I want to be an engineer and possibly to go UPenn,Cornell, or Harvard. What are the top APs that they would value the most?
IMO, getting to the highest level of math offered in your school, plus AP Physics C and AP chem will be the most helpful for a foundation in engineering, regardless of where you go to college.
In general though, competitive colleges want to see high course rigor across subject areas.
I’m going to twist your question a little. In order of “my sons received the most benefit from,” I think these are also well respected APs and I’d advise you to take APs that help you learn the subject best, not to help you stand out. For reference, my oldest is a Senior in CS/Applied Math at UMD, the other is a first year at UChicago, probably majoring in the social sciences or humanities.
APEuro (this class taken as a Sophomore by both really taught them how to look at historical events and their causes. The current First Year at UChicago says this high school class was easily the best prep class he had)
APLit and APLang. Really helped them with writing critically. Both went in feeling a little skeptical but both walked out loving these classes.
APCalc AB and BC: My oldest might put this a little above the Lit and Lang,
APUSH: My 2nd thought this was a great class, my oldest did not take it.
APPhys Newtonian Mechanics: Prepared them well for college like science classes
One or Both also took the following: AP Psych, AP Comp Sci, AP Phys elec and magn, AP Chem, AP Comp Gov, AP Econ, AP Stat I don’t think either thought these classes were terribly important to their learning nor did anything above the ones listed above. I suspect some of this grouping may be influenced by the HS teacher, but none offered much above the ones listed.
Minimum high school preparation generally for engineering:
- Math through precalculus or higher.
- High school physics and chemistry. For some majors, biology also.
- General well rounded base high school curriculum.
However, a small number of colleges (including Penn and Cornell) specifically want engineering applicants to have calculus while in high school. If calculus is offered to you in high school, it is generally preferable to take it if you want to be an engineering major. AP calculus may give subject credit or advanced placement in many colleges.
Obviously, if you have the opportunity to take AP level chemistry and/or physics (and/or biology for some majors), that can be an additional plus. AP chemistry or physics C may be given subject credit or advanced placement in some colleges.
Of course, taking AP level in other subjects (e.g. English, history, etc.) can help you in these areas, and possibly give you subject credit or advanced placement in general education courses.
If you want to explore your interest in engineering, and PLTW or similar courses are offered, they may be worth taking. The same goes for AP CS principles with respect to CS.
Engineering is a competitive major, so I would try for Calculus BC or higher, and AP Physics C. Next up would be AP Lang because communication skills are critical in engineering. PLTWs offer excellent electives for engineering, but don’t take them at the expense of your cores.
As an aside… why Cornell and Harvard for engineering? As long as you’re reaching high, there are stronger schools for that field of study.
Getting the highest available math courses at your high school is one of the priority. Most of the time its either AP CalcBC or multivariate. Along with math, Physics is a must especially AP Physics C. Depending on your area of engineering, AP Lang is also another one due to the communication skills required in engineering as well as AP Chem or Bio depending on the engineering area.