Hi! I’m going to be a junior in high school next year, and I’ve been thinking about how many AP classes I might be taking. Since I’m passing this year abroad, I wasn’t able to take any this year and have only done one my freshman year. My top choice universities are all Ivy League levels, so I know APs look good-- especially if I can pass them while maintaining my GPA. Would that be possible with five APs in one year? The prospective ones are:
AP US History, AP English Language and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Government, and AP French 4.
Thanks so much!
If you have a history of good grades and study habits, those five should be manageable.
For ivy-level colleges, however, I would consider getting the biology-chemistry-physics trifecta under your belt, before taking APES, though.
Thanks so much!
Ivies make it clear this is not an AP arms race. And, it’s not about just passing them and keeping gpa. We don’t even know if your unweighted gpa is on track.
Jr year is when most kids up their rigor. Tippy top colleges DO expect you to manage that rigor, not sink because you overloaded. You could drop APES (impresses few) and pick up a needed lab science. But be prepared to work and get help, at the frst signs you struggle.
You know what looks better? What @Groundwork2022 said: “getting the biology-chemistry-physics trifecta under your belt, before taking APES, though.”
I intended to take AP physics my senior year because I’ve heard it’s more difficult that APES, but APES supposedly has a report with politics (which I want to study in University) so I figured it was a relevant course. Would it be better to switch and take physics junior year? My unweighted GPA is around 4.0.
Some “report with politics” does not replace the need for rigor in lab science. Nor your future major. Of course, AP physics (or other AP lab sci) is more difficult. Adcoms know APES is one of the easier. Frankly, I’m not keen on AP govt, (or macro/micro) unless you’ve taken APUSH, AP Euro and/or AP world. They’re the first social sci cores.
Have you even looked at what your targets recommend for high school course coverage? You cannot state Ivy or tippy top in one breath and then ignore what THEY want.
You’d need to look at your own past course strength and grades to get an idea if you can handl this volume. Plus, the right ECs and other experiences will matter.
I’m in the law magnet of my high school so AP Gov is a requirement for me at any rate. As far as what my target schools want, all I found was “APs that reflect working towards your desired major” (international relations for me) and “one in each core subject.” I’ve taken in physics in France but I know the curriculum will be very very different in the USA, so I’d be going in a little blind, and science is also not my strongest subject-- hence why physics terrifies me.
Minor dissent.While I agree that APUSH is more important in the grand scheme of things, govt is a requirement in many states (as in econ) and I personally feel APUSG and APUSH are great concurrently, if the schedule works without impacting another core subject.
Yes. Core courses are more important than electives, and that overrides,IMO, the few synergies that exist between APES and APUSG.
Ok. I know some hs require a track or academy. But your interest is in an Ivy and you need to be Tippy Top savvy.
TTs do NOT just want rigor in your desired major. The competition is crazy fierce. Kids will have rigor all around, if their school offers AP. It is not “one in each core subject.” They’ll see kids with 3-4 years of rigorous social sci classes, eg. Even STEM majors. What about AP bio or chem? Or honors?
One of the things TT colleges want is kids who seek and process the info available, weigh it, then make the best, informed decisions.
I said Ivy League as a a bit of a generality— Georgetown, GWU, and Claremont McKenna are my top three choices in the US (their acceptance rates are insanely low) but I’m also looking at schools in England which require passing an insane amount of APs in a short amount of time in order to replace British A levels (because the SAT/ACT means nothing to them).
Ski, Idon’t dsagree. I don’t personally know that a requiremnt for govt is widespread. But too many kids take the govt (and/or micro-macro) route, throw in some sociology or whatever- and miss the basics of US, Euro, and/or world. The pillars. The usual explanation is: my future major. But that desire can’t replace them.
OP does show plain old USH, but hasn’t mentioned math.
And as far as ec’s go, I’ve done band since 6th grade and participated in a creative writing group for equally as long. Also, I’m also a member of Alliance Français and take extra french courses through them (a part from my high school)
OP, you need to seriously look at what the colleges say- or you’re shooting in the dark. Band and writing, French club and lessons won’t be a big tip. Good, but far from done.
What do you do that reflects an active interest in IR (aside from Alliance and time abroad,) and for needs in your community? Miles to go, to make yourelf compelling. You have time. How you us it is an important deision.
I spent a year studying abroad and a summer in Argentina volunteering with a legal organization that focused in human rights. I’ve also volunteered with the student exchange organization and next year I plan to volunteer with Spanish immigrants (easy seeing as I live in Texas). It wasn’t an ec but I also speak three languages (Turkish being the third)
Apart from that I don’t know and am more than open to recommendations.
No British school requires an insane number of APs. Cambridge requires the most - 5, but 3 is pretty typical,which mirrors the typical 3 A-levels that British students present. The challenge, of course, is that you need 5’s on the APs for many top UK universities.
OP only listed APs; I assumed (perhaps in error) that precalc was the math.
yep getting the fives is the fun bit
Ok, great start with the IR things. But the recommendation from me is: you have to dig into what the colleges do say and show. First, they want kids with this awareness and follow through. Second, you get to pick where you apply, but the pick theindividuls they want. You’ll need a solid answer to any Why Us questions on the app (and that may be a direct question or indirect.) You have to be able to self match- not just what you want in a college.
Alright great thanks so much!