Okay folks, here is my advice for all you who are starting your first AP classes this fall.

ORGANIZATION:
I suggest that you have a separate binder for each of your AP classes, or at least a separate section in a large binder. You’ll be getting lots of notes and the better organized you keep it throughout the year, the better off you’ll be when AP time comes around. And trust me, by then you won’t want to be saying “where did I put all those notes?” or “I know I have something about the Great Depression in here somewhere…” so keep you’re notebook up to date as much as you can. And make separate sections for notes, essays, terms, and whatever your teacher has for you.

NOTES:
I know that you can get outlines online, but it’s still a good idea to write your own notes. You can do this by taking notes as you read the chapter, take notes on your teacher’s lectures (or copy the board if she writes it down), or by using the outlines as a skeleton for your notes and fill in some more details. And try to keep your notes all in the same place and in order.

YOUR TEXTBOOK:
I have one piece of advice for you here.
READ IT!!!
That’s all there really is to it.

REVIEW BOOKS:
A review book is never a bad thing to have. Princeton Review make some good books, but you can look around at different ones and decide for yourself. I’m sure your teacher can make a recommendation. Review books have some information that your textbook may not, and they’re separated by subject as well as time period and usually don’t have the clever titles that are fun to read but hard to interpret. Some also come with practice tests which I suggest you take periodically.

STUDY HABITS:
You’re going to have to put a lot of time into your AP classes. You should for study at least 5 hours each week on your own. Reading your textbooks or notes is a good way to do it, and if you do a little each day then it isn’t a big deal. It will help you remember more if you study each day then if you try to cram it all into one day or night (like the day before or of your test/dbq/quiz:rolleyes: ).

I think that’s all the advice I have for now. Feel free to add in your own suggestions.