For the top schools and Ivys, a question.

<p>Well, I am currently a junior. I currently have only one AP: Chemistry. </p>

<p>I signed up to take Physics I Honors, Spanish III Honors, AP Stat, AP Literature, AP Calc AB, and AP Bio next year. I am also taking AP Gov and Politics over the summer. </p>

<p>My school offers 15-16 AP's max. Most top kids take 4-5. If I do this schedule, I will have 6. My rank is about 15. 4.0 UW. 4.58 W.</p>

<p>If I keep up my A's with this senior schedule, will it help reduce the bad fact that I am only taking one AP this year? I know colleges see your senior schedule and grades, but will it be bad that my junior year was not very good? If anyone can harness details or personal experience I would appreciate it very much.</p>

<p>Honestly, it’s too late to change the choices you made for your junior year (only one AP). Taking six will help, but just be sure that you don’t get in over your head with too many difficult classes. You are the only one who knows what you can manage and what you can’t manage. The last thing you want is to take all these APs your senior year to make up for your junior year and then get bad grades your senior year. And maybe you could have your counselor mention in their letter of rec that most kids only take 4-5 APs at the most and how you have challenged yourself…that kind of stuff. I think colleges will be understanding.</p>

<p>Could you self study for one or two AP tests this year, such as English Composition and U.S. History? There are review books that would help you, and your regular courses may have also prepared you somewhat for these tests.</p>

<p>^If you’re going to self study, and you’ve never taken an AP before, you should not start off with content heavy ones like APUSH. Go with Psych, Human Geo, Envi Sci, Stats, or something else that’s easy.</p>

<p>There’s a thread about self studying in the AP part of the Testing subforum.</p>

<p>So long as you have a total of 5 APs, you’re fine. Some people here really go overboard, but 5 is a good number that is fine for top schools. It’s also what else you do, the leadership, your scores, etc. </p>

<p>If 4 APs next year, plus the 2 honors is over doing it, back off. And fact is: not everyone even gets a chance to take any APs (junior year or otherwise), so it doesn’t matter when you took Chem. (except I look down in self-studying because you’re just doing that for the test, not for the learning. But that’s my personal preference.)</p>

<p>Just be sure you have 5 by senior year.</p>

<p>Limabeans and collegehappy are correct! The top universities and LACs do not expect you to go overboard with the APs. You need to make sure that your schedule is rigorous given the options available at your school.</p>