National AP Scholar - Worth Self-Studying 8th AP?

Applying to College
1

I plan on applying to MIT, and by the end of junior year (sophomore right now), I will have taken 7 APs. My school did not offer Human Geography as a freshman, so that is one AP I lost. Here are the ones I have taken so far, and I think I got a 4 or 5 on them:

AP Statistics
AP Computer Science

Here are the ones I plan to take (as a class) next year:

AP Calculus BC
AP English Language
AP US History
AP Computer Science Principles
AP Physics 1

For the 8th AP, I think I might self-study AP Psychology (or Environmental Science), but I’m not sure about that. My course load is already relatively rigorous, and I don’t really want to put too much strain, as I am also going to be working on my extracurriculars. I plan on taking 6 APs in senior year (English Literature, Government, Physics C Mechanics + E & M, MicroE, MacroE), but that would be too late for applying to colleges.

Also, I know that the BC exam gives you an AB subscore. Does this mean that you can count AB as another AP credit altogether?

2

No, sub scores don’t count as another exam they only count exams that you pay for individually. I don’t really think the National AP Scholar is that big of a deal but if you’re going to self study for another AP I would self study AP Physics 2 that way you would be fully prepared to take the SAT 2 Physics subject test in May.

3

No - its a waste of time pursuing another AP for the sake of that silly award. In and of itself it adds zero value to your app.

4

Only the “non profit” College Board will be pleased with your decision. MIT won’t care.

5

National AP Scholar is no more that a certificate that you receive in the mail, and a way for CB to encourage more testers. If you want the certificate as a personal goal, fine, but if you are doing it because you think it will help your resume don’t bother-it is useless.

6

Taking AP Computer Principles will not look good to college AO’s. It will look like you are AP or GPA grubbing and is like taking Algebra 1 after Algebra 2.

7

@moscott I disagree there is nothing wrong with taking AP Computer Principles, my ds18 took it before it was even an official AP class and enjoyed the class. DS20 plans to take it too.

8

National AP Scholar will not mean anything to MIT. Sounds like you are taking the most rigorous schedule at your school and that is what they will look for.

9

This will not be too late. In fact, your senior year schedule will be a focus for an AO. Forget self studying for another AP, your senior schedule will be enough.

Good luck!

10

Self-study APs are not worth much, if anything to adcoms at selective colleges. Use the extra time on an EC or for more sleep!

11

@3scoutsmom Has nothing to do with being an enjoyable class. It’s perfect for kids with little or no CS experience but makes no sense to take AFTER AP CS which is more advanced. Class will be boring and repetitive. Zero reason to take the class then to add an easy A and AP class add on.

12

@3scoutsmom @moscott I’m taking AP Computer Science Principles because of two reasons. First, I want to get a recommendation letter from the engineering teacher who teaches that course (I had him in freshman year and I will have him again in senior year), and because I want to get the PLTW credit, but that is of less importance. If I didn’t take that, I would have to take AP Chemistry, which I really don’t want to. Besides, I enjoy programming and will probably study some more advanced Python in that class.

13

@3scoutsmom @moscott Also, that course wasn’t offered when I took AP Computer Science A, so I couldn’t have taken it beforehand. Thanks for the suggestion anyways.

14

I forgot to add this to the original post, but in senior year, I am also taking Calculus 3 + Linear Algebra at a nearby college (Fairfield University).

15

@moscott They are totally different classes and cover totally different material Comp Sci Principles isn’t a programing class. There is no repetition.

At our school the comp sci sequence is:
Comp Sci AP-> Comp Sci Advanced-> Comp Sci Independent Study 1-> Comp Sci Independent Study 2

Comp Sci Principles can be taken any year. AO’s will look at your all your classes and will not look down on someone for taking AP Comp Sci Principles.

DS18 took it in 10th grade after taking Comp Sci AP and at the same time as Comp Sci Advanced and did not find it boring at all. DS20 will take it in 11th grade the same time he’s taking Comp Sci Independent Study 1

16

I think you are getting way ahead of yourself. Focus on junior year. By the way, do you know how much time AP US History will take in your schedule? This one course took 75% of my S’s time in junior year - volumes and volumes of reading.

One step at a time.

17

@STEM2017 total agree, I could not believe what a time suck AP US History was for DD16. DS18 took US History on-line DE this year and it was much less work and freed a spot in his schedule for another class. DS20 will do the same.

18

@STEM2017 Actually, I am taking an “APUSH” class right now. My school splits APUSH over 3 semesters, and in the second semester of 10th grade, we take the first semester of APUSH. Homework takes me about 2 hours (which will be the same for next year), and I have an A/A- right now.

19

Its good to have a plan and to be motivated. But your plan is VERY aggressive. Again, I think you are getting ahead of yourself.

You are planning on Calc 3 and Linear Algebra at Fairfield and you haven’t even started Calc BC. What math class are you in now?

You are planning Physics C Mechanics + E & M and you haven’t taken Physics 1 yet.

Why Macro AND Micro AND Government? I would definitely drop at least one of those. Does your school offer any interesting electives?

What is your guidance counselor telling you?

Your transcript should tell a part of the story about you. The story I am reading is “I jammed in as many APs as possible.”

20

Unless everyone in your school is taking ten APs, I don’t see the need to take six on your senior year. High grades are the most important thing. It will be tough with six APs.