Hi, I think this thread might already be posted. If so, I couldn’t find it. I want to major in Computer Science and Mathematics, so I can start my career in Artificial Intelligence. One question I have been wanting to ask, the question whose answer even my parents don’t know, because we are from a different country, is how many AP classes will be enough for me to get into a good STEM university. I am thinking about 7 AP classes- AP Stats, AP Calc BC, AP Economics, AP Physics, AP Chem., AP Comp Sci A and AP Comp Sci Priniciples. I have not thought about doing AP’s in any language subjects, since it is my weak area. What do you guys suggest. I am entering my Sophomore year soon, and I need to start thinking about AP’s and colleges. Any advice is appreciated. Thank You
It depends on your school. In general, if your school has limitations on AP classes, such as not being able to take any until junior year, and/or limited numbers of APs, then 7 is a good number. If your school offers 20 APs, and everyone takes ten, then seven might not be so competitive. Your app will be assessed as compared to other students in your school and if the counselor ticks the “most rigorous” box on the app.
7 APs is plenty.
Good universities pay closer attention to your GPA and Standardized tests scores, than how many AP classes you take. There is no race to see who can take the most AP’s.
What they DO want to see is for you to take increasingly harder classes over your 4 years.
So, if you can handle it AND get great grades, try 1 AP next year, 2 your Jr year and 4 your Sr year.
Spread out the science AP’s- dont take BOTH Physics AND Chem the same year- that could be a grade killer.
The AP Comp Sci Principles seems like it overlaps with AP Comp Sci, and AP Stats is a class for kids who cant handle AP CAlc BC, so if you can, I’d take 1 AP Humanities class- APUSH, and 1 AP Language class- AP English language, chose one of the Comp Sci classes, and skip Stats.
What foreign language are you taking? Lots of good colleges expect you to have 3-4 years of FL, and for many the 4th year is an AP class.
@AJ1003 as the other posters said, you should take the most rigorous courses that you can (reasonably) take - if your school offers no AP’s, then you aren’t expected to take AP’s. Doing something like USACO or learning a programming language on your own might be as good as use of time.
Course rigor is considered an important factor at many top schools, sometimes even more important that test scores. AP courses is one way to demonstrate course rigor. But there is no fixed number but in the context of your school.
Make sure your academic program has room for courses in history and the humanities, even if you want to study STEM
My kid loved AP Stats. Stats is a field in its own right and she could see how it would be applicable in her future studies.
I am applying for medical school. @menloparkmom and @Lindagaf how many APs do you think that I should take? I make sure that I get 5s on all the APs that I take. I am in my sophomore summer and I am gonna be a junior next year.
I apply to college at the beginning of senior year. So, without including all the APs that I take senior year, I have 4 APs. I took AP Chemistry last year, and this year I am gonna take AP Biology, AP Physics 1, and AP Psychology. I am really into these science so I am pretty confident that my score and exams are good.
But, all my friends have 7 APs before applying and they consist of things like AP World, AP Lang and Comp, and AP US History. But, I only have 4 before I apply.
Do colleges look at the AP Courses that you are gonna take senior year? Does that add to the AP count? Because, if they do, I will have 9 total APs for high school. All my SATs and unweighted GPA and grades and AP Scores are good, but I am really worried about my AP count because everyone else I know at least 3 more APs than me. I am not that good at English and history so I limited those APs.
Can someone tell me if my AP count is good enough for applying to something like John Hopkins and uPenn Medical School vs Rutgers or RWJ Medical School.
Thank you so much.
Read post 1 again, @ShrutiSapphire . And you should create your own thread, as you are hijacking this one. And it’s “going to” not “gonna.”
7 is enough. Don’t try to cheat the system with easy classes and get a high GPA with easier ones and take a spot from a more deserving student with a tougher workload. I know a girl who took only 1 AP and got into Michigan, it was honestly messed up that SHE, the person who didn’t have many EC’s, didn’t challenge herself in HS, got into a university as good as MICHIGAN, and that others more deserving were rejected. It makes me sick.
As far as I know, no college has a fixed minimum number of AP tests to take. 7 is more than enough and showing that you’re at least passing AP classes shows that you can handle rigorous coursework college may throw at you.
If you at least pass or get a certain score on an AP test, you can use your AP credit to skip it’s corresponding class in college! That way you’ll have less courses to take and save money! I know it’s different for each university, but I think some of the ones you’re taking can transfer over such as Calculus and Chemistry. Note that you may have to score more than a 3 (minimum score for passing) on certain tests to get college credit and skip a class. For example, I had to score a 4 to skip English I and II at my university. I know you’ll do great and hope everything works out for you.