Under Pressure: The Link Between AP Classes and Student Stress

By: Kali Crowe

When selecting an AP class for your schedule, you often have benefits in mind, whether it’s an increased GPA or college preparation. But how does the number of AP classes you select affect your stress level? As a Junior who has taken 1 AP class in the past two years, I would like to determine the different factors of an AP class and the amount of stress a student may face depending on the number of classes they take. By surveying students at Jenks High School, I will be able to obtain a general idea of the stress levels an AP student experiences.

I conducted interviews with three separate students, each taking a different number of AP classes. I interviewed a Senior taking 1 AP class, a Junior taking 2 AP classes, and a Junior taking 4 AP classes.

Interview One:

 In an interview with Senior Kimber Blair, who is taking 1 AP class this year, she stated that she doesn’t find her AP class extremely stressful because it is a subject that she’s interested in, but the stress is still there.

“I definitely don’t think I would have taken an AP class my senior year because I feel like it brought up my stress level a lot,” said Blair when asked if she would still choose to take an AP class this year if she could go back and make that decision now.

With both a job and an AP course, Blair found it harder to find time for herself. Additionally, when it comes to deadlines, she experiences much more stress than in a regular class.

Interview Two: 

In an interview with Junior Tyler Teague, who balances 2 AP classes, track, and his average high school classes, I found that AP classes can take time away from his regular classes because he tends to prioritize his AP classes more.

Although he tends to prioritize these classes, Teague believes that the end result is worth it.

“I definitely do believe they’re worth the stress, even though they can be hard, because after you’ve finished them, you realize you’ve actually learned a lot from them,” said Teague.

Interview Three: 

In an interview with Junior Luke Calder, who is taking 4 AP classes this year, I asked if he’d noticed any changes in his mood or anxiety levels due to his AP classes. 

“Sometimes I get stressed before a big test, especially if I don’t understand it that well,” said Calder in response. 

Calder does feel that he has enough time for himself despite taking 4 AP classes this year. He explained that if he doesn’t have enough time, it is usually due to his own procrastination.

Having taken only 1 AP class last year, the shift from 1 to 4 was definitely a big change for Calder, but he believes that the stress is worth it because it prepares you for college.

By obtaining different perspectives and comparing the number of AP classes to the level of stress in a student’s life, I found that while AP classes are generally stressful, the more you take, the more stressed you become, and the harder it is to balance schoolwork with other responsibilities, such as extracurricular activities and jobs. However, many students found that the end result was worth it because they learned a lot from their AP classes.