Advanced classes: Is the pain worth the gain?
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Disha Deepak
Have you ever come home after a long day of school, and all you wanted to do was sleep? But then, you remember the piles of homework you have, and you don’t end up sleeping until past midnight?
If so, you’re not alone.
For students taking Honors or AP (Advanced Placement) classes, this is their everyday struggle. But in addition to the lack of sleep, taking these advanced classes can also have negative effects on students’ mental health.
Before the negative implications can be discussed, we should delve into the positive aspects of taking these advanced-level courses.
I interviewed students at HHS, and there were many who said that the pressure of higher-level classes actually helped their mental health. A freshman, Aidan Brown, stated, “No, in fact, I have had positive mental effects, seeing my growth through more difficult classes.” Other students interviewed had similar experiences, stating that there are increased pressures, but that they can help to prepare themselves for the future.
In fact, an HHS Geometry and Intermediate Algebra teacher, Andrew Fagan, said that “learning how to be busy is a skill,” and that the pressure that you face in advanced or AP classes can help to prepare you for the years after high school.
However, according to the Institute of Education Sciences, “research has shown that students in Advanced Placement (AP) classes…experience higher levels of stress compared to students in general education classes.”
Indeed, Kae Cunningham, an HHS senior, said that “not being able to be as good in some of these advanced classes as they would in non-advanced classes can leave students with a feeling that they aren't good enough.” This can lead to increased stress and cause students to put even more pressure on themselves.
Bronwyn Rhoades, a senior at HHS, also stated that “simply being in this environment causes competition and expectations for students. These classes are harder, and it is natural to do worse in them, but many students are expected to do just as well as those in “normal” classes.” Indeed, this expectation to meet the same level of success causes even greater problems in advanced students’ mental health.
Another freshman, who wished to remain anonymous, also stated, “My anxiety and mental state have gotten a lot worse after feeling the pressure of being in AP HuG. Definitely, a bad decision to sign up for it on my part.”
In addition to the higher levels of stress, many students have reported feeling as if advanced classes contribute to unhealthy levels of perfectionism. An anonymous junior stated that “Every time I get less than an A on an assignment, I feel like a failure. I genuinely am scared of not getting into college.” However, upperclassmen aren’t the only ones who feel this way. Being in advanced classes makes kids strive for perfect grades. Many students mentioned feeling the need to prove themselves when striving for these levels of perfection. This can cause an increased fear of failure when they cannot achieve their intended level of perfection.
Peyton Impola, a senior, expressed, “I think lots of people who take advanced classes are already perfectionists, but when you are placed in an environment where it is more difficult to obtain perfection, it can make the obsession unhealthy.”
Some students brought up the pressures brought by their peers as well. An anonymous junior stated that “I have definitely experienced some pressure taking these classes, not only on myself by myself, but from my peers because taking these advanced classes has put kind of a stamp of “smart” on me. So failure would almost be like losing a part of my identity.”
And he’s not the only one. Nevaeh Hughes, a junior at HHS, also stated that “I struggle sometimes because of the faster pace. I also deal with other students either saying I'm not taking enough advanced classes or I’m doing too much for no reason.” Having the pressure of peer expectations adds to the internal expectations for students, causing an even greater burden on their mental health.
Students also talked about a fear of academic burnout. Hughes mentioned, “I started to experience burnout last year and it’s carried over into this school year. I think a big part of it is that I have always been in the “higher” reading classes or in the advanced math class in elementary and middle school so the expectations started early on creating my current burnout.” These higher expectations from a young age can contribute to academic burnout and pressure as students advance to higher grades and classes.
As a student who’s been in advanced classes since third grade, the academic pressure is definitely real.
Many times, students are pressured to take AP or honors classes, due to their peers and the expectations that have been set for them. Benjamin Nysse is an AP Literature and Communication Arts Honors 9 teacher. He stated that he’s seen many students putting pressure on themselves to get the highest possible grade and that it’s “awfully troublesome” to see students push themselves so far with pressure for perfection as their only motivation.
While there are many negative effects, there are also many benefits to taking advanced classes. 100% of HHS students surveyed said that they found advanced classes beneficial, and would definitely recommend them to students who are interested.
In reality, being “interested” seems to be the key. After interviewing numerous students and teachers around the school, the overall consensus was that students should only take AP classes if the class involves a subject they are interested in. In fact, 35% of students interviewed at HHS said that the AP or honors classes they have taken were not in areas or subjects that they plan to go into in the future. When asked about burnout, Tyler Canham, an HHS junior said “usually it is the advanced classes that I take that I don’t have as much interest in, or the course work itself is a lot compared to a normal class.”
Bronwyn Rhoades also stated that “After taking my first AP class, I was continuously encouraged to take more. This caused an obsession with GPA, class rank, etc.”
A piece of advice? Take AP classes if they’re in a subject you’re interested in, or might consider going into in the future. Don’t push yourself to take advanced classes unless you are truly interested in the subject and willing to work hard and put in the effort.
In short, AP and advanced courses can cause serious adverse mental health effects, including, but not limited to, increased stress, more pressure, unhealthy levels of perfectionism, and increased risk of burnout. But, while they can be difficult, every student interviewed would recommend advanced classes to interested students.
