<p>I'm only taking 4 AP classes(Japanese, CalcBC, CS, Physics C Mech) next year (junior), and I was wondering if it's worth it to take 4 extra AP tests for the National AP Scholar award. If I want the award, I have to take 8 tests in may next year, as I hadn't thought to self-study APs this year. Is it significant enough on college applications to warrant the extra workload?
If it helps any, CS and Japanese will be two APs that I likely won't have to study too much for.</p>
<p>The general consensus is that, at least to what I have concluded, is that you should consider going out of your way for the national award only if you’re already close to it. For example, if you were already going to have seven APs, then taking another test on something that you’d probably do well on would be beneficial.
You’d probably be best off going for the “Scholar with Distinction” title. </p>
<p>(These awards aren’t a big boost unless you don’t have any other awards whatsoever. The only AP award significant enough is the state scholar award, partially depending on what state you are from.)</p>
<p>Are you skipping Calc AB? I agree I think that’s way too far of a jump in one year. I took 7 this year but only self-studied 1. I don’t think the extra workload of 4 whole tests is worth it, but 1 or 2 extra could be beneficial to your app.</p>
<p>Yes, I am skipping Calc AB. In my school, most people go straight from Pre-calculus to either AB or BC, depending on their performance or disposition for math. Sometimes they go from Pre-calculus to AP Stats if they’re juniors, though.</p>
<p>The only reason I’m considering doing 8 AP tests is because of the AP Physics 1 & 2 tests; they’re relatively straightforward to self-study. There are various possibilities for the last 2 APs, including psychology, APES, human geography, music theory (im piano rcm level 10, but the singing portion is kind of putting me off)</p>
<p>Edit: Does it matter if I finish the National AP Scholar award in senior year, or do I have to get the award before I send in college applications? If getting it in senior year makes no difference, it’ll be much easier, because I’ll be able to take AP Stats, Gov, and Macro/Micro econ</p>
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No. It is on par, IMHO, with National Honor Society.</p>
<p>^okay, that’s a little of an understatement. From my experience, 10% of our graduating class is in NHS, but we only have about 2 national scholars each year. </p>
<p>As I said, it’s my opinion. You’ve expressed before that the curriculum at your school is subpar, which would account for only having 2 national scholars a year. In magnet schools with numerous AP offerings, national scholars are run of the mill. Since college admissions will rate your application based upon the program offered, AP national scholar will not be weighted heavily, since there is no level playing field.</p>
<p>^I agree though, the national AP scholar award is common enough that it doesn’t really retain any value. Just like NHS is so common that it doesn’t really have any value either. </p>
<p>It’s not all too common to have before your Senior year 
But really, it does nothing for you, or me really. Some pride, but I certainly slash a year or two out of the eternity spent in engineering :)</p>