I am in the 9th grade(classes: Geometry, Biology, Spanish 2, regular Social studies, and Lang. and Lit.) right now and I am planning to take 11-12 ap classes.
The AP classes I plan to take: AP bio, AP chem, AP physics, AP Calc. AB, AP Calc. BC, AP Stat., AP Euro. History, AP Psychology, APUSH, AP Lang. and Comp, AP Lit. Comp, AP Spanish.
Full ride scholarships (which are extremely rare) are usually based on your grades, your standardized test scores, and some other supplemental material like essays and extracurriculars. They are not typically based on the number of AP classes you take.
In fact, the more AP classes you take the more difficult it will be to get high grades, so your strategy may backfire.
Speak to your guidance counselor about the right balance of AP and non-AP courses that will enable you to maintain high grades and remain competitive. I would also try to focus on STEM related APs since that seems to be your interest.
I don’t think you should plan to take APUSH and AP Euro if you are only taking regular social studies. Those are some of the most demanding APs and if you can’t even handle honors 9th grade social studies, I don’t think it’s going to go too well for you. Also, some schools have policies that might not even let you into those APs from a non-honors class, so you should make sure you understand your school policy on APs.
Test scores are more important for scholarships.
Also, how are you planning to take both AB and BC calc? You still need to take algebra2 in 10th grade and precalculus in 11th, don’t you? I don’t see how you are on track to reach BC calc unless you go to a semester style school and can take two sequential classes in the same year.
You need to map out a 4 year plan for hs and see what the course sequences and prerequisites are.
I would say that I am a student that can grasp new concepts easily. Second of all, I understand my school policy and I know what I can/cannot do. Lastly, after geometry this year, I will either be placed in algebra 2 and trig B or C(depending on how well I do). The B course only allows students to take AP calc AB and ap stats their senior year while the C course allows you to skip pre-calc and take AP calc AB/Ap stats and AP calc BC senior year. Remember, this is just a plan.
It comes down to what you get on the AP exams. If you get 2’s on all of them, chances are colleges won’t accept them and all of your effort will be for naught. Colleges focus on a lot of other factors like GPA, ACT, and extracurricular activities other than AP classes. AP classes are really only for you. All they do is help to decide what classes you need to take or what classes you are exempt from taking because you did well enough on the AP exams. Colleges will see your rigorous coursework, and as well as you have a decent GPA, colleges will consider this when you apply.
Some universities will cap how much credit they will give you for AP’s.
So, your attempts to take as many AP classes as possible can backfire, especially with the amount of work that you haven’t seen yet. It’s not about taking as many APs as possible.
Additionally, if you have your face stuck in a book for all four years, that won’t make you a good candidate at a large number of universities. You will need to have some activities to balance those studies and that’s when your grades start to take a dive if you can’t handle the material and the activities.
What is important is GPA and SAT/ACT scores. Also colleges look at how challenging the classes you took were.
At some point, though, too many APs make it difficult to do well.
I agree…you should be in honor Social studies…and what about honors Bio?
Are you lower income trying to get a 'full ride’at an elite ‘meet need college’ like Yale or Vassar ?
Or are you in the 180+k income bracket trying to plan how to qualify for merit scholarships?