<p>I know the answer is mostly whatever is accomplished within the context of your school, however, in a top public magnet school like mine, where 18 AP courses are offered, how can I take advantage of all of them when doing so would probably mean gpa suicide?</p>
<p>I'm aiming to take a total of about 8, 1- sophomore year, 3- junior year, and 4- senior year. On top of this, I completed 4 honors courses as a freshman as well. Is this a typical courseload of a competitive applicant to elite schools? I know there are multitudes of other factors, but I wanted to see how my course-load stacks up.</p>
<p>If you go to a competitive magnet high school, you know who will have a lot of information about what you need to do to be competitive for highly selective universities and colleges?</p>
<p>Your guidance counselor. He or she has access to years’ worth of information about top students from your school, where they applied, and how they fared.</p>
<p>Well…that’s stupid then. I wish my school offered less AP’s. I thought I was taking as many as I could manage, but 8 really isn’t competitive for elite schools?</p>
<p>I think even more important than the number of AP’s is the difficulty. In my view 8 AP’s that includes a science AP (especially physics C), calculus b/c and a language is more impressive than 10 or 11 APs concentrated all n the liberal arts. Whatever you do though take both AP english classes. My older son had 10 AP’s total including calc b/c junior year, plus physics C and multi variable (local college) senior year but skipped eng lit senior year. (did do ap eng as junior) and I think this hurt him at top schools. He is going to UVA and loving it, but got wait listed at Chicago, Duke, and JHU.</p>
<p>I agree with @muckdog. Also, if you have a career path you are interested in then focus on courses that will aim in that direction. Don’t take APUSH if you can economics and you want to major in economics. But do take courses you can are interested in if only for fun. So focus and variety.</p>
<p>The question is not so many AP classes your school offers but what would be a rigorous schedule in the context of your school. If the top students with the type of college acceptances you aspire to are taking 8 APs before graduation, then you will be fine. If it is typical for top tier applicants to take 10-12 AP classes before graduation, then your schedule may be viewed as less rigorous. Why do they care? If you are at your max academically and with extracurriculars in high school, then you aren’t going to be able to add much to the college community where the coursework is more intense. A high high school GPA. depth in extracurriculars, and a “most rigorous” schedule suggests that you have the reserve to do more and when presented with additional opportunities and have the ability to partake in them.</p>
<p>Agree with Sikorsky. Speak with your guidance counselor. One thing you can expect from a top magnet school is knowledgeable guidance counselors who know about selective college admissions.</p>