AP Human Geography translates to a college course that often fulfills a major core requirement for global or international studies students in college. Thus it was of interest to my granddaughter who also is active in Model UN and debate and who is looking toward international relations or international business. She graded a "5" on the exam and a 99 in the course and continues to be a straight A student who will take the IB History and English sequences, AP French, "advanced" three basic sciences, probably AP Statistics and - yes, AP Environmental Science. On the other hand, her twin sister, number one in the class, wants to be an engineer and avoided AP Human Geography as "a waste of time", while loading up on math and computer science. Engineer girl will AP the physical sciences and complete 3 calculus sequences, while also engaging the AP History, English, and Spanish courses. I don't discourage either of them.
Thank you for your honest opinion and not being afraid to express it. I wish I learned of your advice sooner. I used to naively think that an AP label automatically makes a class a good choice.
I would avoid AP physics 1. It's 90% of the same content as Physics C, minus the calculus. Jump straight to C if you're taking calculus concurrently or even self-teach the calc.
Yes 100% agreed I took AP Physics 1 it was good because I didn't really have to study much because I knew most of the stuff allready however if your school offers it I would go the c route
Not sure about AP physics I if it's rigorous enough. But the fact it's not calculus based is a plus not a negative. US students too many of them taking physics after calculus causing them lack of intuitive feelings of classical physics. They tend to focus too much on formula then technical approach
I respectfully disagree with your position on AP Human Geography. The content covered by my son’s course was actually quite engaging and interesting as compared to the mainstream social science offering for most freshman at our local high school. It was topical, interdisciplinary, and had clear application in every day critical thinking. I particularly appreciated the way my son developed comfort with using data to deepen his understanding of concepts at the intersection of sociology, politics, and geography. I think there are better arguments to be made about this course being less valuable than the fact that it’s not a science or pure social science. As a parent and someone who has hired a lot of engineers and scientists, I’d like to see more students challenged to think about the world through a nuanced, data-driven lens if they are to perform well as citizens and in a modern workplace.
I really like your content and this video doesn't change my opinion, but I'm not sure I agree with your advice on AP human geography. Maybe other schools offer more flexibility, but at my kid's high school, freshman can only choose between AP human geography and a similar but easier on-level class. Shouldn't you take the AP class? Not only you are going to learn a lot more (I was impressed by what my kid learned in AP human geography vs what I used to learn at the same age) but also it should help with your school ranking since it's a more advanced class.
I’m in AP Seminar and the course is not hard, but it requires a lot of work. The class has a major group assignment, as well as a similar task where you work alone, each counting for part of your final grade. As a student, it’s important to get ahead of your work, but the class is nowhere near impossible. AP Research is similar, as you have to write an academic journal paper. Same type of class as Seminar, but you work independently all year on one paper. I believe there’s more work. AP Gov, I know the least about, but I don’t believe it’s that bad, from what I’ve heard.
Seminar is a lot of work, but AP research is really quite teacher-dependent. If you don't have a lot of busy work assignments to do then as long as you don't procrastinate it's pretty light
APES is 4 credit equivalent course. AP Chem and Bio are 8 credits. I’ve taught all three classes, to very different kinds of students. APES, Human Geography, and Psych are good classes, but the truth is they don’t help people like Mr Meister with the work he does. For students who are not going to the top 20 universities and the little ivies they can be terrific options that prepare students for college work. APES may not be as academically rigorous as other stem classes, but I can say it took a toll on me teaching students about all the ways humans are altering the biosphere, day after day, year after year. And the alterations are looking worse and worse. To a small businessman like Mr. Meister, I guess it is understandable that he considers such sentiments political. If he has children of his own, when they mature I have no doubt they will disagree with him.
Typical APES instructor. That's the alarmiam Meister mentioned. However, I would question calling any specific AP class left leaning. They're ALL skewed politically to the left like all of education in the United States but especially college.
AP Human Geography translates to a college course that often fulfills a major core requirement for global or international studies students in college. Thus it was of interest to my granddaughter who also is active in Model UN and debate and who is looking toward international relations or international business. She graded a "5" on the exam and a 99 in the course and continues to be a straight A student who will take the IB History and English sequences, AP French, "advanced" three basic sciences, probably AP Statistics and - yes, AP Environmental Science.
