<p>DS took 16 - all 5s except for one 4, enough for State AP Scholar in our backwater State.</p>
<p>DD will have 14 through Sr. year.</p>
<p>What does DS and DD mean? LOL</p>
<p>DS=Dear Son
DD=Dear Daughter</p>
<p>Is it true that self-studying Ap’s doesn’t matter ?</p>
<p>I was thinking about self studying 2 AP’s -or even more-(provided that I could manage) so as to show my passion for a subject, namely history. I thought that this was a good idea as I would enjoy studying for those tests and at the same time it will look good on my application. (Junior year - I will have 4 AP courses and 1 higher than AP - will take 5 AP exams based on school classes). </p>
<p>Also, is it impressive to know several foreign languages ? (by “know” implying taking SAT Subject test). </p>
<p>I am advanced in English and French (English doesn’t count as a foreign language, but meh, since I am not a native …) and ok in Spanish and Italian. If I worked my butt off, I could get high scores on SAT Subject (about 750) - I’ve done several practices tests in these 2 languages and they seem fine.
My question is: Is it worth it ? I have a flare for foreign languages and I like them so it wouldn’t be like striving for sth I hate, but is it a plus to know 3 foreign languages other than English ???</p>
<p>[I would submit Italian and Spanish Subject Tests as additional ones; I will also have French with listening, Math IIC and Chemistry)</p>
<p>13 classes, 13 tests.</p>
<ol>
<li>Biology (10)</li>
<li>World History (10)
3/4. Calc AB & BC (11 - two classes, took only BC exam)</li>
<li>Chemistry (11)</li>
<li>CS AB (11)</li>
<li>English Lang (11)</li>
<li>French Lang (11)</li>
<li>US History (11)</li>
<li>English Lit (12)</li>
<li>Microecon/Macroecon (12 - one class)</li>
<li>Physics C: Mech (12)</li>
<li>US Government (12)</li>
</ol>
<p>There are kids in my program who only took two or three AP classes, but in general I think the top students have around 11-15 APs over four years. I think this type of pattern proliferates in schools that aren’t quite “elite,” where the quality of the student body outstrips the resources of the school and students overload their schedules to approximate rigor.</p>
<p>(or alternatively, where the school is unable to provide rigorous honors classes)</p>
<p>Seems decent.</p>
<p>again, i ask how the colleges would know what your school is like and what context to judge you in.</p>
<p>I’ve done 19. Colleges determine context by looking at your class rank and seeing what your counselor checks off for course load. If you have 3 APs but you are the valedictorian and have “most rigorous” checked off, then they’ll know that you’re doing the max at your school.</p>
<p>right, forgot about the counselor part. my school doesn’t rank students, though.</p>
<p>I took 2 so far. 2 in freshmen, 2 - 3 in Sophmore. so like 4-5 maybe.</p>
<ol>
<li>I’ve technically taken 11, but I canceled one of my scores this year (before I actually heard what it was).</li>
</ol>
<p>i got 14 5s during soph and junior year (4 and then 10), but then i didnt take any this year (cuz last was definitely a waste of… 860? dollars). junior year i remeember was awfull cuz i selfstudied like 7 tests (the physics b, and both cs are NOT very friendly if youve never taken a physics class.)</p>
<p>I took 13, at a price of $2 each. My school has some wonderful AP subsidies. </p>
<p>And I haven’t gotten a single credit for any of them…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yes, it is more of a resource problem. We have too many students, and too few teachers. The APs are limited mostly to juniors and seniors, and only in senior year do we have the full liberty of picking any AP we want. Even then, we have to go through a stressful admissions process just to get into the AP we desire, because there are just way too many people, and too few classes available for us all.</p>
<p>I’m an upcoming senior and so far I have taken 4. I would’ve taken more but due to AP classes being the same period I had to choose between two. For next year, I signed up for 5 APs but I probably only be able to be in 3 because of schedule conflicts and not enough students signing up for a certain course.</p>
<p>I will have taken 16 by the time I graduate, I am from Florida, anybody else from Florida top that?</p>
<p>I have to wonder about anyone taking 15 APs. Isn’t this excessive? Our high school only offers 17 APs of which five are languages, four are sciences, three are math, two are english, and one each for psych, APUSH, and Studio Art. Other than psych, AP courses are only offered for the full year. I took AP Biology as a sophomore and could take AP Physics and AP English, and APUSH as a junior. I’m only taking AP Physics and AP English as a junior. APUSH is a lot of work and not many kids get As. I’m more interested in sciences and languages anyways. Only about twelve kids take Calculus in their junior year. These are the kids who are really pushed by thier parents (they really aren’t any smarter). Senior year, I will take AP Russian, AP Spanish, AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, and maybe AP English. This totals 8 APs.</p>
<p>So those of you taking so many APs, do you ever sleep and do you have time for ECs? I do a sport year round which require 2.5 hours of practice five days per week, so I really have to consider my time constraints. Am I going about this all wrong?</p>
<p>^no, you aren’t.</p>
<p>I took a total of 11 AP exams (most concurrent with IB courses) and played football for 4 years. It was very difficult, but I would have been a less interesting applicant had I taken every AP I possibly could (maybe 3 or 4 more) and not pursued the ECs that I did.</p>
<p>henrymoore’s assertion that state AP scholars take ~20 is patently false.</p>
<p>
I play 3 Varsity sports and have taken 8 APs as of Junior year. If you can manage time well, it’s not too difficult.</p>
<p>I’ve taken 5, but one was Macro/Micro econ, making six exams. Pretty decent I guess, but nothing like you people. I’ll have 4 more next year tho. I guess I could have taken two more junior year, but I doubt it will hurt me.</p>
<p>^ It won’t. The effect of APs on college admissions is pretty minuscule.</p>