I read a while ago on Prep Scholar that taking too many AP courses could hurt your admissions chances, but it didn’t specify what exactly that meant. I’m assuming that it’s because it’ll seem like you’re just doing AP courses for the sole purpose of boosting your application, but I’m not sure. I have a genuine interest in many subject areas and I want to challenge myself in the AP courses that I take. I would like to take AP: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Psychology, Computer Science Principles, Computer Science A (Java), Calculus AB, English Language and Composition 1 & 2, and Music Theory.
Should I try to focus more on one subject, like taking Physics 2 instead or something like that?
What would your schedule be like, year per year?
Taking a lot of AP courses can lower your GPA at some schools, the way they do weighting. It can also lower your GPA if you don’t get the best grades in the courses. It can also be a flag if you don’t take the AP exam or do poorly in the exam. Another way you can get dinged is if you take ancillary AP courses (Psychology, Geography etc) in place of the solid academics whether those are AP or not. Also, if you are taking a lot of extra courses in lieu of developing yourself in other ECs, it can give the AOs the impressive that taking as many of these courses that you can is a major advocation on your part, which is not particularly interesting.
Taking certain on line AP course, as self study can be very helpful if you are at a school that doesn’t offer much in those solid APs It adds rigor to your curriculum and shows that you are motivated to stretch yourself. But taking scads of them instead of being active in your community , especially the non solid academic ones, is not a good idea most of the time
What would be considered as “solid academic” subjects?
You should only take AP classes that are of genuine interest, or, if you plan to attend a college that accepts them as credit and in place of intro level course, take the ones that will serve that purpose. If you are interested in AP Psych, take it. If you are interested in AP chem, take it. If you do not like physics, don’t take AP physics just to take an AP.
Personally, I feel that there are people who look down on some APs as being too lightweight. Generally, APs in core subjects would be Lit and Lang, Bio, Chem, Physics, US history, calc, and foreign language. But there are many APs offered, not at all schools of course, and, if you’re intent on presenting a rigorous schedule, you should choose a balance of ones that truly interest you and ones that will, hopefully, at least be used for placement at most colleges.
First - please be careful about what you read at Prep Scholar. I’ve found way, way too many simply false data points, and they censor their comment section when they are pointed out.
My D has 13 AP courses in her 4 year plan - all logical sequences based on what she’s taken to date. I’m certainly not going to have her take an Honors class instead of the AP version because it somehow “looks” bad. But if she wants to, based on interest/performance, that’s fine too. Take what you want, at a level where you can succeed.
All of the ones you have listed are fine. Some folks self-study what are considered “easy” APs - Human Geography and Environment Science are popular - and the marginal value of that is low. But everything you list would be mainline HS coursework, with the exception of Music Theory, which is fine for someone with musical interest/talent.
Too many core AP courses is like recommendations that are too good, SAT scores that are too high, etc.