On the other hand, her twin sister, number one in the class, wants to be an engineer and avoided AP Human Geography as "a waste of time", while loading up on math and computer science. Engineer girl will AP the physical sciences and complete 3 calculus sequences, while also engaging the AP History, English, and Spanish courses.
I don't discourage either of them.
AP Psychology is a good course. My daughter is taking it and it’s rigorous. It’s a legitimate social science.
AP Psych is so much work, so much reading but it is an interesting course.
Thank you for your honest opinion and not being afraid to express it. I wish I learned of your advice sooner. I used to naively think that an AP label automatically makes a class a good choice.
I would avoid AP physics 1. It's 90% of the same content as Physics C, minus the calculus. Jump straight to C if you're taking calculus concurrently or even self-teach the calc.
Yes 100% agreed I took AP Physics 1 it was good because I didn't really have to study much because I knew most of the stuff allready however if your school offers it I would go the c route
Not sure about AP physics I if it's rigorous enough. But the fact it's not calculus based is a plus not a negative. US students too many of them taking physics after calculus causing them lack of intuitive feelings of classical physics. They tend to focus too much on formula then technical approach
Absolutely agree!
I respectfully disagree with your position on AP Human Geography. The content covered by my son’s course was actually quite engaging and interesting as compared to the mainstream social science offering for most freshman at our local high school. It was topical, interdisciplinary, and had clear application in every day critical thinking. I particularly appreciated the way my son developed comfort with using data to deepen his understanding of concepts at the intersection of sociology, politics, and geography. I think there are better arguments to be made about this course being less valuable than the fact that it’s not a science or pure social science. As a parent and someone who has hired a lot of engineers and scientists, I’d like to see more students challenged to think about the world through a nuanced, data-driven lens if they are to perform well as citizens and in a modern workplace.
I really like your content and this video doesn't change my opinion, but I'm not sure I agree with your advice on AP human geography.
Maybe other schools offer more flexibility, but at my kid's high school, freshman can only choose between AP human geography and a similar but easier on-level class.
Shouldn't you take the AP class?
Not only you are going to learn a lot more (I was impressed by what my kid learned in AP human geography vs what I used to learn at the same age) but also it should help with your school ranking since it's a more advanced class.
If the student only has the two options you describe, then, yes, the student should take AP Human Geography. Good luck.
What are your thoughts on the rigor-level of AP Comp Gov, AP Seminar, and AP Research?
I’m in AP Seminar and the course is not hard, but it requires a lot of work. The class has a major group assignment, as well as a similar task where you work alone, each counting for part of your final grade. As a student, it’s important to get ahead of your work, but the class is nowhere near impossible. AP Research is similar, as you have to write an academic journal paper. Same type of class as Seminar, but you work independently all year on one paper. I believe there’s more work. AP Gov, I know the least about, but I don’t believe it’s that bad, from what I’ve heard.
Seminar is a lot of work, but AP research is really quite teacher-dependent. If you don't have a lot of busy work assignments to do then as long as you don't procrastinate it's pretty light
APES is 4 credit equivalent course. AP Chem and Bio are 8 credits. I’ve taught all three classes, to very different kinds of students. APES, Human Geography, and Psych are good classes, but the truth is they don’t help people like Mr Meister with the work he does. For students who are not going to the top 20 universities and the little ivies they can be terrific options that prepare students for college work.
APES may not be as academically rigorous as other stem classes, but I can say it took a toll on me teaching students about all the ways humans are altering the biosphere, day after day, year after year. And the alterations are looking worse and worse. To a small businessman like Mr. Meister, I guess it is understandable that he considers such sentiments political. If he has children of his own, when they mature I have no doubt they will disagree with him.
Typical APES instructor. That's the alarmiam Meister mentioned.
However, I would question calling any specific AP class left leaning. They're ALL skewed politically to the left like all of education in the United States but especially college.
bro i taking 2 out 3 of these lol
Too bad, I took them all. 😢
AP Human Geo is a joke 😂
Their is literal juniors in my school taking it