The AP Euro Experience

AP Euro has proven to be one of the most beneficial classes I've taken in my school career. Not going to lie, the course can definitely be stressful and rigorous, but it is an AP class so what else can you really expect. Mrs. Salisbury is honestly one of the best teachers I've had and she holds high expectations for the students in her class and makes sure she gives you all the skills and knowledge you need to go into the AP exam with confidence. Euro covers a lot of material and involves trying to tell the difference between a lot of dead guys named either Charles, Louis or Edward. That can prove to be overwhelming at first, but you'll get the hang of it under the guidance of Mrs. Salz. The textbook was definitely not the most excitement inducing read and has almost succeeded in making me fall asleep multiple times, so if you have notes due, I highly recommend not putting those off until the night before. I've learned a lot during my time taking this class and I sincerely think it has made me a better student and has prepared me for my future journey in higher learning. Don't be nervous about this class, it truly is not that bad and I promise you won't regret taking it.

Some Tips:

1. TIME MANAGEMENT: Anybody who has taken this class will tell you that this is the secret to surviving AP Euro. I feel like a hypocrite for even bringing this up considering hardcore procrastination has and will continue to be a fatal flaw of mine. However, putting those notes off until the night before is not the move, I know from experience. Resisting the intoxicating lure of procrastination will make this class less stressful and save you from getting teardrops on your textbook pages.
2. DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR INITIAL QUIZ GRADES: You're going to fail your fair share of reading checks... probably most of them. Don't stress about it, it is normal. It's definitely jarring when you get that first reading check back. You're probably not used to seeing those types of grades on any other quiz in any other class. I'll let you in on a not so secret secret; everybody gets bad grades on those, especially in the beginning. You get to correct them and they'll start getting easier for you as you get a handle on the AP format. Your grades will work themselves out in the end as long as you do all the required work. Remember, you're taking an AP course, it's SUPPOSED to be hard.
3. BE PREPARED: If Mrs. Salz assigns homework, its usually because you'll need it in order to participate in class the next day. You get out of this class what you put into it. There is a lot of material and very little time to cover it all so there's some out of class reading to do. Usually there are in-class discussions based off homework so it's always important to make sure you have all the information you need to follow along. Its a way to help prepare without taking up too much class time and its effective. If you want to be successful in this class you HAVE to put effort into it.

Overall, this class is not nearly as bad as what you might think-- even though I may hold a personal grudge against the textbook. Don't get me wrong, its difficult, and by no means easy, but this is AP so you knew what you were getting yourself into. Don't stress too much, it really isn't bad and as the year progresses, you'll get into the flow of the class. AP Euro can be a fun experience as you start to bond with everyone in the class and explore the intricacies of European history together. So relax and be excited to take this class. Good Luck and Godspeed!