<p>Does it always have to be the most rigorous compared to everyone else in the class, or most rigorous you can possibly take? Basically is it a comparison between you and other applicants or a measure of how much you challenge yourself? I wasn't able to take all the AP/honors courses I wanted to like other people with my grades could because of reasons that were legitimately out of my control, but I'm taking all the advanced courses I possibly can.</p>
<p>It means the most rigorous courseload that you could’ve possibly taken. If there were reasons out of your control that you couldn’t take a more challenging coursload, have your GC explain it in the letter of recommendation.</p>
<p>The highest possible and hardest possible courses you can take, you take. For example, your school offers AP classes, take AP classes. Your school offers IB and AP classes, take IB because it is higher.</p>
<p>That is incorrect; IB is not “higher,” it is just a different program from AP.</p>
<p>Yeah IB is just a different program. Of course if you do the full IB diploma versus taking only one AP class, then there is a big difference…</p>
<p>But anyway I think star summed it up; in most cases it’s the best your school has to offer but if you have legitimate reasons, personal or otherwise, it will be fine as long as you explain it.</p>
<p>Your counselor will be the one to define it as there are different limitations at different schools. He/she is the one that has to check the box.</p>