My school offers 24 AP classes, and by the time I graduate, I will have taken between 10 and 12. Obviously it isn’t very possible to take ALL 24 classes, but I feel like only taking 10 when 24 are offered will make me look bad.
Some of them wouldn’t even make sense for me to take, for example, I take Latin, so I wouldn’t take AP Spanish, AP French, or AP German.
I’m also completely uninterested in some of them, such as AP Computer Science, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Art History.
Some of them are a little redundant, for example, I already took AP World, so it’s kind of a waste of time to take AP Human or AP European.
Some of them I just don’t have time for because of the pre-requisites; for example, my school offers six AP sciences, and almost all of them require you to take the introductory level before taking the AP level.
Does anyone get my point? I just feel like I’m not doing enough.
I’m interested in colleges such as USC, Santa Clara University, UGA, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, UVA, CU Boulder, Florida State, etc.
No, you’re taking an above average amount of APs as it is. This question is in the same vein as “will an A- get me rejected???” aka redundant.
Your schedule is still plenty rigorous. In my school, we can only take 2 APs by the time we apply to college. Everything is assessed based on the context of your school. Colleges won’t expect anyone to take all 24 APs.
Look at your targets like GT
It’s not how many but which ones. GT is an AP happy school. I think some of those kids start AP classes in nursery school ?..they like 8-12 but certain ones count and certain ones really don’t matter.
Also you are compared to your school. What is the “normal” amount that kids take for those schools.
Lastly, don’t take an AP if you can’t keep your grades up
I know your a great student but just saying. Some people like my son found AP classes easier then his honor classes… Everyone is different
Consider choosing APs based on natural progression and honors options you are in.
- English: AP is typically the honors option for 11th and/or 12th grade. Choose if you are in honors English.
- Math: if you complete precalculus in 11th grade, you can take AP calculus in 12th grade.
- Foreign language: AP is commonly year 4 or 5, so you may get there naturally.
- Science: after regular biology, chemistry, and physics, you may want to choose one AP science if you are aiming for the most selective colleges.
- Social studies and history: AP is often the honors option for US history, civics, etc. Choose if desired.
- Art: again, AP may be the honors option. Choose if desired.
- Electives (CS, statistics, psychology, environmental science, etc.): Choose if interested.
I think we understand your thinking. We also think it’s wrong.
“Count of AP courses” isn’t an admissions criteria. It’s not a race. If you’re taking the logical sequence of courses defined above, then you’re challenging yourself with a rigorous schedule and that’s what schools want.
Applicants who pile up an AP count with meaningless AP courses, usually at the cost of other aspects as a student/person, actually come across quite negatively.
One of the top schools (Stanford?) has stated that once you pass five AP courses, the impact on success become marginal. Feedback I’ve received from admissions staff at elite schools has indicated that they eyes glaze over one you’re past 7-8 APs. As long as they’re the right ones.
Take the APs that are logical course progressions. Take elective APs if you are very interested in the subject (my D is taking Sociology next year).
Colleges want to see you have all the cores. They want to see you challenge yourself and prove your college readiness by taking an increasingly rigorous courseload.
The ratio of AP classes you will have taken to the number of AP classes offered by your high school is simply not a factor in college admissions.