<p>Why does this thread need several pages of replies? I thought the very first reply said it all.</p>
<p>The very first reply did NOT say it all. There are huge regional and school-to-school differences in the number of APs offered and the number that students take. The numbers mentioned in the first reply were ballpark estimates that do not apply to many students’ situations.</p>
<p>Here it’s 3-5 on average for the better students. At least that’s what I’m being told by the “D”…</p>
<p>John.</p>
<p>This is also my daughter’s philosophy concerning AP classes. She’s a junior and will only have 4 AP courses upon graduating from high school. APUSH, BIO, English and Statistics. When I tried to convince her to take AP Gov’t. and Econ, she told me she doesn’t care for social studies so why should she make herself miserable taking it. I told her that Gov’t. is different than regular history. But she didn’t like her APUSH class and got her first B ever in that class. She’s very busy with her Choir and Jazz groups, as well as service clubs and school, in general. So, I’m just sitting back and listening to her. She’s self-motivated and really won’t “pay no mind” to her ol’ mom, anyway! ;-)</p>
<p>I forgot to add, they generally don’t start taking AP classes until their junior year at her h.s. Before that, she had Honors and Intensive classes. Even this year, juniors take Honors American Lit. I’m sure she would have taken more had she been given the choice earlier on. As it was, she was in something called Humanities Academy her freshman and sophomore years. (A rigorous program which included English and Social Studies.) They had to write an essay at the end of 8th grade to be accepted. I was so grateful for this program. In fact, it was started by parents who were tired of less-than-challenging humanities classes for their kids.</p>
<p>CountingDown had posted:</p>
<p>“My feeling is that a student should take APs where the student can manage the workload and do well in while still balancing other classes and activities, and in subjects that one likes to study. Only on CC are folks so focused on this stuff!”</p>
<p>Ours have about a half dozen each Pre-AP, AP and DC. However, that’s not saying that anyone is passing the tests.</p>
<p>This is one of my D’s issues: Scheduling. Her Concert Choir and Jazz singing group are only held at specific times, so she’s not able to take advantage of certain classes scheduled at the same time. In fact, she had to take Pre-calculus at the community college, as well as a required applied art class, which she’s finishing up soon. She absolutely refuses to give up her vocal music classes! And, that’s just fine with me. It’s not ALL about pure academics.</p>
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<p>Posted earlier by another parent:</p>
<p>“Our small HS only offers 7 AP classes total, to take only Junior and Senior year. Our problem was in scheduling. The school had a lot of them scheduled at the same period so she could only take 1 her Junior year and is scheduled for 4 as Senior year (if schedule allows!!) This is a little frustrating after seeing what other schools offer. I visited a college this weekend (a top 35 tier I LAC) and asked that question. They said they look at overall picture and not the amount of AP, just so the schedule was challenging.”</p>
<p>This is so refreshing to hear. Thank you!</p>
<p>You wrote: (I forgot your username;-)</p>
<p>“Same here. My kids managed to squeeze in two APs in four years and either graduated from or are now at top LACs. During the entire application/interview process, no one ever mentioned that they thought the lack of APs was in any way a drawback. In fact, I thought two APs were perfectly normal until I started reading CC threads!”</p>
<p>This is good to hear. My daughter is right in there, then! She’ll have 4 total. And, your son’s school sounds a lot like hers here in CA re; AP classes.</p>
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<p>washdc wrote:</p>
<p>"My son goes to a school that sends an embarrassingly high percentage of its students to Ivy League schools. Students are RARELY if ever allowed to take AP courses before junior year (honors and challenge courses–yes) APs no and then are discouraged from taking more than two per year. My son will have 4.</p>
<p>One thing I find bizarre about CC is how stuck in the formulaic groove folks get. When you say things like standardized scores will make up only a third or a portion of your application and chances of being admittted or you can get into Harvard with 2 APS, they are either incredulous or frantically in denial. </p>
<p>There is no norm because high school curricula, requirements and standards vary widely across this nation. Recognize that admissions offices are fairly savvy places. They keep records on high schools where they recruit and from where they draw most of their kids. They know the caliber of courses and teachers. Often, they know your schools. An A at one school is not an A at another. A child who takes 2 AP classes in a large public high school where 15 are available will be viewed more critically than one who takes 2 where only 6 are available."</p>
<p>Perhaps, the norm for number of APs varies by geography. In California, the UCs are the 800 lb. gorilla. To get in, the UCs look to your UC GPA for “a - g” courses sophomore to junior year. 8 additional GPA points are given for upto 8 AP semesters taken by the end of junior year. That is a firm cap – but this must be completed by junior year for a student to earn the 8 additional (weighted) GPA points. </p>
<p>So, practically everyone strives to complete at least 4 APs by junior year. And, next to show that they are maintaining a rigorous schedule, a lot of students take an additional 4 or 5 or 6 more APs as seniors So, it is not unusual for California high school students to graduate with 7 to 12 AP courses.</p>
<p>All the UCs provide GE credits or elective credits for AP exams with scores of 3 or higher. Most provide exemption from specific GE classes based on scores of 4 or in some cases 5.</p>
<p>Given that most high school students apply to 3 or 4 UC campuses in addition to Ivies or other privates, how the privates view their APs is pure gravy. The UC system is driving the train. And overall, they seem to be doing a great job in demanding Cal high schools to meet rigorous course offerings to the high school students in state.On this score, the UC sytem deserves a loud pat on the back.</p>
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<p>Your mileage may vary. In some CA high schools this is indeed the norm. In others, there are very few AP courses, and students would be hard pressed to take four total over their entire high school career. </p>
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<p>brassring, I think you need the qualifier “who are applying to top-notch schools” added after the phrase “most high school students”. Most CA high school students don’t apply to UC, since the majority aren’t UC-eligible. Most high school students at a single high-achieving school will be applying to UC, of course. My totally anecdotal experience is that students are taking AP courses for many reasons, only one of which might be pushing up their UC eligibility index. </p>
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<p>This must be some alternate reality version of California schools. 
California high schools are providing rigorous course offerings? Again, your mileage is going to be highly variable. UC keeps tweaking their admissions criteria specifically because so many schools can’t or don’t provide the rigorous opportunities available to a far smaller number of schools.</p>