<p>When I graduate from high school, I will have only 3 AP classes. I know that course rigor is the most important factor for admission. If everything else I submitted is fine, how will I fare?</p>
<p>When I graduate in May, I too will have taken only 3 AP classes. I’m a 2014 admit. It all depends on how well you use your school’s resources. My school only offers 5 AP classes (Eng Lit, Calc AB, Calc BC, Phys B, US Hist), and so I chose from some of the most difficult classes offered. It might also help if you take some community college classes, if you can handle it. And if you can prepare well enough for an AP test in your junior year, even if you’re not taking the class, go for it! Good luck :)</p>
<p>Oh, forgot to mention. My school offers about 13-14. Some people take 5-6 AP classes. I could easily handle that many…I just didn’t take them due to my unknowings.</p>
<p>If you only took 3 and your school offered 13, yes that will hurt. Your counselor will probably check off “Somewhat rigorous” courseload. Or worse. And tbh course rigor is one of the most important college admissions criteria.</p>
<p>hmm yeahh… i can relate kind of. i wasn’t able to get honors in my 9th and 10th grade, but that was because our school has a strict policy. however, ill be taking 6 aps by the end of senior year out of around 11… so im wondering the same thing if my non honors in 9th and 10th will affect me 
. but either way, good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>Actually, I will probably get very demanding. I am still ranked high, and the counselor said I’d get good marks. Just not “most demanding”.</p>
<p>Okay, I am a little bit subdued. I think worrying about AP’s is just a distraction from what is of real importance, standardized tests. I just hope I stay within the top 5% of my class.</p>
<p>You can argue with me about this, but I’m sure that the more important parts of your package are the subjective parts–the recommendations and the essays. Many top-ranking, selective universities will take those that purely excel in academics. I believe that Stanford looks more for passion, as demonstrated in any ECs and essays, which is why they require so many essays.</p>
<p>Oh, good. So as long as I am top 5% I shouldn’t worry too much? I spend many hours a week doing FIRST Robotics (and more, of course), which to me is sort of unique, or at least something I can work with.</p>
<p>They won’t automatically reject you of course, and it really depends on the context of the applicants. If they are going to decide between you and another applicant who took a lot of AP classes, the other person will win. If you are still ranked high in your class, don’t worry about it. You have shown that you don’t need random APs to boost your GPA like some people do. </p>
<p>I would argue that once you have a certain academic record ( 3.9 GPA +, 2200 +SAT) THEN the subjective parts become the deciding factors. BUT if you don’t have the grades or stats then there’s a much harder chance to get in with solely excellent essays/ recs. There’s nothing you can change so don’t sweat about it.</p>
<p>Well I guess it depends on what classes you took in the place of those more rigorous AP classes. Did you just take fluff crap to pad your GPA or did you take stuff related to your “passion” (I hate that word)?</p>
<p>“Okay, I am a little bit subdued. I think worrying about AP’s is just a distraction from what is of real importance, standardized tests. I just hope I stay within the top 5% of my class.”</p>
<p>Really?</p>
<p>I am referring to specifically this topic in that quote.</p>
<p>I think rigorous courses are more important than SAT, or they are equally important. I doubt a genius who gets a perfect score on the SATs but slacks in classes will get acceptance (not referring to you). Still, you should just take as many difficult courses you can handle and try to excel in them.</p>
<p>I am very concerned once again. I should have taken AP Euro last year and AP US History this year. What was I thinking? I am freaking out again. By the way, my classes are AP Chem, Calc, and Stat. Can having “very demanding” courses make up for this at all? Can rank?</p>
<p>PS-Is the difference between 3 and 5 AP’s at all significant? Or is there a certain tier, like took 10% offered, took 50% etc.?</p>
<p>I wonder this too, unless it’s a specific comparison, will 3 vs 5 AP’s matter? Or even rank for that matter (if by a small amount, such as rank 10 or rank 15)?</p>
<p>I really recommend that you guys calm down. The number of APs you take/took isn’t going to determine an automatic acceptance or rejection. I know people who took two and got in and people who took eight and didn’t get in. I’m sure that as long as you’re doing fairly well in terms of grades and whatnot then you don’t need to worry. I remember last year when I had just submitted my application, I wouldn’t stop obsessively analyzing it. Did I take enough APs? Were my scores high enough? Did I have enough extracirriculars? Were my essays unique enough? Did my supplement reflect me? Am I good enough? Eventually I realized that there’s no use in freaking out about the aspects of an application because you never really know what those unpredictable admission officers will think. I know that the waiting period is stressful but you’ve done your part so all you can do is hope for the best. Just relax and enjoy the rest of senior year 
One more AP isn’t going to make or break you.</p>
<p>OKay, thank you.</p>