So at my freshman year due to computer problems, I couldn’t sign up for any ap classes at all. The thing is next year I made sure to take as much as I can and I ended up taking 4. The year after that I ended up taking six. Now this year I will also end up taking six. So my question would be if my stagnant course rigor would matter this year. Also if my inability to take freshman ap classes will harm me. Additional information is that at most students can only take 2 in freshman, three in sophomore, and five in junior year. I luckily got to take more because of my unfortunate experience and taking spanish from other places. My school offers 23 ap courses and it is a competitive public high school that has several ivy admits per year. I still have the highest gpa even after that mishap, but I’m really just looking for what colleges might find wrong with my overall GPA rate and how they might view my class rigor.
No.
While not the case at your school, at many high schools, freshman are limited to one AP or zero APs. Also, course rigor is looked at on a macro level; there is no time or interest for an AO to look year-by-year or semester-by-semester. Finally, after about 6-8 APs total (or the equivalent), the laws of diminishing returns kicks in; each additional one will not contribute appreciably to course rigor.
That said, it’s the GC who rates your course rigor, and while I doubt s/he would rate it as anything but “most demanding,” you should ask.
A couple of things I’d add:
• It’s not an arms race where the one with the most APs wins.
• The impact on a 3.5 year weighted GPA from not taking an AP is akin to a pimple on an elephant’s butt.
It’s way too soon to worry about college at your age. Putting your self worth and identity on a school with a 95% rejection rate is not healthy. I would just focus on getting the best grades you can and enjoy high school. When it’s time to choose a college, it’s best to choose an affordable school based on your interests. Shop around. There’s a lot of great schools to choose from.
kinda confused here. You list in the past tense frosh, soph, junior years. That means you are now a senior.
Yet you also hava a post where you write
This was written back in June, at what seems to be the end of your junior year. How do you graduate early if you are a HS senior?
I’m a bit of a weird situation. Technically I am a senior, but really a junior if that makes any sense? It’s a bit complicated so I thought it’s best if I go with my actual classification.
GOOD GOD NO
Stanford:
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.