Hi, I’m about to be a sophomore in high school, and I want to go to Harvard. My main focus for high school is electives, leaving me to take some core classes during summer school to get all the required credits. I know that Ivy League schools want you to challenge yourself as much as possible academically (meaning take AP classes), but AP classes are only offered during the school year. I’m only going to take a total of five, both because of the summer school thing and also because I can’t take any until junior year. However, I’m going to take seven AP tests. My school offers a total of thirteen. Is this enough or should I take AP classes online (even though I hate online school)? Note: academics won’t be my main focus on my application.
When you apply to college, your guidance counselor completes a Secondary School Report (SSR) on your behalf and must rate the rigor of your course load as compared to all other college bound students at YOUR HIGH SCHOOL.
Selective colleges, Harvard included, are interested in students who have received the MOST DEMANDING rating from their GC. So long as you get that rating, you will be okay – as all selective colleges do not compare an applicant’s curriculum from one high school to another. See page 2 of the SSR, especially the top right hand section devoted to your GC’s rating: http://ugadm.northwestern.edu/documents/UG_Admissions_SecondarySchoolReport.pdf
My advice: Harvard, and it’s peer schools, do not expect students to take more AP’s than are offered at their high school. If your high school doesn’t offer AP courses, Harvard doesn’t expect to see one AP course on your transcript. If you high school limits the number of AP’s, Harvard does not expect you to have more than the maximum numbered allowed. Harvard does expect or want students to spend their summers taking AP classes or to take AP classes on-line. That is way over the top. In fact, you might actually be better served NOT taking extra AP tests, and instead spend the time you would have devoted on extra AP classes to an extracurricular activity that you love and enjoy or to getting a summer job that shows you are a self-sufficient go-getter. By doing so, you will demonstrate to Admissions that you are a multi-dimensional applicant who is not test-obsessed. And that is more important than all those extra AP’s!
Extracurricular activities should not come before academics. If this is preventing you from taking some of the more advanced classes at your school, then it is time for you to cut back. If you are applying to schools like Harvard, at least.
I strongly disagree oxox, from personal experience. That is a sad misconception that leads to unnecessary stress and to giving up activities that are rewarding (and may help people get in more than GPA). Theater 108 I suggest you include a note with your transcript or write something in the supplemental essay about how you have been doing courses in high school and why. I think that whatever you are doing demonstrates initiative, individuality and “character.”
“My main focus is electives”
This is extremely problematic if you’re truly hoping for a super selective college such as Harvard.
@compmom Harvard wants authentic students, sure. But they want students who are first and foremost, excellent at academics. If the OP is somehow missing his/her school’s main rigor courses (i.e. achieving AB or BC Calc, AP English, AP Bio or Chem or Physics) solely to bulk up on 3-4 electives each school semester, then the OP needs to realized he/she is choosing a schedule that will seriously weaken his/her application to very competitive schools.
Unless the OP plans to take these seven AP exams (and scores solely 4s and 5s) in May of his/her Junior year, they’ll be meaningless to adding to the supposed “academic initiative” of the student.
Ones you plan on taking in May of your senior year won’t come into play whatsoever.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
I’m closing this thread for now, as it seems the OP has vanished. Should s/he reemerge and wish to add to the conversation s/he can send me a PM.