Im going into my junior year and plan to take
US history
AP lang
H algebra 2
physics
spanish
I plan to probably go to a cal state but is only taking 1AP class fine or would it ruin my chances?
How many AP classes does your HS offer? What Honors/AP classes have you taken?
Current GPA unweighted? Possible major? Which Cal states are you targeting?
What typically matters is not the absolute number of AP courses you take, but how rigorous your course selection is in the context of your HS curriculum. For example, if your HS offers only 2 AP subjects, then taking a single AP course might still be okay. However, if your school offers dozens of AP courses but you only chose to take one, your decision may not be viewed upon favorably.
@ultimatesat that may be true for what are often thought of as the tippy top schools, sadly, but for the vast majority of schools, happily there’s a lot more leeway. There’s room to be you’re own person. I strongly recommend only taking the AP courses that actually interest you. You only need a few to signal to colleges that you’re ready for college-level work. Also, high schools often offer far more interesting topics, IMHO, than many AP courses, which I find rote and too standardized for my taste. Even top selective LACs will happily accept candidates who don’t overfill their schedules with AP classes, and instead take the courses that actually interest them. So look at what interests you, find your passion, and follow that. You’ll be happier in the long run. If you’re genuinely excited by what interests you, you’ll also do better, and you will get into the college you describe, IMHO.
@Dustyfeathers Thanks for pointing that out. I assumed that the OP was aiming for a competitive school (T20), but upon a closer re-read, realized that this may not be the case.