<p>How many APs should I list on my college application if I'm shooting for Ivy League? </p>
<p>Right now, I know of 6 AP classes that will definitely go on my app. How many more do I need?</p>
<p>There is no fixed number. It depends on how many are offered at your HS and what is considered the most rigorous load.</p>
<p>^Second that. If your school offers many APs then you should have more than someone from a school that offers two or three. If you’re aiming Ivy then you need the most rigorous course load that you can take to have the best chances.</p>
<p>I understand that Ivy leagues really look for someone that challenges themselves, and I am currently taking as many AP’s as are allowed by my school. However, I do have the option of taking Ap classes online that would boost my AP record. The problem is, these online classes are not challenging intellectually, they are essentially a test of which student can go through the most busy work and still cope with normal course loads in school. I have taken some online classes in the past and they are absolutely a mind numbing grind. Should I take more of these online classes to boost my Ap record? They are challenging, but not in the way that ivy leagues would want or expect.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about taking these online courses. Your time would be better spend working on other parts of your app.</p>
<p>If you get 5s on the exams it will look good, the online course will probably be worthless. APs aren’t everything though, Ivies look for more than GPA/SAT you need strong ECs</p>
<p>My counselor and I had basically this same discussion; I was shooting for five AP’s next year, but she said that really, it’s how many AP’s you think you can succeed in without killing yourself and/or bogging yourself down with work. Colleges also like to see that you have a life outside of school–there’s no way you can do that if you’re cooped up inside all day with schoolwork. Schools want to know that you’re a well-rounded human being, too!</p>
<p>For those Ivies, they expect great coursework and ECs, time management is something they are looking for and many of my interviewers asked about when seeing my transcript and activities. Don’t take classes that will sink your GPA or force you to quit activities, but you need to max out your schedule for the best chance at an Ivy.</p>