<p>My math teacher said today that the most selective colleges in the nation look at # AP's from a student. If he/she doesn't have 7 AP's or more, he/she is automatically rejected. It sounds really sacry...I thought this definitely can't be true at first, but when I try to think of someone who got into the most selective colleges with less than 7 AP's, I couldn't come up with anybody...so did anyone get in with less than 7 AP's?
Thank you.</p>
<p>That isn't true at all.</p>
<p>My school only offers 10 APs (but three languages) so realistically one can only take 7-8 tests. We haven't sent anyone to MIT for four years though...our only Ivy last year was UPenn. Sad, for one of the best high schools in Indiana.</p>
<p>No, that is not true. From my experience with other college applicants I can tell you that is not a valid statement. Not all high schools offer AP courses. In fact, a number of highly selective institutions of higher learning are not granting credit for all AP courses even if you have a 5 on the exam. Too many people study to the test and know nothing about the subject matter once they matriculate at university.</p>
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<p>Based on the thousands of apps I saw last year both in selection committee and as a reader, I can tell you that the average # of AP's for admitted kids was 5 or 6 (that's total for all 4 years of HS - i.e. 1-2 per year if evenly distributed). Many admits (most likely the majority) had no college classes. The most common AP's taken were in math and science (no surprise, it's MIT). The overwhelming majority got 4's and 5's on all tests.</p>
<p>I'll pause here to add that I frequently saw kids with perfect SAT scores and perfect grades and a gazillion AP classes get rejected. Why? Because often these kids knew how to grind, but brought nothing else to the table. And that's not who we're looking for at MIT. We admit kids who show genuine passion. Sure AP's can be one of many passion indicators - but I emphasize one of many.</p>
<p>When I was on the road, kids asked me repeatedly whether or not they should take a given AP class.</p>
<p>"Well," I'd respond, "would you be taking it because you genuinely want to, or simply because you think it will get you into college?"</p>
<p>Sometimes they didn't know the difference, which is a tragedy that deserves its own thread. But I digress.</p>
<p>And this is where you all start saying that adcoms are talking out of both sides of our mouths: we encourage kids to follow their hearts in the choices they make, and then as adcoms we want to see that they've taken "the most challenging courseload."</p>
<p>To which I say: guys, I work for MIT! If a kid doesn't want to be taking a challenging courseload in high school, that kid is certainly not going to be happy here.</p>
<p>Quite simply, the students who are happiest here are those who thrive on challenge. Most of our admits have taken AP math and science because they would have been bored silly in the regular classes. Indeed, they genuinely wanted to take those classes. They don't look at MIT as the prize; they look at MIT as the logical next step. It's an important distinction.</p>
<p>That said, AP's are not the only way to demonstrate that one is passionate and likes challenge. Read Anthony's story for an example: <a href="http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/misc/miscellaneous/hello_im_anthony.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/misc/miscellaneous/hello_im_anthony.shtml</a></p>
<p>When faced with the choice, we will always choose "the right match*" over numbers. We're not lying when we say that. You've heard me beat that sentiment to death in other threads, so I won't do so here.</p>
<p>(*Match = mission, collaborative spirit, hands-on, balance, character, and passion, among others.)</p>
<p>But the reality is that when you have 10,500+ applications for ~1000 spots and 70% of the pool has great numbers, your pool is going to have plenty of kids who have the passion and the match and the scores/grades/AP's. So we admit those kids - what other choice do we have?</p>
<p>But then (understandably) you guys say "Look! You need X, Y, and Z to get into MIT!" To clarify, we don't require those things; many of our admits just happen to have them. And, I might add, for the right reasons.</p>
<p>This brings me to the more important part, where we toss my affiliation with MIT out the window and I give you my thoughts as a parent.</p>
<p>There is only one coin. There are many sides to the coin, but there is only one coin. And you can flip it however you like.</p>
<p>So when a parent says to me, "Why does HYPSM put so much emphasis on AP's?" I reply "Why do you put so much emphasis on HYPSM?" When a parent says "My kid's value as a person/student shouldn't be measured by how many AP's he/she has taken" I say "...and your kid's value as a person/student shouldn't be measured by whether or not he/she goes to HYPSM." I could go on and on.</p>
<p>There are literally hundreds of amazing colleges and universities out there (some of which actually admit kids with no AP's!). Many of them would actually be better matches for your child. Many of them would provide your child with a better education. Most importantly, many of them would ultimately give your child a greater sense of happiness and fulfillment. The right match will do that.</p>
<p>And the match goes both ways. We try to determine if your kid is a good match for MIT. Your kid should be trying to determine which school is the best match for him/her. As a parent, what are you doing to help him/her figure that out?</p>
<p>Here's a hint: if you're spending time obsessing that a lack of AP's is going to keep your kid out of Stanford, you're missing the point.</p>
<p>As I told the kids in my blog, I had a wonderful college experience that I wouldn't trade for anything, at a school that is currently only #23 on the USNWR LAC list (The HORROR!). I got a phenomenal education and can certainly hold my own against any Ivy grad. As a bonus I got to grow up, get married, have kids, buy a house, land a great job, and enjoy life.</p>
<p>I took one AP class in high school.</p>
<p>Make sure your kids are choosing their schools for the right reasons. Name, status, "brand" - these are not the right reasons. Let your kids be kids. Let them follow their hearts. Encourage them to have a present, not just a future. Don't let them define themselves by which colleges accept them - and don't let them define themselves by doing things only to get into certain colleges.
