Former Student Thoughts

Do you want to know what former Advanced Placement (AP) students think about South's AP Program? Then keep reading below!

Shamil Asgarli, Grad 2010
Currently at University of British Columbia, Science
"I decided to take AP courses because it is a prestigious program and its curriculum is broader than regular grade 12 courses. In AP classes, students are more inclined to learn, discover and share their knowledge. After doing well on my exams, I decided to use all of my credits which amounted to 22 credits, saving me $3,000. I am no taking any first year physics or chemistry or math and am now currently taking 2 second year math courses instead. It was a challenge to write the 3 hour long AP exams, but the experience was irreplaceable."

Diane Currie, Grad 2010
Currently at University of British Columbia, Engineering
"I think AP is a great idea - I had a huge head start on everyone else because of physics, chemistry and calculus. Also I've talked to a lot of my friends about it and a lot of them wanted to take AP courses but went to schools that were too small to have them. I'd definitely encourage them to take advantage of it!"

Jeremy Cleveland, Grad 2010
Currently at University of British Columbia, Physics/Astronomy
"South’s AP program has helped me a lot with my academic goals. It has given me more options in university, provided me with a facilitative learning environment with intelligent individuals, and prepared me well for my current workload. In short, South’s AP program has helped me get ahead, cope with homework, and simply enjoy learning."

Michelle Zhang, Grad 2010
Currently at University of Waterloo, Mathematics
"I took AP courses because I was uncertain about what I wanted to do as a career; especially when I needed to decide on which university I wanted to apply to. Therefore, AP courses provided me with an opportunity to find out, whether or not I was suitable for a faculty and if I really like the subject material. Most importantly, writing the AP exam and scoring a 4 or 5 saved me lots of MONEY, plus TIME!"

Spencer Li, Grad 2007
Currently at Duke University (USA), Economics
"I'm really glad I did the AP program at South. The teachers were excellent and made each class incredibly fascinating and intellectually engaging. It was really the best preparation I had for Duke."

Eric Lu, Grad 2007
Currently at SFU, Science
"I took AP calculus BC, physics B, chemistry, and biology during my time at Burnaby South. These courses really helped me a lot in preparation for university. The AP style is very similar to that of university courses: heavier workload and the big exams. The AP program not only has challenged me during high school, but has also made my transition to university much smoother. Even though I chose not to use all my AP credits, but I am able to ace the courses that took AP for, since AP provided a very effective preview."

Sara Chan, Grad 2006
Currently at UBC, Science
"Taking AP Psychology was one of my best decisions in high school. Not only did I save more than $800 from using my AP psychology credit, but I also saved a lot of time since it allowed me to complete part of the credits required for my electives. Taking AP courses greatly eases the transition from high school to university. As a result of taking AP, I found a lot of the material learned in first year university to be review and consequently, I was able to obtain better marks. If I could go back in time, I would have definitely taken more AP courses in high school!"

Mary Cheung, Grad 2006
Currently at UBC, Science
"I have found that the AP courses and exams have been a substantial help to me. For passing the biology one I had 6 credits, and 6 credits for the psychology one. Money-wise $100-$200 or so for an AP exam isn't very much because the courses that these AP courses cover are more expensive than that (more than $300, not including textbooks), and it can buy you time during your first year to rest. It gives you more time to work on your other courses, and also allows you to schedule these courses more efficiently because one (or more) of your required first year courses has already been taken care of. The AP program provided an excellent preview to college level courses."

Rusi Kolev, Grad 2005
Currently at University of Toronto, Engineering Science
"The AP program has provided me with more knowledge about subjects I was originally interested in. The classes were tougher compared to the regular ones, but they definitely prepared me better for university life. In fact the book we are using right now in my first year Calculus class is the same as the one used in school. I would recommend the AP program for anyone going into university. You should take AP courses in high school because there are more people willing to help if you encounter questions. In university, everything is fast-paced and there is little time to study."

Yegor Rabets, Grad 2005
Currently at UBC, Engineering
"Those who have taken Advanced Placement courses find it much easier to keep up with the fast-paced lessons in large lecture halls. There are financial benefits too! Each exam that you decide to challenge can potentially grant you up to 6 university credits (equivalent to over $800). It may also spare you from having to take first-year courses like English and Calculus, which tend to be extremely difficult."

Travis Wong, Grad 2005
Currently at SFU, Business
"The AP program has enriched my life by providing me with the tools to be a successful academic career. Not only did it help me strive for my personal best, but it gave me a head start going into university. The AP program gives its students a taste of good work ethic and time management essential for success in university. The AP program has changed my life and I recommend it to all students who are up to the challenge."

Burnaby South's AP program has helped these individuals succeed in post-secondary education. Let the program help YOU or YOUR CHILD as well!