I’m a junior planning my schedule for senior year and I want to know if I should pick APs that relate to what I want to do in college or just all APs possible. I took one AP freshman year and am taking two this year. I don’t know the exact amount of AP classes available at my school but it’s a pretty large number.
you should take all APs you are interested and feel you would do well in because they do look at senior courseload and first semester senior grades if you get deferred.
The only thing I’d add is that during our college visit, the admissions office admitted that a student with straight “As” and relatively fewer APs would be more competitive than one who took lots of APs and got “Bs” in those courses. I’ve personally worked with many kids who got in with relatively few APs and of course there are also many independent schools who don’t offer APs any longer.
If your school offers APs that apply to your major, you need to take them. Particularly, if your major is STEM related. If your school offers AP Calc AB-BC, AP Chem, AP Physics, AP Bio, AP Stats…and you want to get into engineering, or a LSA Biology/Pre-Med…you needed to take the most challenging classes your school offers. And you need to get the best grades possible.
If you’re interested in Engineering, you probably don’t need need to take AP History, or AP Psych, but if you’re interested in Political Science, you probably should. See what I’m saying? Take the most challenging courses that support your major. Everyone should take AP English. Both, if possible.
One reason AP classes are attractive to highly competitive schools and departments… is that admissions can compare apples to apples. They are standardized and the school knows what material has been taught and what hasn’t. They’re also evidence that a student can handle college level material.
To illustrate what I mean…say there are 10 major skills taught in “Basket Weaving Class”
In Nebraska, “Honors Basket Weaving” might cover only 6 major skills.
In Vermont, “Pre-Basket Weaving” might cover the same 6 skills.
In Alabama, “Basket Weaving 2” might review skills 1-5, and teach skills 6&7
In Maine, “Basket Weaving 1” might cover 9 skills.
The names of classes, and what’s actually covered…vary incredibly from school to school and state to state. “Honors” doesn’t actually MEAN anything, nor do 1&2. But since the same AP material is taught in every state, it’s easier to make true comparisons.“AP Basket Weaving” will cover all ten skills, in every state…same curriculum.
The University can better judge how well prepared their AP students are.
Taking AP proves you’re ready for the rigor of UMich.