<p>I have read that the difficulty of courses taken plays a large role in college admissions and I am starting to get really worried. I go to a very competitive public high school. However, students are not allowed to take AP classes until junior year. Thus, my course load was:</p>
<p>11th:
-Analysis H (highest math offered to juniors)
-English H (highest english offered to juniors)
-AP US History (5)
-AP French (3)
-Orchestra
-AP Biology (5)
-Free period (I wanted to take AP Stat or Chem, but my counselor said the course load would be too heavy. In the end, I took his advice).</p>
<p>I am just really worried because my course load was not that rigorous. I am interested in applying to the most competitive colleges, but when I look through the "chances" threads most people here have taken at least 5-7 APs by Junior Year. I am wondering if I made a mistake by listening to my counselor, and if my chances at top tier colleges will be diminished by this fact.</p>
<p>By the way, if it even matters, I have spoken with my counselor and he said that he will say that I have taken the "most rigorous course load possible" on the counselor rec. Also, compared to other kids at my high school, I know a few who did take 4-5 APs junior year. In addition, in case it helps my Senior course load is:
-AP Calculus BC
-AP English
-AP Statistics
-AP Econ
-French 5
-Orchestra
-APC Physics</p>
<p>I’m on the same boat as you, just focus on your ECs, SATs, Volunteering, etc</p>
<p>I personally ignore the chance threads, they are full of ■■■■■■ and speculators.</p>
<p>Just glancing at some of the Official Decision Threads, having only 3 APs won’t hurt you that much, in fact many of them only had 3 when they applied.</p>
<p>matlas: What your counselor told you is exactly what you need to hear. If you can only take 7 APs or w/e total, based on a school restriction, the adcoms take that into account. If you go to a very competitive high school, and make top 20% rank, that means something entirely different than being the valedictorian of a small village in Alaska. The holistic review method takes all of that into account. nks123 has the right idea, focus on non-academic things, and of course spend time on your essays. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>What matters more: what your counselor says (in their letter) is a “rigorous choice of classes” or what the adcoms think is a “rigorous choice of classes”? Thanks.</p>
<p>that’s exactly my problem though, i don’t know if the adcoms will perceive this as the most rigorous course load possible. </p>
<p>for example, i could have taken two more AP classes instead of taking Orchestra. I could have taken another AP class instead of French 5 (which used to be AP, but isn’t AP anymore). I could have taken another AP class my Junior year instead of a free period.</p>
<p>in other words, in my specific situation, i took a fitting amount of AP classes. however, technically speaking, this is not the most rigorous course load possible, as many students at my high school take more AP classes that I did. </p>
<p>I’m sorry if this is confusing, I just want to know how i will hold up.</p>
<p>You’re courseload is rigorous. Admissions people rely on the counselor to put the students’ schedule in the perspective of what the school offers/allows/requires. You’re find. Orchestra is more valuable than yet another AP course.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reassurances. However, schools like Harvard (my top choice) have historically only accept 1-2 students from my school. And, I can think of several other students from my school who have taken upwards of 15 AP classes. I am at a disadvantage? Are they more likely to get in when really they only scheduled their classes different than mine?</p>
<p>Honestly, yes. Hypothetically, if Harvard were to accept 1 student from your school, and you know multiple students with schedules that are much more rigorous than yours…you are at a disadvantage. Hopefully, you can make this up with other parts of your application.</p>
<p>I suspect puggly123 is pulling your leg a bit. </p>
<p>If there are two students (you being one of them) who are identical except for a few more AP’s on one transcript, Harvard would probably invite both. The admissions office doesn’t have a quota per school – they are trying to assemble a class of the best qualified students.</p>
<p>Rigor is not defined by counting up AP Classes. You have shown that you are willing to take a rigorous schedule. A few AP’s either way don’t make a difference.</p>
<p>ignore the “chance me” threads as they are not only a misleading sample of what appears to be the ideal course rigor that all colleges look for, but most of these people do it for an ego boost. 3APs and 2 advanced classes are just enough. APs aren’t the only things that matter, and shouldn’t be taken just so you can say you’ve taken 12 APs. </p>