I am a junior in high school. I took AP World History last year and passed. I am now taking 4 AP classes: US history, English language, Physics 1, and Calculus AB. I am self-studying European history and Human geography. Next year I am taking 6 AP classes: English literature, US government, Mirco and macro economics (one class), Biology, Environmental Science, and Calculus BC. I will be self-studying Statistics, Psychology, Computer Science A, Comparative government, and Physics C: Mechanics
This will be a total of 19 AP tests through my high school career, with 12 of those test being in my senior year. I have looked up some statistics and found in 2015 only 52 students took 10 or more tests in one year. 76 students took 19 AP tests in total. I like that fact that I am in such a small pool of students, but will it help me if I do well?
I wanted to do this regardless as I will be the first person in my school’s history to have 6 AP classes, a 5.0 (senior year only) and most likely the highest record of AP tests taken (and hopefully passed). I am preparing by taking Calculus 2, Statistics, and a Computer Science class at my local community college during the summer. This way I can remove the difficulty of BC and focus on self-studying Physics C: Mechanics. I am trying to get into UC Berkeley as a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering major; I would like to enter the MET program at Berkeley to Major in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering and Business Administration.
I am extremely ambitious and have done things others would say impossible before. Am I crazy in a good way? Any tips for the classes I plan to take and how to balance them with leadership in clubs and volunteer work?
You’ll def stand out but it won’t mean much unless you do well which I’m sure you will. Be sure not to push yourself too hard and try to enjoy time outside of school especially since its senior year
No, you’re crazy in a cray cray way. 12 AP courses as a senior will not make you stand out for the simple reason that AP scores comes out well after college decisions have been made. Additionally, that workload will likely interfere with college applications, not to mention getting top grades in classes.
Closer to 6-8, and that’s over 4 years. But yeah, after you hit that number, any incremental AP class will have little to no impact on the application.
I am already class rank 1 at my school, I usually end up doing nothing when I get home from volunteering as I finish most if my work early. I sleep around at 8 pm everyday. I want to take all these AP test to serve as a source inspiration to my peers; maybe I can write about it in my application essays.
I’m not trying to be harsh at all, but I’m wondering from your syntax if English is your first language? Whether it is or isn’t, you will want to spend a long time writing, editing and proofreading your application essays in the fall. If English is not your native tongue, it will be even more time-consuming to do so.
English is my first language. I got an A+ in AP English last semester but I do acknowledge I am bad with syntax. I didn’t type this question as I would an essay however.
6 AP tests over the course of 4 years? That doesn’t seem impressive for Ivy league level. Berkeley Engineering is in the top 3. I can see though that eventually the number will stop looking more impressive, but they do say they want to see students challenge themselves with what is available to them.
^^ Ok, just wanted to put it out there that essay writing (as well as all the other moving parts of the application) is extremely time-consuming. I agree with skieurope that more than 6-8 APs represent diminishing marginal returns. If you are looking to enhance your college applications, I would recommend expanding the volunteer work that’s most meaningful to you.
Are you in state for Berkeley? What other schools are you thinking of?
I agree with @skieurope . There will not be a way to either prove you took 12 or prove you did well on all of them senior year since acceptances will come out before you take the tests. If you want to study for the extra 6 in order to be more knowledgeable and knock out some college credits is one thing, but I don’t see much benefit of taking 12 senior year for reasons of college acceptances.
I am a California resident, I am looking at Stanford as well, with UCLA, UC San Diego, and UC Irvine serving as back up. I am aware of diminishing returns in regards to volunteer work so I didn’t want to go crazy with it. I’ll have about 1000 hours total. I play volleyball and am involved in officer positions in clubs. I don’t plan to be in volleyball next year.
@Jpgranier I see your point. I may not be able to prove it but I can write about it in my essays. I would like for it to boost my application however I am mostly doing this for my own self-fulfillment of making records at my school and serving as a source of inspiration to my peers who think it is impossible. The only unnecessary AP test are the history ones, the others are related to my major such as AP Computer Science. I am self-studying it because the class is not offered at my school. I can justify the history exams if I get into the MET program as then it can relate to business.
“I am mostly doing this for my own self-fulfillment of making records at my school and serving as a source of inspiration to my peers who think it is impossible.”
This makes you look like a trophy-hunter, which is not an admirable trait. Pretty sure your peers aren’t going to be inspired either.
I can promise you that an essay about why you are taking 12 AP classes will not provide information that will benefit your application. This is exactly what S (and HYPM) is not looking for. Don’t know enough about the UC system to know if your safeties would value what you are proposing.
I can also promise you that creative, meaningful volunteer work can make a great essay topic.
I think unusually high number of APs will work against you during the admission process. It will looks strange at best. At worst, it will show poor management of the time that could be spent on something productive. And yes, 10-12 AP in my reference above was over the four years, of course.
@suzy100 Well for my valedictorian speech I wanted to talk about my transformation as a student. I originally had a 1.9 gpa in middle school and was told I couldn’t do a lot of things. I told myself no more excuses and now I’m at the top of my class. What I’m basically saying is anything is possible if you put in time, dedication, and commitment. I would be the last person you would think to be Valedictorian in middle school. I was inspired by valedictorians before me and from other schools near who had 4.6 gpa’s and took a total of 18 AP tests and passed.
@GnocchiB Well I wouldn’t implement it like that, more about my transition from a bad student to a good one. I do enjoy helping people and tutoring. I once left my house at 5 am to get to a beach clean up at 9 am because I couldn’t get a ride, so I walked. I wanted to show people that if you really cared and if you really wanted to, you would find a way and make time.