Hello. I am a junior looking to apply to many of the top business schools this fall. I have already taken four AP courses but want to take as many as possible by the end of my senior year. Thus, taking an additional AP course over the summer interested me. I asked my guidance counselor if that was a possibility, and she stated that I am free to do so, but it would not show on my high school transcript. Given this, it is possible to submit my course grade separately? Also, will colleges consider that AP course with less weight since it is online vs. in-person at my high school? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sophomore (APs):
AP Computer Science Principles
Junior (APs):
AP Computer Science A
AP English Language/Composition
AP Statistics
Senior (Anticipated APs):
AP Calculus AB
AP Economics
AP English Literature
AP Psychology
If you want to take another AP over the summer you are free to do that and you then must submit the transcript from the online school along with your HS transcript. My question is why? You will have taken 8 APs in HS so IMO one more won’t make a meaningful difference in terms of college admittance.
Have you met the other required HS courses in foreign language, social studies, science? You can google the common data set of each school you are applying to and see their recommended/required HS courses.
Understood. My thought was that taking an AP class over the summer would look impressive to colleges as it would show that I am willing to go above and beyond to get the most competitive course load possible. Additionally, I have not taken an AP history course yet, so I thought I should do at least one of those before I graduate.
I have met all the requirements for the colleges I am looking at. Thanks for the great advice.
Again, I don’t think one online summer AP class will move the needle in terms of college admissions. I think your time could be better spent elsewhere (ex. working, starting your college essay etc.) Your AP English classes have demonstrated your proficiency in the humanities. But if you really want to take the class nobody here can/should stop you.
Colleges are not impressed with AP classes or exams taken outside of regular school. PERIOD. Why? You have free time and they expect you to develop yourself and your personal interests. They do not want a community of test taking drones.
Well I think if there are AP courses your school doesn’t offer in an area of specific interest/potential major in college (e.g. psychology, economics, statistics, etc.) and you take it online, it would be viewed favorably as exploring your interests/passions, taking initiative, etc.
I think that an approved AP course taken through an accredited secondary institution will be accepted just as well as one taken through a student’s high school.
I also agree that a 9th and subsequent course will be of very marginal value, regardless of where it’s taken.
The student specifically asked about looking impressive and having the most competitive courseload possible. Taking summer AP classes online doesn’t help with either. Doing an organized summer program, internship, volunteering or job shadowing related to your personal interest and potential career interests? Those absolutely show interest and initiative.
You are not the first student to think that, but every single AO I have ever spoken to has been 100% clear: self-studying / adding extra APs does not impress. Doing extra academics does not in itself impress. The exception is when it is part of an over-arching piece of your application- and even then it is considered in the context of ‘what else could this applicant have been doing with this time?’.
Work on your business(es) this summer, and as you do think about what you will write in your essays about how what you learned from your experience(s), and (this is the crucial part) how that has shaped and is shaping the next set of choices that you are making. That second order thinking- and the actions that go with it - will impress AOs more than an online class in a subject you aren’t even interested in!