<p>My school has a general limit of 3 APs for juniors, although there are some exceptional kids that take 4. However, because of all sorts of limitations, I am only able to take 2 APs this year. Since I will be compared to others from my school, would having only 2 APs while many others have 3/4 hurt my chances greatly?</p>
<p>Because of the 2 APs situation, I will be self-studying several APs on my own. Is doing well on self-studied AP exams enough to compensate for not taking the class at school? My counselor tells me that colleges prefer for students to actually take the class, but since I won't be able to do so, would self-studying be just as impressive? At the same time, does having self-studied AP score show colleges that I have the willingness to work hard on my own? Thanks for reading this and please give me some advice.</p>
<p>You can’t take more APs at school, so you’re going to do the next best thing, self-study and ace the tests. That’s the best you can do; colleges will look at it favorably, but no one can tell you exactly how much, so just do it and don’t over think it.</p>
<p>It also depends on where you’re intending to apply. At most schools in the U.S., the average applicant has taken 0 APs in his junior year. I only took 2 AP classes in my junior year and was offered a full merit scholarship at several mid-ranked schools (one of which I attended; it’s a top 100 liberal arts college). It’s only at a small handful of colleges in the U.S. where you would be expected to take more than two AP classes.</p>
<p>But generally speaking, I don’t think this will be a problem. Even if you chose not to self-study the APs I don’t think it will be a problem.</p>
<p>Entomom and juillet have given you some solid advice. If you can’t do it, you just can’t do it. What I’d advise you to do also is mention somewhere in your application essays as to why you couldn’t take those extra APs if you possibly can. That way colleges will know you were in a tough situation and will take that into consideration when reviewing your app. Best of luck on those APs! :)</p>
<p>Thanks a ton for all of your feedback. However this:</p>
<p>“But generally speaking, I don’t think this will be a problem. Even if you chose not to self-study the APs I don’t think it will be a problem.”</p>
<p>is what I’m worried about. What if the self-studied APs don’t make a difference? A lotta people say that AP scores don’t even weigh at all in application review, and that they only matter when you’re transferring credits after you’re accepted. This makes me really worried because I don’t want my efforts to end up worth nothing. Also I’m considering schools like Princeton, Columbia, UCB, NYU etc. How do those colleges favor self-studied APs?</p>
<p>AP exam scores are mostly ignored for college admission application. You don’t even need to submit AP scores but just optionally self reporting them in CommonApp. Self-studying for any AP exam is only worthy when your school does not offer that class (or enough AP classes) or if you want to achieve a higher level of AP scholar before college application. The main purpose of AP exam is for college placement and credit. Many senior students may even skip the AP exam if they know the credits would not be counted by the colleges that they have been accepted. On the other hand, having AP classes would show your rigorous curriculum. This is as critical as your class rank and GPA and they all link together. Taking 2 AP classes in junior is not a problem at all as long as it is not far off from the norm in your high school. You may look up your high school profile and find the percentage of students taking AP and the average number of AP taken by graduation. That would be the standard the admission office compares you with. Many high schools, particularly smaller ones, don’t even offer more than a handful of AP classes. While many students in California would have more AP by graduation than the total number of AP classes (including 5 foreign languages that no one would take them all anyway) offered by my daugther’s school. And yet, there are students going to Ivies, Standord, MIT, etc every year.
Before you try to self study any additional AP, make sure you would do excellent in all other classes and standardized tests. If it would hurt your GPA or PSAT/SAT/ACT scores by self studying additional APs, it is really a stupid idea. If you can really handle them all, there is nothing to stop you although it may not be necessary after all.</p>
<p>We do not ignore AP scores for classes taken. Nor are we necessarily impressed by self study. The key point is which APs. If you want stem, better include math-sci classes. The choices should make sense. Not just be some drive to have any AP. Nor who tells you that you can self study for a high score. Regardless of what hs kids tell each other, the class experience usually matters.</p>