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Should I take AP Environmental or Careers in Education?
I need help!! I'm going into 11th grade next year and I need to pick between these two classes! APES gives me rigor and another AP to add onto my list but overall I want to major in elementary education in college so I feel like I can gain more experience. My counselor said that I can take Careers in Ed my senior year and that APES will look better and counts for my GPA while Careers in Ed doesn't. Yet he said if I won't be happy take Careers in Ed. I feel like I just want to have a class to enjoy and look foward to instead of a class I would dread but I can't stop thinking about what colleges like more class difficulty or experience? Please help!
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Dr’s Answer
Hey Emily,
Well, It sounds like you're at an exciting crossroads, deciding between two very different options for your classes next year! I will tell you the pros and cons of both, and I’ll offer some advice that might help you feel more confident in your decision. Let me know if i miss anything or if you need any further clarification!🤓
AP Environmental Science (APES)
Pros:
College Admissions Appeal: AP classes are highly valued by most colleges. They show you're ready for challenging coursework, and having more AP classes on your transcript can boost your application.
GPA Boost: Since APES is a weighted class, it will contribute more to your GPA than a regular class, which could improve your overall GPA if you perform well.
Rigor: The course will challenge you and push you academically, which can prepare you for the rigor of college life.
Future Opportunities: Even if you're majoring in education, understanding environmental issues can be helpful, especially if you want to teach science or be involved in educational fields that value sustainability and environmental awareness.
Cons:
Stressful: APES can be tough and time-consuming, especially with labs, exams, and projects. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially if you're juggling other commitments.
Interest Mismatch: If you're more passionate about elementary education, you might not enjoy the class as much, which could make the workload feel like a drag.
Careers in Education
Pros:
Directly Relevant: This class will give you hands-on experience in the field you're passionate about. You’ll learn what it’s like to work in education, which can be incredibly useful for your future career.
Less Stress: Unlike APES, this class is likely to be less demanding, which can leave you with more time for other things like extracurriculars, friends, or just having a balanced life.
Potential Experience for College: Although it doesn’t impact your GPA as much, the experience you gain could be more meaningful in the long run. You’ll gain insights and possibly even volunteer hours or internships, which will look great on your college applications.
Cons:
No GPA Boost: Since it’s not an AP class, it won’t help your GPA. Some colleges value high-level coursework, and taking a non-AP class might not stand out as much.
Less Rigor: This class may not be as academically challenging, which could make you feel like you're not stretching yourself as much as you could be.
What to Consider, becaue it will help.
College Priorities: Some colleges may look at how challenging your classes are, but many also value passion and experience. If you're going into education, having a solid foundation in what that career entails might be just as valuable, if not more so, than having more AP classes.
Balance: If you think you’ll enjoy Careers in Education more and will be more motivated to learn in that environment, it might be worth prioritizing your mental well-being and overall happiness over extra AP credits. A less stressful class can free up your energy for other activities you’re passionate about (like volunteering, teaching assistants, etc.).
Long-Term Impact: If you're confident that you want to pursue elementary education, the hands-on experience you get from Careers in Education could help you figure out whether you really enjoy the field. It can also help build connections and skills that will make your college application stand out in a way that APES might not.
If you're leaning toward education, I’d recommend considering Careers in Education because it aligns directly with your major. It could help you feel more prepared and excited about your future career. On the other hand, if you feel like you can manage the stress and want to challenge yourself academically (and your counselor is right that APES will look good on your transcript), APES might be a good option for you.
Ultimately, the choice depends on what will keep you motivated and engaged, which is your passion that burns, both for college and for your personal happiness. Remember, a balance between academic challenge and personal enjoyment is key!
Good luck making your decision, and don't hesitate to reach out if you need more guidance! All the best Emily!
Well, It sounds like you're at an exciting crossroads, deciding between two very different options for your classes next year! I will tell you the pros and cons of both, and I’ll offer some advice that might help you feel more confident in your decision. Let me know if i miss anything or if you need any further clarification!🤓
AP Environmental Science (APES)
Pros:
College Admissions Appeal: AP classes are highly valued by most colleges. They show you're ready for challenging coursework, and having more AP classes on your transcript can boost your application.
GPA Boost: Since APES is a weighted class, it will contribute more to your GPA than a regular class, which could improve your overall GPA if you perform well.
