AP Scheduling

Before school even started, students were asked at registration to fill out a schedule change form on Google classroom before flooding into the counseling office. Every new school year, counselors are busy with adding and dropping classes for unsatisfied students. Sometimes the process is as simple as pressing a few buttons and receiving a new schedule fresh from the printer, but sometimes it’s as hard as talking to three different counselors or administrators and making an argument about why a class should be dropped or added to your schedule.

In my case, I wanted to drop AP Spanish and my experience was stressful. I know I’m not the only one who felt this way, but before I go any further I want to make something clear:

The administration and counselors here at Covina always do everything they can to make sure students succeed and are happy.

Never once during this process did I feel neglected or belittled. My problems were always addressed. I am appreciative of the staff we have here and you should be too because, quite frankly, it’s hard work dealing with schedule changes when so many students all want something at once.

So with that, here is the question I and many others have probably asked: Why does it take so long to drop an AP class?

It’s understandable to want to drop an advanced placement class: maybe it isn’t what it seemed, maybe it’s just too difficult, or maybe you were put in there without getting a chance to say no.

Whatever the circumstances, we all come to one conclusion: how can we drop the class?

Your counselor will tell you to wait and see if you like it or tell you that it'll take a while to actually get out of. There’s an explanation for the wait. I talked to Mr. Washington, a counselor here on campus and he told me this:

In February, when students are requesting classes, the counselors start to build a “master schedule” for each student. Over the summer, some decide that they don’t want their AP class, but in each class there is a maximum of 38 students allowed or less. So the problem is, all these students want to drop AP all at once. This adds students and fills up the regular college prep classes. So essentially there just isn’t that much room to drop everyone immediately. Students are asked to wait 3 weeks to see if they can get used to it and settle in, which usually works out.

So, if you think you want to drop AP, really consider your options. You may think it’ll be too hard or too much to handle, but that could just be anxiety and panic talking. Taking AP classes saves time and money in the long run. If you pass the AP test at the end of the year, you don’t have to worry about that class in college. When taking a core AP class like APUSH (American History), AP Lit, Language, Calculus, etc. it will be tons of work, but it’s also doable.

There are plenty of seniors who faced the brunt of AP classes their junior year, and I’m one of them. So trust me when I say, so long as you manage your time and courses and ask for help when you need it, you should be able to pass the class. No one knows you better than you know yourself, it’s up to you to decide if dropping your AP class is really something beneficial or not. Don’t drop it because you think you can’t do it, drop it because you know you can’t do it.

In the end, everyone's high school experience is different, just ensure you are getting the most out of yours.