[url=<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1809916-very-curious.html#latest%5DThis%5B/url”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1809916-very-curious.html#latest]This[/url] thread says the OP is a junior, so I’m guessing they don’t plan to apply to colleges as a high school sophomore.
@wonderfulreads is right. If you’re coming out of high school, you should always apply to colleges as a freshman. Your AP exam scores might allow you to have sophomore or junior standing once you get to college, but this will be determined after you’re accepted and decided to attend the school. Also, having sophomore or junior standing doesn’t mean you’ll graduate in fewer than four years; it depends on whether your credits actually meet the requirements you’re supposed to fulfill. When I graduate from college, I will have been a “senior” for three years and it doesn’t have an effect on anything.