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When deciding which level of science course to take, including considering AP courses, it's important to consider the time commitment, depth of content, pace of course, requirement for independent work, and your personal interests, current skill levels, future college and career objectives, and personal time commitments.
Qualities of an Honors student (and AP) include:
Being motivated for their own success. Successful Honors students are self-motivated to: master material; improve their performance; and to work hard every day.
Doing homework independently. Successful Honors students complete 95% or more of their homework without being nagged by parents or teachers to do so. Homework completion is expected at all levels, however, student independence and initiative for homework completion and reflection is expected for success in honors courses.
Being resilient. Successful Honors students are able to bounce back from set-backs. They have a growth mindset about improving themselves and their performance. They believe in their ability to improve, and they take feedback constructively.
Being strong students. Successful Honors students know how to be a student. They are adept at note-taking, test preparation and organization, or initiate asking for help when needed.
Being an active participant. Successful Honors students contribute to class discussion regularly and without the teacher prompting them to do so. They will actively work with other students to collect data, solve problems or discuss different approaches to the same problem.
Being able to learn current science knowledge and apply understanding to new settings, situations, or problems that are presented. This is an extension beyond just memorizing information and reciting it back.
Being curious about the world. Successful Honors students are interested in the world around them. They want to know more about the how and the why of the world around them and are interested in thinking of new ways that current information could be used to solve problems of the future.
Being passionate about science. If there isn’t an interest in the subject matter, why bother taking Honors? Successful Honors students want to know more about the subject and are passionate about the topics the course covers. Of course, not all topics will inspire the same level of passion, but Honors requires a higher level of interest overall.
Expected Minimum Time Commitments, by Level
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