How many AP courses should I take for a selective school?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

How many AP courses should I take to appear competitive by selective schools? I plan to take at least 10, and at most 12. My school offers 25 AP courses, which are…

Social Studies

Economics Micro/Macro
United States History *
World History
US Comparative Gov/Politics
US Gov/Politics *
Psychology
Human Geography *

Science and Math
---------------------------------------------------Calculus AB *
Calculus BC *
Multivariate Calculus (not an AP)
Statistics
Biology *
Chemistry *
Environmental Science
Computer Science
Physics 1 *
Physics 2
Physics C *

Arts

3D Design
3D Design (Digital)
2D Design

Languages

Chinese
French
Spanish *

English

Literature and Composition *
Language and Composition *

Is 10-12 AP courses enough to be taken seriously by a selective school? I’ve put stars aside the classes I plan to take or if I have room to take. Aside from the twelve courses I’ll take in school, I would like to self study 4 others.

P.S. I want to major in engineering.

2

There’s no point in self-studying APs unless you want to skip introductory college courses. It adds nothing to your transcript, especially if you’ve already taken the course.

3

You should take the most rigorous schedule you feel you will be successful at.

4

I concur with @JustOneDad‌

The law of diminishing returns kicks in after about 6-8 AP’s. Every course after that is not going to move the needle any more, and you may be better served using the time on other aspects of your application which may need some more polishing.

@topaz1116 is also correct. Other than potentially getting you some college credit, or skipping intro courses, self study will not enhance your application.

5

Enough.

However, @skieurope‌ 's theory is about right. Getting up to National AP Scholar is really the max benefit

6

Definitely don’t self-study the APs. You’re school offers enough of them. I think the one’s you’ve selected to take are rigorous and they’re definitely the “harder” of all the APs. If you feel you can handle 10 to 12 APs (over the course of your high school career, I’m assuming), then by all means go for it. I personally find 5 APs in a single year a lot of work, but at the same time, it is manageable. You really have to know how to manage your time with APs. Study a little each night, and you should be okay.

So yeah, I think 10 to 12 is enough. Increase the numbers of APs you take each year by 1 or 2.