. .</p>
<p>Mine only offers like 6 APs. and only 3 in math and science but I only took 2 of those since we could only take EITHER Chem 2 H or Bio 2 AP. The Chem 2 was Honors only since we couldnt fit the labs needed into the school schedule. I took Chem 2 only cause my Chem 1 teacher said that I had no choice as to which one I could go in since I was good at Chemistry.</p>
<p>Will Take: Physics AP, Cal AP, W Hist (in honors not AP)
Didnt: Bio, Eng, Am Hist.</p>
<p>I got accepted. Still questioning how that happen. Admission officers must have either felt sorry for me or accidently switched up my file with someone else's.</p>
<p>Ha!</p>
<p>I took 3 APs (US History, Government, and English Lit). I still managed not only to get into MIT, but also to graduate.</p>
<p>My son was accepted EA last year - he only had 2 APS (AP Physics and AP Calc) he did also have 1 college course. But his high school only offered 3 AP courses, the third was Spanish 5. So is not true.</p>
<p>In case you are not convinced yet; In DD case 3 AP's(Calc, Stats and Human Geo).</p>
<p>With all due respect, your teacher is full of crap.</p>
<p>7 is the cutoff for consideration, but face it - you really need more like 10 or 20 APs if you want a fighting chance.</p>
<p>(I'm joking)</p>
<p>really, would you want to take environmental science just to get into hypsm?</p>
<p>EDIT: I found it funny that the first post is by "bah". :D</p>
<p>eh, that's not true but I don't think it would hurt either to have taken (and gotten at least a 4) 7 APs</p>
<p>Sure it could hurt. It could hurt a lot, especially if you didn't actually want to take them and only did it "to get into a good school." It could hurt a lot if you sacrificed time with your friends or playing a sport you love just to study for an exam in a topic that didn't interest you so you could impress some admissions committee full of people you've never met before.</p>
<p>You may think I'm taking an extreme view, but believe me, people do this. And it's not a good idea.</p>
<p>Of course, if you take 7 APs because you want to and that makes you happy, go for it. Any other reason for taking them is probably wrong.</p>
<p>I'm not so sure about that Laura. You can take APs because you want to learn the material, and you can take APs because you're driven. I'm weary of the constant patronizing of the other motive. Taking APs should happen because they are the logical next step and you don't want to take easy classes. But I took 4 APs as a sophomore and I was really too young to to be eager for the material or to say they "made me happy".</p>
<p>Well, I think not wanting to take easy classes can be the same as taking classes because they make you happy, right? I mean, if you like a challenge, then you take difficult classes. </p>
<p>I think the problem is with doing something for college admissions that you wouldn't do on your own anyway. If you're psyched about science and you've taken the prerequisites, you might want to take AP Physics, college admissions or no. But if you're not interested in art, and you take AP Studio Art just to reach some artificial AP quota, that's a little sad.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the feedback...so people do get in with less than 7 AP's...
Please don't blame my math teacher, he's just sharing with us some information he himself heard from someone else.</p>
<p>I think college admission officers are pretty aware of the fact that taking more APs (or self-studying) requires time that can be spent on other pursuits.</p>
<p>selective colleges want kids who challenge themselves. If your school offers 20 APs and you have only 3, you better have a GOOD reason. This is what I think Laura!</p>