<p>Is it possible to get into Harvard without taking tons of AP classes? What about if a person only took a few their senior year but still got perfect grades (like 95%+) in all of them? Assume they have good test scores too (33 ACT and 2200 SAT)</p>
<p>If you took all the courses offered at your school, absolutely! </p>
<p>If your school offered 7 courses and you took 3, Harvard (or any selective college for that matter) will not take that lightly.</p>
<p>Everything is taken in context. Someone will not be penalized to taking few APs (or other high-level classes) if there are few APs to be taken. But they will be penalized if his or her school, like mine, offers 25+ APs and they’ve only taken a few. Schools want to see that you’ve taken advantage of the opportunities that your position offers you.</p>
<p>and you can self study like i have for a few :D</p>
<p>My school offers one AP. I guess some would consider me lucky?</p>
<p>If you take no APs but your parents have given lots of money to the school oryou get recruited as an athlete you can get in.</p>
<p>It also depends on your school’s AP policy. My school offers 15 APs, but I’m only going to end up taking a total of 6 because we aren’t allowed to take APs until junior year, and even then only a limited number because of the prerequisites everybody has to go through first.</p>
<p>I came from a school which offered no AP or IB classes, and got in with roughly similar test scores and grades to those your hypothetical student had. From what I’ve heard from the mouth of an admissions officer, Harvard wants you to make the most of the opportunities you have in your high school; so, if you have APs/IBs/A-Levels/whatever, then take them. But if they aren’t offered, don’t worry about it — you definitely still have a shot.</p>
<p>@GlobalDolphin: I had none of those extra things to bolster my application. It can be done.</p>