for it! but if its just going to be unneccessary stress, scrap it. you have three more years to buckle down.

By Penguinzchaseme (Penguinzchaseme) on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 09:13 pm: Edit

It definitly has to do with the subject. I'm an upcoming sophmore and I took an AP last year. However, it was Computer Science and I am a computer nerd hardcore, so it was a breeze for me - A+ all year. I mean, a history buff shouldn't have too much trouble with US History AP no matter what grade. I know a lot of freshman who are a lot sharper than a lot of seniors.

By Reasonabledad (Reasonabledad) on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 09:26 pm: Edit

We allowed our (homeschool) son to study Calc BC, US Gov't, and Physics C in 9th grade, and since he was ready for the material he did fine on the tests (one 5, the rest 4s). Two years later, our 9th grade daughter is starting Calc BC, Chemistry, and Economics. It's good to do some of this work in 9th grade if you are prepared, but maybe if you are not prepared (or not sure) you should pick out just one subject that you have a passion for and challenge yourself at the AP level.

By Vladimir2004 (Vladimir2004) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 01:41 pm: Edit

Well, AP classes were not really meant to be taken by HS freshmen, because they are not there yet academically, and are not intellectually developed enough to take an AP course. However the brighter freshmen can try history and phychology, but that's as far as I would advise.

By Justice (Justice) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 02:01 pm: Edit

If its humanities, then definitely go for it. All the humanity APs are like the same thing. Paradigms/models/eclecticism....
Math/science is another story. AP Chem or Bio in 9th is quite doable but Physics C and Calc are not advised unless you have very good analytical skills and self-motivation.

By Frankthetank314 (Frankthetank314) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 04:06 pm: Edit

Now I feel stupid. I took Calc BC in ninth grade. It was pretty easy for me.

By Clickspring (Clickspring) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 08:26 pm: Edit

When you're in 9th grade you're just not ready to work at the AP level. Too young, and need to learn about high school requirements. Plus, some 9th graders are still in middle school, so definetly not appropriate.

By Poison_Ivy (Poison_Ivy) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 08:32 pm: Edit

If you get a C it's not worth it despite of the weight.

By Marite (Marite) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 09:18 pm: Edit

If you do not feel prepared for the challenge, then it's not worth taking the course early. But don't worry about colleges ignoring grades before tenth grade. My S took BC Calc and Physics C in 8th grade and AP Chem in 9th grade. I can assure you these will be duly noted by adcoms (in his application, he will append his AP score report that will list all the AP scores together with the date when they were received). For my S, it was a matter of wanting to work at the appropriate level.

People will tell you that some APs are easier than others. It depends totally on your strengths and weaknesses. My S sailed through BC Calc and Physics C but two years later, he had a harder time with Ap-Bio. Bio depends more on memorization than Calc and Physics and that's his weakness.

By Wrathofgod64 (Wrathofgod64) on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 07:38 am: Edit

i also took ap comp sci A in 9th grade but i'm also a comp sci nerd and did well in the class and test. i think if u have a really really strong passion for that subject, then taking it freshman year shouldn't make a huge difference

By Conker (Conker) on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 12:36 pm: Edit

It all depends on passion and ability at a particular subject. I can see people taking AP Music, AP Calc BC, and AP Comp Sci in their Freshman year. These are subjects in which some people have aptitude, and can succeed by reading books.

I think History is a different story. While you could be a history fanatic, I have not met anyone who writes history essays or DBQ's for fun. With classes like Calc, gifted kids will do problems for fun (yes, believe it or not). The people taking Comp Sci in 9th grade have probably been programming for 3 or 4 years. But the one thing is important: take it if you truly love the subject. Don't take a class just to impress the adcoms...especially not in your Freshman year!

By Forgottenhawk (Forgottenhawk) on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 09:14 pm: Edit

My High School doesn't even offer more than 1 AP until 11th grade. Of course, it's a public school, but still. I'm going to be a freshman and I'm pretty much taking the toughest courses available at my school for a freshman and I'm nowehere near APs yet.

I would do it if your curriculum allows you to or if you think you're ready.

By Vancat (Vancat) on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 09:31 pm: Edit

My school mandates certain prerequisites before APs. Things like at taking world history and American Studies before AP US and AP Gov usually give the students a more indepth understanding of the material.

Of course, if you are ready, then go ahead.

By Oasis (Oasis) on Saturday, August 07, 2004 - 04:50 pm: Edit

Our school doesn't even allow freshman taking AP's, lol.

By Paulhomework (Paulhomework) on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 01:11 am: Edit

i'm just amazed at how an eight-grader can ace the Physics C ap exam. Wow...

By Lani05 (Lani05) on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 10:59 am: Edit

If you're ready, go for it! I wish my school had allowed us to take APs before junior year- I would have definitely taken advantage of that. Personally, subjects which require a lot of memorization (like history and Bio) are very easy for me, and I'm sure I could have done fine on APs even as a freshman. Play to your strengths.

By Frainy (Frainy) on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 07:09 pm: Edit

I took AP Biology last year as a freshman and did well in it (5 on AP exam). If you are really hard working and the class is a subject that you are good at and you feel you will be interested in the class, I would recommend taking one AP as a freshman (if your school allows you). I also felt that I did better in the class because generally your freshman year is much easier then your other years of high school, so I had more time to spend studying.

By Trinatapstoo (Trinatapstoo) on Friday, August 13, 2004 - 02:12 am: Edit

Thanks, Frainy. That's how I felt about it too.

By Framoin (Framoin) on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 02:10 am: Edit

i took french lang as a freshman and im not a native speaker i did alright (4 :\ ) im also going to take AP Psych and AP French Lit. the end of this year (sophomore)..the key really is to know how to self study.
learn to do taht and APs will fly like crazy
i plan to get 4 and above on at least 15 APs at the end of high school
you're capable of anything, just need to haev commitment