My public high school is highly ranked (top 100 in nation), but it has this stupid policy where we can’t take APs sophomore year and can only take 3 junior year. I can’t overload my schedule with, like, 7 AP classes senior year because the courses are really rigorous and time-consuming (going back to the whole competitive public thing). I’m worried because when I apply to colleges, I’ll only have 3 AP scores, and I don’t even know how many AP classes will be on my senior year schedule. Will that negatively impact college admissions? I’m a sophomore, 2350 SAT, aiming for Ivies. Should I self study some APs?
Why not? If you feel that you can do it, then do it! Trying is better than nothing, in the end. I actually had a sort of similar situation (GC wouldn’t let me take more than one AP because I needed to finish a bunch of grad requirements) so I ended up self-studying 2 APs. I don’t think the lack of AP classes will hurt your chances, per se, because they’ll know that your school has that policy, but showing that you went outside the comfort zone to challenge yourself is probably a good boost.
Make sure that you’ll be able to handle the extra studying, though. But anyway, a SAT score like that? That’s cool! Best of luck!
EDIT: I don’t think you have an especially unique AP situation, BTW. A lot of my friends go to super competitive schools that also have the same policy. In any case, being proactive is your safest bet.
Colleges take everything into context. As long as somewhere on your application you clearly state that you were only allowed to take 3 ap’s jr year and none sophomore year it will not be held against you. Beware…do note self study to look impressive because it doesn’t. Self studying only provides you with an ap score and ap scores are barely looked at if looked at at al.
Yeah similar situation here. Got into APs last and this year, but will only be able to take 3 junior year. Silly rules. Going to self study.
No. Your Secondary School Report will include a copy of your school profile, which will explain the school’s limitations on AP classes. Your situation is far from unique.
For admissions purposes, no; it won’t help your application and your time could be better spent elsewhere.
Okay, maybe I should’ve been more clear, but what worries me is that the school offers 15 APs, so that’s going to appear on the school profile. It’s not like there’s a limited selection. Also, the whole limited APs isn’t an official stated policy, it’s just that scheduling policies and graduation requirements, as well as the sequence of classes, precludes taking APs before junior year.
Then let the GC address it in the SSR. Every other student in your school faces the same roadblocks.
This is ok. There are a lot of schools where students aren’t allowed to take AP classes until Junior year. Also, this will be brought up by the school and the colleges to which you apply will be made aware of this. If you go to a top 100 school, I’m sure good colleges have accepted students from your school who have also had to deal with this rule. If you really want, you can take extra AP classes online or self-study them. Best of luck