<p>I have some questions about ap courses and ap tests. First off, how much does taking ap courses count in the application process. I didn't think that there was any requirement for taking ap courses or tests. That said, I know the app says the bare minimum and that more is expected. </p>
<p>At my school, we have never had ap classes until next year. I am a junior now, so i'll only have senior year to take them. On top of that, only 2-3 will be offered. I will take every ap offered at my school, but I don't think this will be enough. I see the chance threads of kids who take like 10 ap's and started as a Sophomore. I go to a small public school of about 750 kids total (200 in my class), and I was one of the people who sought to initiate the ap at my school. Will Harvard see this and sympathize to my lack of resources available to me.</p>
<p>I plan to take the 2 or 3 ap offered at my school in senior year, then I plan to take micro and macro economics in the summer (between junior and senior). I might self study an easy ap in the summer aswell. do you guys think that I am good enough, ap wise. I hope Harvard can see that only 2 ap courses were offer at my time at school yet I manged to take 4-5, I think this would look good on my part.</p>
<p>Colleges always look at your accomplishments in the context of your school. It’s not fair to for them to look down on you for not taking AP classes at a school that doesn’t even offer them. As long as you have been taking the most challenging courses you can, you’re doing fine.</p>
<p>They will make an effort to understand what was available to you before evaluating the rigor of your courseload. Schedule difficulty counts a LOT, but if your school doesn’t offer courses harder than what you’re taking, it won’t hurt you.</p>
<p>Also, you’re a junior, so DO NOT waste your time self studying APs this summer. The results will come out well after you get accepted to colleges, so it won’t affect your candidacy in the least.</p>
<p>thanks for the info, both post above help a lot. But i am wondering, MyObsession, to what you said “DO NOT waste your time self studying APs this summer. The results will come out well after you get accepted to colleges”</p>
<p>when will I get the results? how long does it take to get the results back, I thought it would be only a couple weeks or something.</p>
<p>I think what MyObsession means is that because AP tests are only in May, you wouldn’t take the tests until after you’ve already picked which college you want to go to. You wouldn’t get the results until the summer after your senior year.</p>
<p>^Exactly. You will get next year’s AP scores in the July before you enroll in college, so they won’t be able to weigh your performance on senior year AP exams in their decisions. So DO take AP classes, as they still appear on your senior transcript, but DON’T self study any more exams. It will unnecessarily consume time that would be better spent doing other things. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification, it really has helped. If I want to take more AP courses and test, i’ll have to do them before this May, to have them ready for the application. Is this correct?</p>
<p>^Yes, if you want to self study and have the AP scores available by the time you send in your application, you’ll have to take the AP exams this May. </p>
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<p>Definitely. I was admitted with only one AP from junior year.</p>
<p>^ if he is a junior this year, he wouldn’t be wasting his time. Results would come out in like July before his senior year. I’d say go for it and self-study things your interested in.</p>
<p>Colleges look to see that you have taken the most rigorous courses available to you, at your school. They do not penalize students who go to schools without a lot of AP classes.</p>
<p>Rather than self-study an AP class just to add an AP class to your transcript, I would suggest figuring out what classes or activities outside of school might help you develop an authentic interest that you have. </p>
<p>You could also check into community college dual enrollment programs, if any of those classes interest you. </p>
<p>Overall, I would relax on the AP issue, honestly, and concentrate on things you enjoy learning about.</p>
<p>^ I think he’s look to maximize his APs, in which it would be wise to take all available and perhaps self-study 1-2. My school doesn’t offer multivariable calculus… Should I not study it? One can take many APs and still be able to study other subjects outside of school.</p>
<p>Doberhound11 - He said that he was planning on self-studying over the summer before senior year. Not only would it be tough to remember all the information by the time the test comes around in May, but it wouldn’t count for much.</p>
<p>Thanks again, I have decided to take the AP classes at my school and micro or macro ap outside of school (but still a course). I probably won’t self study but I haven’t really decided.</p>