Milton High is a part of the 90% of Massachusetts high schools that offer AP classes, which the College Board defines as “College-level courses and exams that you can take in high school.”

The idea of impressing colleges with a high GPA and rigorous courses sounds appealing to many. This common sentiment is why so many juniors have decided to enroll in three, four, five, or even six AP classes, an extremely challenging course load.

Of course, ambition to succeed in these courses is something felt by many, who walk in on the first day of school ready to earn an A in all of their classes.

Yet it is common for people to look over “burnout” when it comes to academics. Many just assume they can work through it, and that the same momentum they felt in September to achieve in their AP classes will last them to the end of the year.

In the beginning of the school year, a handful of juniors were interviewed on how they were feeling about their AP course load, and for most, those same sentiments remain. Junior Jacque Timmins said, “I love my AP classes and the teachers. I took three and I thought it was the perfect amount.”

Junior Kevin Gomes also explained, “I don’t regret any of my AP classes. I’m never really bored and I’m always looking forward to the more complex ideas and concepts associated with AP classes.”

This sense of interest and complexity in AP class curriculums is one of the key reasons why so many students have enrolled and stayed in them. Junior Alyson Truong emphasized, “I’m currently taking AP Lang and AP Biology and I don’t regret taking either. AP Bio is definitely one of the more challenging classes and it’s a lot of work. AP Lang is enjoyable for me, I think it’s been fairly easy, workload-wise, and the class itself is fun.”

This recurring theme of enjoying one’s AP classes represents the idea that if one is willing to work hard, one will achieve. Junior Sydney Burns said, “While taking many APs has been strenuous at times, I personally don’t regret it. I think the balance of APs I’m enrolled in is a good one, and I also think my time management has definitely made it possible to not get burnt out.”

Even for those who are achieving in AP classes, it’s important to know that all classes are beneficial, regardless of the level of it. Junior Ida Zoll said, “I do wish more of us gave ourselves a little freedom and leeway to maybe take a couple honors or CP classes and still feel academically successful.”