How many AP classes/honors should I take for a competitive school?

Ok in that case you SHOULD take Physics 1. You’ve had bio and chem, the next in the sequence is Physics. All three are part of a “science core” expected by all selective colleges. In addition, AP Physics 1 is easier than AP bio (it’s a more in-depth/fewer topics version of Honors Physics, basically.) Then, junior and senior year, you select one AP science class that fits your college goals best. For students who want to go into Engineering, AP Chem and AP Physics C. For students who want to go into premed, AP Bio and AP Chem. For students who want to go into Humanities/social sciences, APES + another one (not necessarily AP, or AP CS Principles). For students who want to go into a CS program tied to math rather than engineering, AP CS principles and AP CS A + an AP lab science.