I’ve already decided to major in computer science and now I want to know whether or not I should end up loading my schedule with ap classes( around 4 or 5). Most I know claim they are taking around 4 ap classes just to look good and they also take sports, but they don’t know what to major in. I don’t know whether or not I should take more ap classes or just take as many as I think I can do well in. Any tips?
Pros to taking a lot of AP classes:
- Intellectual stimulation
- Weighted GPA
- College credit with satisfactory scores on the AP exams
- Increased rigor for college applications
Cons to taking a lot of AP classes:
- May need to study more
If you can hack it, take it. But if your grades or happiness will drop, take fewer. Taking a lot of AP courses, and scoring well on the AP exams (score of 3+) can help you get into better colleges, earn merit aid, start school with some credits. Taking a lot of AP classes does not necessarily mean you know what you want to major it. It provides multiple advantages.
In my high school, the way some teachers taught made the AP version of classes easier than the non-AP version of the classes. Unfair for the kids who werent all about grade-grubbing and inflating GPAs.
It depends on where you hope to go to college and if you hope to get merit scholarships. The higher “ranked” schools will admit you the more AP’s you take. If you can get a high B or an A in the AP, it’s probably best you take it. In most high schools, the AP version is much more difficult, since you are prepping for the AP exam.
If you really don’t care for the subject, or you think 5-6 AP’s is too much, then give yourself a little break on one or two.
You should only take AP classes where your teachers have said they believe you’ll get a B or higher. If accumulating APs will decrease that likelihood, then it’s not worth it. Check with your GC what the policy is to “drop down”.
Finally, having 3 “core” APs and one “light” Ap will be worth more than all 4 "light Aps with 1 core.
Another con I hear of from students is that they memorize and forget for some of their AP classes instead of learning. The best approach is to limit APs to subjects that interest you or you are good at.
My kids took as many APs as they could because that was where the “smart” kids were. They were glad to be out of regular classes. To some degree that’s going to depend on your school.
Take as many AP’s as you can. It shows that you are taking a rigorous courseload and are challenging yourself as most as possible. You have to balance the AP load with getting a good GPA. So if 4 AP’s is good and 5 AP’s will sacrifice your GPA, then go with 4.
@TheDidactic My junior year course load consisted of two AP and three honors. However,the AP classes I took were the easier/elective ones. I now have a senior year courseload set for next year with 5 AP classes of much higher difficulty. Do you think I will still have a shot at top colleges even though my junior year was not very rigorous?
Also, Im planning on taking two college courses at a CC over the summer (calculus and macro). Do you think this will aid to the rigor of my courses and help me strengthen my application?
Yes you will be good. Sounds like you have a solid plan laid out for a rigorous courseload!
You should be fine. I got into great schools having taken only 6 APs in my high school career.
@SternBusiness For future reference, do not hijack a thread; it is considered rude. Start your own discussion.
As long as you can get nothing less than A-, take as many AP as you want.
@billcsho Cool the exaggeration.
OP, don’t just take AP classes for the sake of taking AP classes. Take something that you have a genuine interest for.
@Sternbusiness And you. You need to cool it. All of that is not necessary to get into college. You don’t have to just swarm yourself in school work. AP is AP and colleges view it as such. “Easy” is relative and varies based on the school.
Note however that adcoms do not care for the “everything but the kitchen sink” approach to AP.
Even the Ivy League only wants to see 4 to 8 APs, total, for a high school career, mostly from the core APs (English, Calculus, Foreign Language, Social Science, Science).
I would say that going from 2 light APs to 5 core APs will be tough. Ask your GC NOW what the process is to “drop down” to honors level (for example, if you’re thinking of taking AP Gov, will you be able to take Honors GOv if after a month you realize you can’t handle 5 APs?)
I took a total of 3 AP classes and have a 3.69 UW. I got into Barnard, Columbia, UCLA, UC Berkeley and UCSD. I have two friends who took 9 or 10 AP classes and had stellar grades and test scores. They both got rejected by Barnard and Columbia. Go figure. Same school, same background.
If you wish to take AP courses, take them for the right reasons. Do not take courses so you can ‘look good’! If you have a genuine interest in the material being taught and you think you can handle the work, then sign up. AP courses can be used in college to get you to the next level in an area without having to take the introductory course. But which courses will count and the scores needed are different at different colleges and universities, so the answer to your question is specific, not generalizable.
@CaliCash I just wanted to know the importance of course rigor, because it seemed to me that you need the most rigorous course load possible to get into top colleges.
Ask your GC about the definition of course rigor at your school. You don’t really need to take most of the APs available. In most cases, 6-8 APs are considered very rigorous even if your school offers 20+ APs. Nevertheless, it is your ability to determine how many AP you should take. Do not overwhelm with AP and suffer in GPA. If you do have the ability to maintain a great GPA and getting A- or above in all classes, I don’t see why you want to take easier classes and give up the opportunity in getting AP credits or better placement in college.
Colleges are looking for students that took the most rigorous courses that their school offers. What they also want to see is that you did well in them. So, it depends on what your school’s most rigorous courseload is, and whether or not that is doable for you.