Im a rising junior attending a very rigorous HS (Think Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Stuyvesant, Basis). Many of my peers are taking APUSH.
I was unable to take APUSH since my schedule had no space to fit it. I was able to opt out of taking a regular history class this year because I took a regular USH course in 8th grade (Shows on my transcript). I will be taking AP Calc, APCSA, AP Lang.
I’ve heard that APUSH is a really important class for colleges, and if I don’t take it it could raise red flags. Will this hurt my chances during admissions? I’m thinking of doing a DE course related to USH, would this be able to make up for not taking APUSH?
Who told you this? What IS important is that you take English, Social Studies, Math, Science each of your four years of high school, and up to at least level three in a foreign language, and one arts class of some sort.
What social studies course are you taking this year? You should be taking something.
There are plenty of college kids who never took APUSH. But this is the first I’ve heard that an 8th grade history course would be considered a high school course. THAT is what you should be considering. IMHO, you should be taking some social studies each of your four years of high school…and at your school like most kids.
7 Likes
U.S. History of some kind is a graduation requirement in most states. Typically, a class in 8th grade would not be sufficient. You need to check with your school to make sure you’re meeting that requirement.
AP level isn’t necessary for college admission anywhere.
7 Likes
Are you taking regular or honors US history this year?
Will you have 4 years each of HS English/Humanities and Social Science/History (typically , Minimum 1 Global or World or European, 1 US, others up to you) + bio/chem/physics and another one of your choice + foreign language through level 4 or AP (3 at a minimum) + math through Calculus or precalculus + some sort of art (performing, visual, history. .)? If so, then you’re set for all colleges.
In our district a HS class taken in 8th grade does appear on the HS transcript, does count in the HS GPA, and does count towards graduation requirements so YMMV. Certainly the OP should confirm how their district works but it may well be just fine
Back to the question — APUSH is not a requirement for any college. I’d ask your guidance counselor to note the scheduling conflict in your record – they can always mention it when they write your college LOR.
2 Likes
If the class you took in 8th was a HS-level US History class and it will appear on your HS transcript as fulfilling your HS US History requirement, that is probably fine. But a DE to refresh you on US History going into college is not a bad idea.
1 Like
What was the scheduling conflict…if many at your high school are able to take apush.
It all depends on the level of college applying to…….
But how would you make room? What would you drop ?
Not all kids at top colleges take AP everything. And most college kids take few APs.
You’ll likely be fine.
But I would take it instead of CS if I could. That’s unnecessary. You should have a social science - even if not AP - if you can AP CS is good for interest but is not needed for admissions, even if you’re a CS major
Good luck.
Rigor does not mean hardest class in every subject, so don’t subscribe to this academic arms race way of thinking. What matters is that you seek rigor, enrichment, and engagement in what matters to you.
At a very rigorous, test-in type of high school, taking a couple of regular classes will not be a red flag. But this should be coupled with rigor in other areas that you are interesyed in. If you are interested in pursuing history or political science types of disciplines in college, however, you should figure out how to take it.
3 Likes
Take a regular or honors history course that fits into your schedule - it doesn’t need to be AP it just needs to be part of the schedule.
5 Likes
What other courses are you taking that leave you no space for AP US history while other students have space for it?
3 Likes
I took APUSH and loved it! Personally it was a relatively easy 5. I would exhaust eve try outlet to try and take it. BUT if you can’t maybe you can self study? I’d be willing to share resources 
Why self study? There’s no grade. Taking a class is what matters….not getting an AP score.
2 Likes
Personally I think self studying can be worth the credit! A lot of times it can look good as well.
The highly selective universities OP is talking about typically don’t give credit for AP (although public universities do) and adding an AP you self study is either neutral (doesn’t matter) or is negative (if applying to a university that requires all scores or that don’t like kids to stockpile APs).
2 Likes
Looks good to whom?
Typically admission officers are much more interested in how a student performs in a classroom setting over the term of a course rather than if a student can cram for an exam.
If you want the credit and might attend a college that accepts APs, then go ahead and take the exam. Otherwise, I imagine you can find a better use of your time and energy.
4 Likes
You can have your counselor note this in your recommendation.
Most highly selective schools will want to see min 3, ideally 4 years of history/social studies in high school, though.
1 Like
this. totally agree.
I agree taking exam just for admissions advantage or even for credit isn’t needed. However, some selective schools will give credit, though. BU and Georgetown would, https://www.bu.edu/admissions/files/2025/03/FINAL_AP-Guide-2025-2026.pdf, Advanced Credit | 2025-2026 Undergraduate Bulletin | Georgetown University
Brown sort of does Advanced Placement (AP) Exams | The College | Brown University
@ME_ME are you there?