Rising senior here. I have recently started choosing classes for next year, and I wound up with the following schedule:
AP Biology
AP Statistics
AP Lit
AP Micro (AP Macro not offered)
Multivariable Calc (AP Weight in my school)
Accounting I & II (Honors)
PE/Health (Honors) (PE req’d all 4 years in NY)
Human Anatomy/Physiology (Honors) (1 Semester Each)
My mom, however, urges me to take an additional AP course in lieu of Anatomy/Physiology, claiming that course rigor matters in senior year as well. I believe, however, that overloading myself with extra APs could be detrimental to my college applications. And even with my current proposed schedule, I would still wind up with 4 (practically 5) AP credits at the end of the year. Does a single AP class matter when considering senior year course rigor? (Considering that I am expected to finish HS with 14 APs without the extra AP course, whatever it may be).
Assuming you have completed the foreign language recommendation for your target schools, your schedule is more than rigorous as is. One more AP will not make it any more rigorous
Well it’s university of South Carolina so clearly not a small school. She emailed them after she was accepted and asked if she should send her senior mid year transcript and activities and they told her no, that they only look at junior year and before.
I did not say it was a small school; I said it was in the minority.
And there is a difference between not considering senior year grades, which is not uncommon with large publics, vs not considering senior year course load.
To get into college? No you don’t need to add another AP.
To get credits? maybe.
Honestly I would say to get rid of AP Stat unless you really think you will need Stats in college.
I would counsel against too many APs Senior year, and this is why.
In the fall, you are in college application season. You may be taking the SAT again. You may want to visit some more colleges. You have to write college- specific essays (hopefully you already wrote your common app essay over the summer.). You have to fill out your Common App and get recommendations.
Also you may be in marching band or Sports or be a leader of a club. College Apps is like another time-sucking EC on top of that.
Then in the spring, you may have senioritis. You are been accepted to college and are looking toward the finish line. You have to study for the AP tests…it will be difficult to study for too many at once.
Stanford U says:
“We expect applicants to pursue a reasonably challenging curriculum, choosing courses from among the most demanding courses available at your school. We ask you to exercise good judgment and to consult with your counselor, teachers and parents as you construct a curriculum that is right for you. Our hope is that your curriculum will inspire you to develop your intellectual passions, not suffer from unnecessary stress. The students who thrive at Stanford are those who are genuinely excited about learning, not necessarily those who take every single AP or IB, Honors or Accelerated class just because it has that designation.”
“The College Board needs to say a similar thing about taking A.P. courses. We have data that taking up to five A.P. courses over the course of high school helps students complete college on time. But there is no evidence that excessively cramming your schedule with A.P. classes advances you. Let us say to students, ‘If you would like to take more than 5 A.P. courses because you love the class, do so, but not to get into college.’
I agree with the others - if you’ll already have 14 APs your time might be better spent crafting really great applications - not to mention actually trying to have a little fun senior year!
You have more than enough rigor scheduled as is. Please don’t add another AP because you (or mom) think it’s what AOs are looking for. If you’re going to apply to several schools, the applications will keep you busy. Outside of school and applications, enjoy your ECs and give yourself room to breath your senior year. Maybe study for AMC12 if you need something else interesting to do!
with this covid and stuff, all of us have clearly messed up, but isnt there something like you have to send in official final transcript after the end of the school year; and thats how they like make final decisions?
An applied math or statistics major’s first required statistics course will typically be a calculus-based probability theory course, not a non-calculus-based introductory statistics course like AP statistics. The latter type of course can be useful for exploratory purposes, meaning to help you decide how interested you are in statistics, but it will typically not fulfill any subject requirements for an applied math or statistics major.
100% what Bopper said.
I’d actually say your schedule is TOO rigorous and I’d advise you cut one class.
If you want to major in Applied Math, you can try and take Calculus Based statistics at a nearby community college instead of AP Stats, if that’s feasible, and get rid of A&P and AP Stats. If you dont have access to such a college stats class, take AP stats.
You’re well over whatever they want in terms of AP’s. NO ONE (not Harvard, not Stanford, not MIT) would think you’re slacking even if you cut one period (I’d cut either Accounting or A&P actually) and took a free period which will either allow you to sleep a bit more in the mornings or have a break during the day, both of which will help a lot in the Fall especially.
