AP Classes Strike Students With Work Overload
Jarod Wredt
Staff Writer
Hi-Spot is only one example of the many difficult and demanding classes that Waverly offers. It requires late nights and stressful sending times for every staffer. Deadlines are no easy shot to meet. Students stress over hard classes such as Hi-Spot every day in school.
AP History is one of many dual credit classes through Nebraska Wesleyan. It is an important academic advantage for students looking for a history major because if is cheaper and a higher level of education to start as a college freshman. It is considered tedious through two different views because the same stress comes from different areas.
“There are two kinds of stress: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative stress occurs when a student knows what to do, but finding the time for the task is difficult. Qualitative stress is far worse. A student does not know what to do, no matter the time-frame,” AP History teacher Dan Jensen said.
Another difficult class is AP Calculus. This is a class for students that are some of the top math students Waverly has to offer. It is college level math for high school students.
“AP Calculus can be stressful because it requires students to have strong recall of all prior math, plus adds concepts that students have never seen or used before. It is not a review of previous math courses,” AP Calculus teacher Cindy Boss said.
AP Biology is definitely a college level assisting class for students in that field. I can also get to be a stunning amount of work if it’s unexpected. However I can greatly benefit if properly handled.
“The feedback that I get from my AP students as they go through their freshmen year in college, is that their intro-biology classes are much easier and they understand the content way better than their fellow freshmen,” AP Biology teacher Pam Wendel said.
Not only in AP Biology, but most of the higher level of expectations in classes there are a series of phases that students go through generally in the first few weeks.
“At first, they are excited, nervous and generally ready for anything they are asked to do in AP,” Wendel said. “They are overzealous in their preparation, but quickly get overwhelmed at the volume of reading and comprehension expectations within the first two weeks.”
Students take the first test, and after they are graded and returned, it comes a shock as to the grade the student received.
“Next sets in the disbelief and horror that all that preparation did not result in the grade they expected. Then comes the resentment, usually directed towards the class, but sometimes directed at me. They start putting forth a bit less effort because they spend so much time studying and what good did it do,” Wendel said.
Once a student hits rock bottom there is only one place to go.
“Then sometimes there is anger or crying. At that point, usually they realize that studying smarter is a better option than studying longer,” Wendel said.
Another class that can be considered in the stressful yet helpful category is Business Law. This class discusses different aspects of the law and legal balderdash. It is helpful through exercises and class activities, though.
“The mock trial is a unique experience each Business Law class partakes in. They [students] will spend two weeks dissecting a case, creating arguments and presenting in front of their peers. Both the defense and prosecution lawyers have stressful parts. But it is all worth it for a special learning opportunity,” Business Law teacher Tara Bohaboj said.
Throughout high school, there are unique classes that are some of the most stressful. They will help students succeed in college for those who are willing to try them.
“In general terms, research has definitively shown that high school students that take AP courses are far better prepared for the necessary academic adjustments and demands during their first year in college,” Jensen said.
Students can be overwhelmed at times but its always better to relax and handle the assignment in all the free time possible.
