How do you impress harvard people with ap's?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>Ok, I'm taking the most ap classes in my school. I took 3 as a sophmore, and i am taking 7 this year. This is above the norm at my school by a lot. How can I make a big deal out of this? I know my GC is going to because my school is all about AP (we have the most aps offered in the state, and have had the ap state scholar for the last 2 years in a row)</p>

<p>Harvard and everyone on this site never seems to be interested in the number taken. is that how it works? is this not a big deal? are they gonna think i took them just to get into harvard? I hope not.</p>

<p>Also, Im getting an A in all of my ap classes, but i bet i'll get mostly 4's on the exam with some 3's and a few 5's. the on the 3 exams i took last year, i got a 3, a 4, and a 4. (i blew bio, i expected a 5)</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>(everyone tells people who havn't taken many that ap classes arent that big a deal, which reassures them and makes me nervous) thanks for your help!</p>

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<p>There is a fellow whose cousin is my friend who has taken about 20 APs, getting 5s in all but one. He was accepted EA.</p>

<p>I believe that is how Harvard can be impressed.</p>

<p>And after all, it really doesn't hurt to take as many APs as you feel capable of taking AND have a strong interest in.</p>

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<p>People don't make a big deal out of the numbers because it depends on your high school. There is no other way to interpret the numbers. In my school, for example, juniors can only take AP US History. I took three AP tests, which is the most my school had ever had. I didn't make any "deal" out of it. I took the English Comp with no prep because my teacher thought I'd do well, and I took Statistics because I'm ahead of the math curriculum and that was the first year it was offered at my school (meant for seniors).</p>

<p>You need to stop obsessing over college. Take your classes, study, and do well. Find activities you enjoy and pursue them.</p>

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<p>I took 15 AP tests by junior year, but didn't think too much of it because of people like policymakers friend. I knew this was above average, but I guess I never really expected to impress the Harvard Admissions board with this number.</p>

<p>After all, I'm sure they've seen a lot. Still, it doesn't hurt to be among the top 10% :-P</p>

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<p>Well, I mean i took a lot for my class. No ap's are allowed frosh year, and i took as many as my school allowed. Dang, im pretty sure i can handle all ap's, and i hate the stupid rules that limit you. Another thing, If i do the all ap schedule next year like im planning too, i would be able to win the ap state scholar award, but if you do win an award like that, it will be too late to put on my app. how do you deal with that? (forget about it?)</p>

<p>Yeah, i think it is kind of lame how, depending on your school, you can be limited. my school has a lot for our state, but i guess compared to a top prep school or some gigantic school in california, we have nothing.</p>

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<p>i will have 15 by end of junior year too, does this help with like academics? dont they give u an index?</p>

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<p>I really don't think taking exorbitant amounts of APs will help you THAT much. Surely it will help you, but the time spent to amount of help ratio will be huge. You can spend your time doing something that can help you far more in less time than studying for 20 APs.</p>

<p>Just my two cents.</p>

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<p>Remember quality over quantity guys.:)</p>

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<p>I think taking the most rigorous course load offered is your best bet.</p>

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<p>OMG....why do yall do it to yourselves?! There is ALWAYS going to be someone with more APs, and test scores for that matter.</p>

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<p>makes me cringe...20? i barely have half of that.</p>

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<p>I agree, Harvard would like to know how you will benefit your community with a Harvard degree. At some point taking too many AP’s and not having enough EC’s will hurt you.</p>

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<p>“on the 3 exams i took last year, i got a 3, a 4, and a 4.”</p>

<p>First off, taking a gazillion AP’s and scoring a 3 or 4 will not impress Harvard, which does not grant AP credit for anything less than a 5. See: [Advanced</a> Standing: General Information](<a href=“http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~advising/advanced/general.html#2]Advanced”>http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~advising/advanced/general.html#2) As evil_asian said: Quality (not quantity) is the key.</p>

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<p>As people have said: Imagine two people:</p>

<p>Person A takes 10 AP tests by the time he applies: He has 5 3s and 5 4s.
Person B hasn’t had the opportunities person A has had - but he’s taken 4 tests and gotten 5s.</p>

<p>If I was a Harvard admissions rep, I’d prefer applicant B over applicant A based purely on AP scores.</p>

<p>I think there’s been a topic once that said that relatively few people (300’s a number I’ve heard thrown around) achieve the National AP Scholar award by the time they’re applying to colleges. I think that this would impress the Harvard Admissions Committee.</p>

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<p>^ I doubt it’s only 300. Nat’l AP Scholar just requires that you score a 3 or higher on 8 or more AP exams by the end of Junior Year.</p>

<p>And OP, if you want to impress Harvard with AP’s, scoring 3s and 4s certainly isn’t the way to do it. I would suggest you cut down on the number of APs and try to score some 5s.</p>

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<p>^ while this may still be applicable. Do note that this thread is 4 years old.</p>