How many APs are "enough"?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

My school doesn’t allow for APs freshman year and only a few sophomore year unless you advance. Most of my friends advanced a level in math and science and I didn’t so I feel like I have a much lower chance in getting into top schools. I did one sophomore year and plan to do three next year with two honors, which makes four APs after junior year. :confused:

Is that “too little”? I don’t think I’m capable of self-studying for a test and senior year, colleges won’t be able to see my APs score until after. I plan to do 4-5 APs senior year. Thank you. I know it depends also on ECs, SAT, etc. but I’m wondering if I should find something to advance in order to get enough AP into my junior year schedule which will be:

AP Chem, APUSH, AP Lit, Honors Pre Calc w/Trig, Honors Spanish IV, Culinary Art

2

Many schools restrict the number of AP’s freshman and sops can take, if they allow them to take any at all. You are not alone. :slight_smile: Colleges will take that into account. Even if there were no restrictions, IMO, the law of diminishing returns kicks in once you reach 6-8 AP’s over the course of your HS career. You can certainly take more than that if you want, but each add’l AP will not add appreciably to your application. Good luck.

3

@skieurope okay thank you! it’s also that people in my school have much more APs than me because almost everybody in my grade skipped geometry before ninth grade and will have AP Calc next year and skipped a science, allowing them to take an AP science, I just worry so much about it lol and I would skip, but those programs are expensive. My friends paid around $3k for their summer chemistry class last summer. Thank you!

4

Colleges will also recognize that some families have the means to do this. Those students without the ability to do so will not be disadvantaged in the admissions process.

5

There is always going to be someone who is “ahead” of you so you might as well stop worrying about it and do what makes sense for you.