Taking Rigorous APs vs Easier APs?

Applying to College
1

Do colleges care about the # of APs?

or do they look closely at which APs you take? - as some (AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Physics, APUSH) are definitely more challenging than AP Music Theory, AP Human Geo, AP Psych, etc

As an extreme, if a student takes 5 APs (AP Human Geo, AP Psych, AP Music Theory, APES, AP Microeconomics) as opposed to 2 APs (AP Phsyics C and AP Calc BC), which one would have a better shot at the top colleges?

thx

2

You should expect the more selective colleges to consider both the number of AP courses and which ones you took (in the context of what is offered to you).

Of course, the student who takes 5 AP courses which are calculus BC, English literature, one of biology/chemistry/physics, US history, and a non-heritage foreign language or art/music, will probably be seen more favorably in terms of choice of rigorous course selections than either of your examples above.

(This question seems like a variant of “A in easy course versus B in hard course?”, where the answer is “A in hard course”.)

3

bump