When colleges take a look at applications, they immediately look for students that stand out from the others.

Not only do extracurriculars and GPA jump out, but AP courses are notoriously something that the top colleges look for. However, some students may remain unsure on whether or not they are worth taking.

I firmly believe that taking AP courses in high school is beneficial and worth both the time and effort placed into each class.

Depending on the scores a student receives on his or her AP exams in May, ranging from one to five, a passing grade of a three or higher will allow them to earn an elective or class credit in college. This opens up the opportunity for students to take more of the classes they prefer rather than basic Gen Eds.

“They are beneficial to take because they can shorten your college by taking less classes,” junior Manu Barbero said, who is taking four APs.

Another pro to AP classes is the wide variety of courses offered. Bishop Kenny offers a total of 26 AP classes that students can choose from. From AP Biology to AP Music Theory, the diversity of these courses allows students with all types of interests to take classes suited to their futures.

“[There’s] access to the deeper level of material taught, which can benefit a student as he or she considers potential college majors and possibly careers in that discipline,” Director of School Counseling Jerry Buckley said.

The GPA boost is another great reason why students should take AP classes during high school.

In comparison to honors courses, which give students half of a point for their GPA boost, AP classes offer the full point. This can help students bump up their GPA to a more competitive level.

“It boosts your GPA, assuming you do well,” AP English Language & Composition and AP Research teacher Dr. Paul DiGeorgio said.

Some may argue that if multiple students are taking the same AP courses, they won’t stand out from one another, even if they have high grades.

While this may be true to some extent, what colleges focus on is more so based on the rigor students put themselves through to demonstrate their dedication.

“They prepare you for college really well, [and] they challenge you in a good way,”  junior Lauren Bramlett said, who is taking three APs.

Students who are interested in taking APs have to be prepared to work hard and make sure their class averages and GPA allow them to qualify for whichever AP class catches their interest. If they aren’t entirely sure, then it would be a good decision to consult their school counselor with any concerns.

Understanding all of the benefits that come from taking an AP class, it may not be such a bad idea to mark one down for the next course selection.