The Advanced Placement (AP) program is a globally recognized pathway for High School students seeking college-level rigor, flexibility, and in-depth study in specific subjects. At ASH, the AP program allows learners to tailor their coursework to their strengths and career aspirations, offering both challenge and room for exploration.

 

For Kathryn, an Grade 11 AP student, the program has provided the perfect balance of rigor and flexibility to pursue her interests while developing skills that will serve her in university and her future career.

 

 

Kathryn’s current AP courses include AP Physics, AP Calculus AB, AP Micro/Macroeconomics, and AP English Language. She chose the AP program for the flexibility it offers, allowing her to structure her junior-year courses around her goal of pursuing a career in STEM and engineering.

 

“AP Physics and Calculus AB would offer rigor and insight into career pathways, and I have found these classes to be highly rewarding,” she explains. She also enjoys exploring subjects outside her main career interests. “Although English is not my strongest subject, AP English Language has greatly developed my writing skills, and the improvement has been very rewarding.”

 

Kathryn emphasizes that while AP courses are year-long, they are fast-paced and challenging, often comparable in depth to university-level classes. She advises students to carefully consider their capabilities and time management when deciding how many and which AP courses to take, noting that “it is possible for a highly motivated student to have a satisfying academic AP experience.”

 

 

Kathryn’s schedule demonstrates the AP program’s flexibility in fostering well-rounded learners. After school, she balances tutoring Middle School students in math, rehearsing with the jazz band or strings ensemble as well as keeping up with her coursework. On the weekends, she spends time with her family, friends, playing double bass in the Viotta youth orchestra, and volunteering at a refugee center in Wassenaar.

 

This ability to combine rigorous academics with meaningful extracurricular engagement and personal time reflects the AP program’s goal of preparing students beyond High School.

 

 

After graduation, Kathryn plans to return to the United States for university, exploring her options while feeling confident in the preparation she has received at ASH. The AP program has strengthened her academic skills, critical thinking, and self-management, equipping her with the foundation to thrive in higher education and pursue her aspirations in STEM or economics: “No matter where my path leads, my teachers at ASH are helping me reach my academic goals and set me up for success.”.