I’m a current junior who is hoping to apply to some elite schools, including some Ivy Leagues. I have great test scores (36 ACT, haven’t taken SAT yet) and I’m confident in my extracurriculars. However, my biggest fear right now is AP classes. I didn’t take any AP classes my freshman or sophomore year because I just wasn’t confident in myself and I wasn’t thinking about college at all. I took all honors classes both years and had great grades. This year I’m taking 4 APs (APLAC, APUSH, AP Physics 1, AP Capstone Seminar) and I plan to take 5 or 6 senior year. My school had about 3 APs I could have taken those first two years (Human Geo, Euro, and Comp Sci). Will a lack of those AP classes be a glaring red flag on my application? Have I completely butchered any shot I had at NYU or UChicago? Please help. Thanks!
No… Most schools start AP in Junior year across the United States. Your school just offers a few earlier. It is not a race to see how many you can take. Do some ecs for 3-4 years. With a 36 ACT not superscored your done. Why take the Sat?
You have plenty of APs.
You are fine. Most people don’t take AP’s freshman and sophomore years.
Unless you need a confirming score on the SAT to qualify for National Merit, don’t bother. Your ACT 36 will be accepted everywhere.
As mentioned above, many schools don’t permit AP courses before junior year. Your situation does not seem unusual.
If you don’t get in to NYU or UChicago, it will NOT be because you didn’t take those three APs freshman or sophomore year. Don’t worry about it. Congrats on the great ACT score!
Do NOT take 6 APs in your senior year – that’s a recipe for total burnout and misery. Remember, you will be applying to – and visiting – schools. With a 36 on the ACT, you are set. There’s no need to take the SAT unless you need a qualifying score to advance from semifinalist to finalist for NM, and even them, you don’t need anything near a 1600.
Youbont need to take the sat since you have a 36 act! You may have to take subject tests but that’s it. You’re done with testing.
Wrt APs, most students take them jr-sr year and colleges expect 6-8 total (after that the law of diminishing returns), well-chosen.
Yours are well chosen and next year pick 4 also, no need for more.
Focus on your EC’s, on their impact; don’t sacrifice your sleep nor your friends; keep getting great grades; with all of that, you should be as competitive as possible.
However, remember that no matter what, these are ‘reach for everyone’ - odds are good for no one. Therefore the most important colleges you’ll need are your two safeties - colleges that admit at least 35% applicants, that you like, and can afford.