I’m an incoming freshman, and my goal is to go to Stanford… I was looking into my school, and they only offer 4 AP classes! This appears to be a minimal amount when compared with what I’ve seen online. I’ve read into taking online AP classes, but don’t really understand that. Could somebody give me some insight as to how those work by any chance? Also, how much will only 4 APs hurt my application to elite universities?
You are not expected to take classes that are not offered at your HS.
Which four, and do they align with your academic interests?
There are students who get admitted to Harvard or Stanford with just a few or no APs, that won’t be held against you as long as you take the most rigorous schedule available. Still those that do get admitted tend to shine in other areas just like those who have 12 APs under their belt.
Which 4 APs?
What classes did you take freshman year and Her classes are you scheduled to take junior year?
Does your school offer IB, AICE, Dual enrollment also called PSEO, running start, concurrent enrollment)?
What state do you live in?
Why Stanford?
Rigor is compared to your HS, not across the country. Take what your HS has.
Btw, if your HS offers only 4APs and you’re aiming for selective colleges then you should take all 4.
But complementing with dual enrollment/PSEO classes is common.
My daughter’s HS offers no APs, yet classmates over the last 2-3 years were accepted to Stanford, Cornell, Wash U, Vanderbilt, Harvey Mudd, etc. You will not be penalized for what is not offered at your HS.
Your HS sends a “School Profile” to colleges to let them know what is offered at your school.
As others say, you can take all of the APs and perhaps more college level courses through Dual Enrollment at your local Community College.
My kids’ HS only offered four. Kids could only take them senior year, and they set it up so it would be tough to take more than two. We had some kids admitted to Stanford, but most of them were hooked. But… that is probably true for lots of HSs with more APs — hooked kids are the ones getting in. Kids from our HS are getting into Ivies, other top universities, and top LACs regularly.
What sort of universities do most kids from your high school get into? What about the top students?