The AP weeks: A battle plan
Leigh Jacobson
Spotlight Editor
Ah, the AP weeks. That dreaded time of year in which students sleep less, stress more, and cram far too much information than humanly possible in a short period of time; when AP teachers attempt to assuage the fears of their students (or intimidate them), and non-AP teachers are pushed aside and deprioritized.
It’s finally here, and while freshmen and sophomores frolic innocently around campus, uncorrupted by the pressures inflicted by the College Board, most upperclassmen retreat into a zombielike trance and accumulate massive bags under their eyes.
So how are defenseless students to cope? How will they manage? We at The Roar have taken to the hallways to find out.
One popular method is the mass consumption of water. For instance, AP United States History teacher Ms. Francine Landau encourages her students to intake a lot of water during a critical studying period.
“We may have to go to the bathroom twice as much, but it definitely helps,” Zach Oshin ’12 said.
Ms. Landau also suggests utilizing cinnamon as a study tool; as a result, APUSHers have been known to openly sniff cinnamon on test days, leading to curious glances and uncomfortable questions, but also improved scores. In fact, it is not uncommon for one student to supply the cinnamon for sniffing sessions right before the test, which, as objectionable as it sounds, is actually a fantastic way to trigger the memory.
Another recommended strategy is physical exercise — many Milken students use their sport as an outlet for all their pent-up aggression and stress.
“Running track took my mind off of Art History,” Ethan Kraft ’12 said.
And, if you’re not athletically inclined, and there are no freshmen around to hit (just kidding), purchase a stress ball. Not only will abusing one release anger and pent-up energy, it won’t get you into nearly as much trouble as taking it out on an unsuspecting freshman.
Besides these traditional coping mechanisms, Milkenites have found other creative ways to deal with AP week.
“I distract myself with the Lakers,” Laker aficionado and AP Economics student Jordan Shalom ’12 said.
“I listen to ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ on repeat,” Integrated student Danny Zaga ’12 said.
“I just don’t take them in the first place,” Sam Furie ’12 said.
Whatever your method is, we hope you make it through in one piece. Good luck… we’ll see you on the other side.
Danny Doe • May 5, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Mr. P. Lindsay • May 5, 2011 at 11:12 am
Good luck to everyone taking AP exams! I wish you all success for all your hard work.
As far as colleges putting less weight in AP courses offered by high schools, this has more to do with the concern that the high school AP experience is being diminished by its popularity, than it does with the program itself.
J Martin • May 5, 2011 at 5:56 am
Perhaps it might be time to consider the effacy of the entire institution of AP’s. As a friend of mine (whose school has done away with AP’s) asked: ” Why would we outsource the most potentially challenging and creative programs of our curriculum?”
And yes, UC, Stanford, and their ilk all support schools designing their own authentically honors programs.
Kevin • May 4, 2011 at 10:00 pm
JUNIORS! don’t get a 1 or 2 on your AP’s. I do not know if you know this but you have to write your AP score on your application to COLLEGE.
Nate Nourian/ Jordan Shalom • May 4, 2011 at 8:15 pm
This is Jordan saying i read this Mr. Mcadamis. And for the record i don’t distract myself with the lakers, i work my schedule around them