<p>I have taken 5 APs through the first three years of high school, and I plan to take 4 more in my senior year: Calc BC, Bio, Spanish, and Stats. This year I took both Macro- and Micro-economics, which were easy for me, and I have heard that these courses are around the same difficulty as Stats. Will colleges (specifically Ivy-caliber schools and others like Stanford, MIT, etc) look down on me for taking an "easier" AP, compared to some other courses? Do you think I should change my Stats class to something more challenging?</p>
<p>A side question that comes up here is that when colleges tell you to take the most challenging courses offered by your high school, do they really mean the most challenging, or is there some leeway (like with me taking Stats, which is an 'easier' AP but an AP nonetheless)?</p>
<p>Your schedule looks fine. Calc BC, Bio and Spanish are all “core” APs, and at least at my school, are known as the more difficult APs. No college will look down on you for taking Stat. </p>
<p>The bit about taking the “most rigorous course load” is not necessarily about taking the most difficult APs - it’s about your guidance counselor checking off the most rigorous course load box on his/her recommendation. Seeing that you have taken (or will have taken) 9 APs, he/she should check this box for you. </p>
<p>As far as “most challenging”, that is a question for your GC as s/he will be checking the box on the secondary school report. BC/Bio/Spanish are thought to have more rigor than stats, but nobody says that you should have a senior year schedule with the 7 hardest AP’s.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses. I was under the impression that colleges make the “most challenging” judgement, and I was worried because there are some people in my grade who have taken many more APs per year. But my counselor has told me that she respects how difficult my courses are, so I should be fine.</p>
<p>If I’m not mistaken, an AP class is an AP class. As you have already stated, difficulty is relative. So you may have one person who finds it easy and another person who finds it extremely difficult. A college won’t say, “Oh, he took Stats so he didn’t challege himself”. When colleges look at what is considered most demanding, they look at how many advanced courses you took. Not necessarily what the course was. I think people freak out about rigor too much. Just email a college and talk to your regional representative. Not only will it show demonstrated interest, you will also get the answer you want.</p>