Do I really need a bazillion AP courses for Ivies?

Applying to College
1

<p>I have been going through the early acceptance threads for the Ivy League schools such as HYP and I noticed that a lot of the kids that got accepted took a lot of AP exams (anywhere from 7-10) and scored 5 on all of them. </p>

<p>Now I'm actually quite worried that although I have the URM hook on my side, I feel that the fact that I would have only taken 4 AP courses and 1 self-study exam will not demonstrate that my courseload is rigorous enough especially if I have kids in my school who took wayy more than I did and are applying HYP as well.</p>

<p>But basically, my question is that:
Is it just me or does HYP honestly except their applicants to be able to take as many AP classes as possible (which in my case is technically only up to 7 by end of junior year for most kids unless ur gifted and taken more than 10) have a 95 or above in all classes and still expect stellar EC's?</p>

2

<p>5 AP Exams are fine. You’re fine.</p>

3

<p>It doesn’t matter how many APs you take in H.S. - what matters is that you challenged yourself. You did. You’re cool.</p>

4

<p>It depends on how many APs your school offers and what the norm for top students is.</p>

5

<p>If your guidance counselor thinks your schedule was much easier than the top kids’, you probably have no chance. If the non-APs you took were equally challenging, you’ll be fine.</p>

6

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You know the top colleges look for students that have taken the toughest courseload they can. By your own admission you have not. So unless the URM card works for you, its going to be a battle to get in.</p>

7

<p>It’s not the number of APs that matters. It’s whether you’ve taken a rigorous curriculum in the context of your high school. You’ll have a hard time at highly selective schools if you’re not taking one of the most rigorous courseloads at your high school. You’re expected to take advantage of your high school’s opportunities.</p>

<p>Also, never use URM as an excuse to not challenge yourself. It’s pathetic and is part of what leads to a lot of the complaints about affirmative action.</p>

8

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<p>I agree with that statement. I know URM siblings whose mom should teach classes on how to get out of our HS with the highest possible GPA. Her kids only took APs in classes that they could ace. They took more preAPs, which give almost as many GPA points but are easier. The strategy earned them a nice class rank and they were auto admits to the state flagship. But they did not get into their reaches.</p>

<p>(The norm for our top students is 12-15 APS. They maybe took 5.)</p>

9

<p>Lots of kids also overestimate the value of being a URM. All URMs are not treated equally. If you’re Native American and live in poverty, a few APs will probably do. If you’re an affluent Hispanic, any boost will be extremely limited, especially at top schools.</p>

10

<p>I think another factor is what have you been doing instead of taking more AP classes. APs help but there are other considerations. [Study</a> Hacks Blog Archive How to Get Into Stanford with B’s on Your Transcript: Failed Simulations & the Surprising Psychology of Impressiveness](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/03/26/how-to-get-into-stanford-with-bs-on-your-transcript-failed-simulations-the-surprising-psychology-of-impressiveness/]Study”>How to Get Into Stanford with B's on Your Transcript: Failed Simulations & the Surprising Psychology of Impressiveness - Cal Newport)</p>