Rigor: The course will challenge you and push you academically, which can prepare you for the rigor of college life.
Future Opportunities: Even if you're majoring in education, understanding environmental issues can be helpful, especially if you want to teach science or be involved in educational fields that value sustainability and environmental awareness.
Cons:
Stressful: APES can be tough and time-consuming, especially with labs, exams, and projects. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially if you're juggling other commitments.
Interest Mismatch: If you're more passionate about elementary education, you might not enjoy the class as much, which could make the workload feel like a drag.
Careers in Education
Pros:
Directly Relevant: This class will give you hands-on experience in the field you're passionate about. You’ll learn what it’s like to work in education, which can be incredibly useful for your future career.
Less Stress: Unlike APES, this class is likely to be less demanding, which can leave you with more time for other things like extracurriculars, friends, or just having a balanced life.
Potential Experience for College: Although it doesn’t impact your GPA as much, the experience you gain could be more meaningful in the long run. You’ll gain insights and possibly even volunteer hours or internships, which will look great on your college applications.
Cons:
No GPA Boost: Since it’s not an AP class, it won’t help your GPA. Some colleges value high-level coursework, and taking a non-AP class might not stand out as much.
Less Rigor: This class may not be as academically challenging, which could make you feel like you're not stretching yourself as much as you could be.
What to Consider, becaue it will help.
College Priorities: Some colleges may look at how challenging your classes are, but many also value passion and experience. If you're going into education, having a solid foundation in what that career entails might be just as valuable, if not more so, than having more AP classes.
Balance: If you think you’ll enjoy Careers in Education more and will be more motivated to learn in that environment, it might be worth prioritizing your mental well-being and overall happiness over extra AP credits. A less stressful class can free up your energy for other activities you’re passionate about (like volunteering, teaching assistants, etc.).
Long-Term Impact: If you're confident that you want to pursue elementary education, the hands-on experience you get from Careers in Education could help you figure out whether you really enjoy the field. It can also help build connections and skills that will make your college application stand out in a way that APES might not.
If you're leaning toward education, I’d recommend considering Careers in Education because it aligns directly with your major. It could help you feel more prepared and excited about your future career. On the other hand, if you feel like you can manage the stress and want to challenge yourself academically (and your counselor is right that APES will look good on your transcript), APES might be a good option for you.
Ultimately, the choice depends on what will keep you motivated and engaged, which is your passion that burns, both for college and for your personal happiness. Remember, a balance between academic challenge and personal enjoyment is key!
Good luck making your decision, and don't hesitate to reach out if you need more guidance! All the best Emily!
Updated
Jerry’s Answer
Well....
First, I understand your dilemma but from my point of view there is no dilemma.
I would take the Careers in Ed course, For two reasons:
1. Taken in the 11th grade, in my opinion, gives you a jump on the field you so wish to be educated in. Once taken, you still have one more year in high school to continue to explore teaching with more information to guide you.
2. You can take the GPA course in your senior year if you want to "beef up" your high school records for entrance into a good college/university. Of course perhaps giving up an AP course next year would mean, as a sum total, you graduate with one less AP course. But I believe you gain more with the education course than you loose.
I also assume at this point you are exploring educational institutions you wish to attend. And there are many that offer excellent programs in education that may not require the concentration of AP courses. Or it would simply mean taking the courses at the institution of higher learning rather than in high school.
Therefore, again in my opinion, taking the Careers in Ed course is a win-win choice.
Living in the part of the world you do, are you looking for a college/university locally? As in planning on teaching in the city? Or move to another state? That also has to be considered.
This is not a recommendation. But I can't help thinking of Hunter College which now has a school on the Upper East Side. In the upper 80s? I assume Hunter College ed students work in that school with the students attending and their teachers.
Regardless, I don't think you are going to have much of a problem becoming a promising teacher. You have the right attitude.
First, I understand your dilemma but from my point of view there is no dilemma.
I would take the Careers in Ed course, For two reasons:
1. Taken in the 11th grade, in my opinion, gives you a jump on the field you so wish to be educated in. Once taken, you still have one more year in high school to continue to explore teaching with more information to guide you.
2. You can take the GPA course in your senior year if you want to "beef up" your high school records for entrance into a good college/university. Of course perhaps giving up an AP course next year would mean, as a sum total, you graduate with one less AP course. But I believe you gain more with the education course than you loose.
