THE PULSE | FEBRUARY 2024 ISSUE
In the spring, Harvey students are asked to look ahead and select classes for the next academic year. With so many Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes available, many often have trouble choosing a balanced but challenging schedule. In most cases, underclassmen have never taken an AP course and are oblivious to the amount of work and dedication required for a college-level class. Harvey’s current curriculum offers 11 AP courses: English, American History, European History, Macroeconomics, Spanish, Calculus, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Science. Although students are not required to take an AP class, there are many benefits to enrolling in a collegelevel course during high school. According to the AP Central website, students in Advanced Placement classes “learn essential time management and study skills needed for college and career success.” Even when students sign up for classes in a field they don’t intend to pursue, the skills that are taught in an AP class will help for the remainder of their academic life.
A GUIDE TO APs
Oftentimes, the first AP that Harvey students FOR UNDERCLASSMEN By Logan Kreisberg choose is American History. 11th grader Ted Clement, a Since every AP course comes with scholar enrolled in AP prerequisites, students are often American History (APUSH), limited to taking AP classes until they said, “While the class is are upperclassmen. While there are a very advanced, it's nice to few exceptions to the rule, students be challenged, especially as interested in an AP typically need to someone interested in have taken a high school level version history.” Despite the of the course. course’s demanding workload, Ted believes that For instance, 11th grader Meaghan “pursuing academic Sullivan is a devoted science student prowess is one of the most who currently takes both AP gratifying things one can Chemistry and AP Physics. In order to do,” and he recommends take these classes during her junior APUSH for anyone looking year, Meaghan doubled up on sciences to strengthen their writing as a sophomore, taking both honors and expand on their versions of these courses. When asked knowledge of history. about both classes, she explained, “Taking two AP sciences is challenging In addition to taking the but very rewarding. I get to continue classes themselves, my honors science studies at a much students in AP are also more developed level and build upon expected to sit for the the skills I learned last year in honors.” cumulative exam in May. Annissa Khanna, a senior While Meaghan has no regrets about currently enrolled in four taking these classes, she recognizes APs, stated, “The test is the amount of work needed to be in AP going to assess whether or science. During her interview with The not you have a strong Pulse, she said that her workload for understanding of the AP Chemistry alone is at least two material covered in class hours every night. and can apply it to different contexts.” By having this exam, every piece of information students learn matters. This explains why it is easy to fall behind. CONT. ON P. 19
TABLE OF CONTENTS A Guide to APs Page 1 & 19, Logan Kreisberg
OP/ED Page 2, Olivia Barsky
Viva España Page 3, Dylan Gueli
Walk Like an Egyptian Page 4-5, Olivia Barsky
Exciting Happy Holiday Page 6, Cindy Wang
Ja Morant’s Comeback Story Page 7, Dylan Gueli
The Return of Joe Flacco Page 8, Brandon Levine
Boys Varsity Basketball Page 9, Luke McCarthy
C.J. Stroud Page 10, Brandon Levine
Wembanyama Versus Chet Holmgren Page 11, Luke McCarthy
Did We Prove “Barbie’s” Point? Page 12 & 16, Ellie Florin
Willie Nelson Turns 90 Page 13 & 16, Connor Harrington
The Idaho College Murders Page 14-15, Annissa Khanna
Remembering Matthew Perry Page 17, Ellie Florin
2023 Music Guide Page 18-19, Connor Harrington
The “Hunger Games” Prequel Page 20, Logan Kreisberg
Image of a heaping stack of Advanced Placement level textbooks Courtesy of Kiara Amaya
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THE HARVEY SCHOOL | 260 JAY STREET, KATONAH NY
Cute Cat Companions Page 21, Cindy Wang