<p>I was wondering what number of AP's is considered competitive? I am guessing along the lines of 5-6. </p>
<p>I am a sophomore right now and I am taking AP world history. In my county you have to be in 10th grade to take an AP and history is the only option. Junior year I am going to take AP world history, chem, physics, math analysis, and computer math. Finally during senoir year I am going to take AP Physics, Chemistry, Calc BC, and Computer math. I also have the option to take AP Lit and AP Gov but I am not interesed in the humanities. </p>
<p>I am concerned that this might not be enough AP's. In addition to that my biggest concern is that colleges wont look into it as much because I am taking them in 12th grade and it is necessary to complete before applying during senoir year.</p>
<p>@eagles94
Take what your school offers and push the curriculum as far as you can. I can’t say how many are competitive at MIT as they do look at other factors on the app; however, if there’s 4 AP classes offered at your school you should expect to be taking all 4 with high marks on every one.</p>
<p>Also, it sounds like some of your AP classes are stretched over two years? And does “computer math” mean AP Comp Sci A? And what exactly is math analysis?</p>
<p>I apologize as I’ve simply never heard of these exams.</p>
<p>Sorry about the wording. AP computer math was comp sci A. Math analysis is half precal and half calc AB. Its an advance honors class after algebra 2/trig to get to BC faster.
Yes they are streched over two years because some take longer to meet the prerequisites.</p>
<p>I still dont know if taking during 12th grade as opposed to 11th grade will effect my application though.</p>
<p>I know a number of people here who took more than 15 APs. I also know a number of people here who took fewer than 5. What do you mean by competitive? It is my understanding that 5-6 APs is not particularly unusual for an MIT applicant.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that you don’t need to take a class to take the corresponding AP exam. You always have the option to self-study APs. <em>That</em>, while also not particularly unusual, is impressive to colleges. Talk with the people in charge of APs in your school/county; it should be possible.</p>
<p>Also, you’re probably right about APs senior year. Colleges have no way of knowing your scores (because MIT has yet to be able to time travel, disappointingly) or even if you’re actually going to take the tests before accepting/rejecting you.</p>
<p>^^soon they will and they’ll start sending college prep books and admissions materials to 6th graders who they saw as future MIT students</p>
<p>I think the way MIT admissions works, and many other top schools too, is that they look beyond coursework and test scores and try to get a feel for the person based on fit and what makes them distinctive. Beyond a baseline minimum level of academic achievement, the focus is on the subjective parts of the app, particularly extra-curriculars and essays (and affirmative action). </p>
<p>So, here’s what I would say. If you can take 6 AP classes and do well in all of them, you should go for it. However, if you take 5 AP classes and use the extra time to do something special extra-curricular-wise that would otherwise not be feasible, this is the superior option. Also, colleges never chastise someone for not taking APs because the school did not offer them. The goal is to evaluate a student’s ability to pursue available opportunities, and sometimes they just aren’t available.</p>
<p>Personal anecdote: I took 5 APs by the end of junior year and am taking 6 now (this is feasible because 2 of them are semester only classes). However, in my school classes are ridic grade inflated (I think we have something like 12 seniors graduating w/ perfect 4.0s) and it is possible to stay successful in multiple APs and do extra-currics. At other schools, this just wouldn’t be possible, and that’s ok.</p>
<p>Oh, and about US Gov and Lit, I think it is important to be well-rounded and take some humanities. If you don’t feel up to either of these, I would suggest AP Econ, as econ is a math heavy social science, and/or AP Psych, a very easy test (probably class, depending on the school) that has bio components.</p>