The question of whether or not someone should balance multiple Advanced Placement classes or APs plagues many incoming juniors. Leading up to a junior year, I remember hearing horror stories from upperclassmen about a junior year being the most challenging and difficult. Those stories really frightened me, and I was worried about taking so many APs the next year. However, for juniors, these heavy course loads are common. Most of the juniors I know are taking three or more APs this year. Although AP classes can provide students with many benefits, such as gaining college credit and learning a more advanced curriculum, packing your class schedule with them might not be the best option for you. It is important to take into consideration what classes you are interested in, what credit you will receive, and how you will balance them with extracurricular activities. 

This year, I was a part of 2 varsity sports, ASB, multiple clubs, and more outside of school, all while I was taking 4 AP classes. I found this experience to be very challenging but also rewarding. I would say that the biggest challenge was finding time to do it all. My time management skills definitely improved this year, and my perspective on school changed. I learned that sometimes challenges may seem really impossible to overcome, but believing in yourself and trusting your abilities can help you succeed in the most difficult tasks. 

So many students have different approaches to picking their high school classes. Some strive to take the hardest classes, and others just choose what interests them the most. Yorba Linda High School student Shreya Shah (11) says that her advice to an incoming junior would be to “choose the classes that interest you the most and do not feel pressure to take classes just because everyone else is.” The moral of the story to any incoming juniors is to not succumb to peer pressure when choosing classes. It may seem as if you will be behind by not taking as many AP classes as they are, but that might just be the right decision for you. 

In the end, taking multiple APs can be a difficult thing to balance. Junior year is sure to be full of hectic responsibilities such as taking the PSAT and SAT, CAASPP testing, and AP testing, which is why it is important to reflect on next year’s schedules and determine if you can prioritize these difficult classes on top of your other responsibilities. Ultimately, I believe that it is a little bit of a rite of passage for juniors to take so many APs, and it is one that will build bonds and friendships within the class.