I was wondering because I couldn’t seem to find the information on Harvard’s website. It recommended two SAT Subject Tests, but I was curious to know the number of AP scores the university wants from high school students. Harvard did say those subject tests are not mandatory, so does that make the same application to AP’s? I know that they set high expectations for those scores, which range from 4’s to 5’s, but what would happen if I don’t take any of those exams? Will I still have a good shot to apply successfully for Harvard? Will those GPA’s, nationally administered standardized test scores(ACT or SAT), and extracurricular back up my application? I am currently a freshman.
You get compared to what other people in your school are taking.
So if your HS offers 0 APs and no one takes APs then you will not be required to take APs.
Alliteratively if your school offers 12 APs and the average student takes 6 then you will be expected to take more than that.
In other words your rigor is determined based on what the school offers/what other students are taking.
Zero. Not all HS’s offer AP classes. Your own application will be viewed within the context of what is offered at your school. If there are no AP classes offered, Harvard will not be expecting any. If your school offers 20, Harvard will be expecting some. In all cases, Harvard will expect you to build the most rigorous schedule possible within the confines of your offerings.
Since you’re only a freshman, don’t worry too much about specific colleges and their requirements. If you’re aiming for the most selective universities, just try to take the most rigorous schedule that you are able to while still performing well.
@bomerr Check out my school De La Salle Institute. My school offers seven AP courses(American Politics, Calculus, English, French Language, Spanish Language, Studio Art, and U.S. History.)and 30 Honors courses. So I guess that means I need to take at least 2-3 AP courses in my junior/senior year if I am considering applying to Harvard?
@skieurope Thank you for the information. Unfortunately my school does not offer that many AP courses as other selective to elite high schools in the Chicago area do; De La Salle Institute(my current high school)offers only seven AP courses. Advanced Placement programs are not one of the strong areas of this school, even though it does have 30 Honors courses. My school offers American Politics, Calculus(AB, not BC-----Note: BC is offered as an Honors course), English, French, Spanish, Studio Art, and U.S. History). So I guess that means I need to take at least 2-3 AP courses in my junior/senior year?
Definitely take Politics, Calc, English, and History. If you don’t take them, it probably means you’ll have chosen a easier version of the same class or chose not to continue with that academic subject (which is bad). Colleges like the languages but only consider it if you’ve taken all the prerequisite courses before your senior year. Studio Art is completely optional imo and depends if that’s something you’re into. Just be doing more than your classmates.
@lzpare
You would probably want all of them (expect 1 foreign lang) with studio art being the most optional course.
The less AP your school offers the better because it means you don’t have to study 50 hr a week to be as competitive.
@Matt846 That sounds good I am currently taking French I so I am eventually going with French AP.