AP European History

[oneswiftmotion]

I'm considering taking this class next year as a sophomore, but I'm not sure. Has anyone taken it? Do you recommend taking it? I've spoken to a lot of upperclassmen, but the responses have been mixed. I've already got an all-honors schedule, so I don't want to put too much on my plate. An alternative to this class would be taking an easy history elective (Latin American History, Eastern Religions, Western Religions, Russian History, etc.) for an honors credit. These classes are obviously much more enjoyable because they include field trips, projects, and other group work. I do intend on taking AP US History Junior year, but Euro has the reputation of being the worst class. Anyway, thanks.

Oh, and I'm currently taking Honors Western Civ.

[hiya]

I didn't take AP Euro, but I know a lot of people who did. they said they enjoyed the material, but it's pretty much the hardest AP History class, mind you a lot of these people were takin APUSH at the same time, so it was a lot on their plate. If your already taking all honors, you are going to have a lot work, and this would just add to that, so it might be better to take one easy class. I was in all honors/AP except math, because I kept that out as my easy class, and if I had taken that honors, I would of had no time for anything else. Sometimes it's just good to have that one easy class you don't have to worry about.

[swirlofhues]

i took this, it was a joke to me. i had an insanely awful teacher but it was great practice to develop my self learning habits. if the teacher has been known to be a great teacher, i highly recommend it. it's true, it is the hardest history class because a lot of schools hardly focus on any euro history in previous years (besides the obvious connection of the US to Britain) so it makes it all the more difficult to digest completely new information. overall, i think at your age i was bored with course but i realized it was a crucial course and i'm glad that i suffered through it. my advice, though, is to definitely get ahead of the material. don't worry so much about taking the actual AP test because if you only focus on thoroughly understanding the readings for the first half of the year and always keeping a foot ahead of the teacher, then you'll succeed in the actual test. i mean, you'll have to work on your essay skills but that's just technical things that your teacher will help you with. if you're proficient in writing then you'll be just fine.

[mar_]

I took the class as a junior, because at my school you have to take US History first, and I liked the material. In part, I loved my teacher, which helped, but I did enjoy the readings too. A lot of people don't, and I'm one of the few people who kept up with them (but I can't BS to save my life, so I had to.)

If you like European History, and being amused by France, it's a good choice. But if you know that the teacher is insanely dull or something, I would probably go for what would be considered a more interesting course at your school.

[oneswiftmotion]

i took this, it was a joke to me. i had an insanely awful teacher but it was great practice to develop my self learning habits. if the teacher has been known to be a great teacher, i highly recommend it. it's true, it is the hardest history class because a lot of schools hardly focus on any euro history in previous years (besides the obvious connection of the US to Britain) so it makes it all the more difficult to digest completely new information. overall, i think at your age i was bored with course but i realized it was a crucial course and i'm glad that i suffered through it. my advice, though, is to definitely get ahead of the material. don't worry so much about taking the actual AP test because if you only focus on thoroughly understanding the readings for the first half of the year and always keeping a foot ahead of the teacher, then you'll succeed in the actual test. i mean, you'll have to work on your essay skills but that's just technical things that your teacher will help you with. if you're proficient in writing then you'll be just fine.
I do have to admit I enjoy European history, but I'm only worried about getting a B instead of an A while still stressing like crazy when I could have gotten an easy honors A in one of those electives. How hard is an A?

I took the class as a junior, because at my school you have to take US History first, and I liked the material. In part, I loved my teacher, which helped, but I did enjoy the readings too. A lot of people don't, and I'm one of the few people who kept up with them (but I can't BS to save my life, so I had to.)

If you like European History, and being amused by France, it's a good choice. But if you know that the teacher is insanely dull or something, I would probably go for what would be considered a more interesting course at your school.
European History is somewhat fun, especially considering we'll have one of those 16th century dress-up days at the end of the year after the AP, haha. I've already got a costume in mind.

[mar_]

We never dressed up. Though my friend made a Napoleonic jacket for a visual closure project.

[swirlofhues]

I do have to admit I enjoy European history, but I'm only worried about getting a B instead of an A while still stressing like crazy when I could have gotten an easy honors A in one of those electives. How hard is an A?


European History is somewhat fun, especially considering we'll have one of those 16th century dress-up days at the end of the year after the AP, haha. I've already got a costume in mind.

well, you have to factor in how difficult your teacher is. i think that's the main thing. the material isn't impossible to master, but it's also not easy in any sense. if you put in your absolute best effort for this college course, i don't see why you shouldn't get an A? in my mind, i think you'd probably have to fret more about getting a good score on your AP exam.

[billyboatkid]

Take any AP classes that don't involve math. They're usually pretty easy for being "AP".