I also assume at this point you are exploring educational institutions you wish to attend. And there are many that offer excellent programs in education that may not require the concentration of AP courses. Or it would simply mean taking the courses at the institution of higher learning rather than in high school.
Therefore, again in my opinion, taking the Careers in Ed course is a win-win choice.
Living in the part of the world you do, are you looking for a college/university locally? As in planning on teaching in the city? Or move to another state? That also has to be considered.
This is not a recommendation. But I can't help thinking of Hunter College which now has a school on the Upper East Side. In the upper 80s? I assume Hunter College ed students work in that school with the students attending and their teachers.
Regardless, I don't think you are going to have much of a problem becoming a promising teacher. You have the right attitude.
Updated
Melody’s Answer
Greetings, Emily. Yes, it is a tough decision to decide between the classes. But overall, look at your transcript if you already have enough ap classes having another AP course will not necessarily make it look better.
But since you state that your career goal is to go into education, it might look better to have that education class so that colleges can see that you've been thinking about your career choice before you even got to college. Equally, you might get in to college and decide to change your focus or major. I'm not sure why you thought environmental AP class might be for you other than it looking good on your transcript. If that's the only reason, go for the one towards the career that you think you're going to go for later. Nothing is hard-and-fast right now and I want you to feel comfortable making these decisions and knowing that there might be changes later on. Ultimately, you really don't want to be in a class that will bore you or not interesting enough for you to keep your interest in it to score a great grade in it. Don't get so bogged down about which class to choose, make a decision true to yourself, stick with it and whether this is ultimately totally great or not, just okay, making a decision and not laboring over it is the best bet at this point. There's so many things that colleges look for in addition to classes. I wish you all the best in your future path.
But since you state that your career goal is to go into education, it might look better to have that education class so that colleges can see that you've been thinking about your career choice before you even got to college. Equally, you might get in to college and decide to change your focus or major. I'm not sure why you thought environmental AP class might be for you other than it looking good on your transcript. If that's the only reason, go for the one towards the career that you think you're going to go for later. Nothing is hard-and-fast right now and I want you to feel comfortable making these decisions and knowing that there might be changes later on. Ultimately, you really don't want to be in a class that will bore you or not interesting enough for you to keep your interest in it to score a great grade in it. Don't get so bogged down about which class to choose, make a decision true to yourself, stick with it and whether this is ultimately totally great or not, just okay, making a decision and not laboring over it is the best bet at this point. There's so many things that colleges look for in addition to classes. I wish you all the best in your future path.
Updated
Tene’s Answer
Hello,
There are a myriad of things to decisions to consider when planning for college.
Although AP classes are attractive to higher education institutions, from my experience, as a doctoral student's perspective, that volunter work is more attractive.
Therefore, real life experiences should be highly considered because it demonstrates your civic duty and shows thst you are well-rounded.
There are a myriad of things to decisions to consider when planning for college.
Although AP classes are attractive to higher education institutions, from my experience, as a doctoral student's perspective, that volunter work is more attractive.
Therefore, real life experiences should be highly considered because it demonstrates your civic duty and shows thst you are well-rounded.
Updated
Kyle’s Answer
From what I can tell, you should select the class that will serve you the best and that you will enjoy as well. Because you are aiming for a degree in elementary education, the Careers in Education class might offer you some chances that could help make your college applications even stronger and allow you to enjoy teaching. But, as your counselor told you, it’s also an option in your senior year, so taking it now might not be essential. On the other hand, AP Environmental Science (APES) might be a wise choice now. It is a more challenging class, helps your GPA, and is a great addition to your schedule.
Colleges want both, but more than that they want students who will actively take on challenges and enjoy doing so. APES might be stressful to some people, and if that’s the case for you, feel free to side with Careers in Education class instead. But if you know that you can take APES now and Careers in Ed later, this would be a good middle ground. However, I’m sure no matter what you decide, it is certainly a good decision. 😊
Colleges want both, but more than that they want students who will actively take on challenges and enjoy doing so. APES might be stressful to some people, and if that’s the case for you, feel free to side with Careers in Education class instead. But if you know that you can take APES now and Careers in Ed later, this would be a good middle ground. However, I’m sure no matter what you decide, it is certainly a good decision. 😊