<p>I just heard that today.
'Who cares about AP's?'</p>
<p>I currently have an extremely rigorous Ap schedule. Taking 4, self studying like 3.</p>
<p>Next year, i plan to take like 8 and self study 5 more. my grades are all good in those classes, generally a-s, a's and b+s.</p>
<p>my class rank is extremely high.</p>
<p>my question is: will the admins think like i am a freak who has no life? thats not the case! i just want to take the prerequisite subjects so i can study better and get higher grades in college. also, i want to apply for ap international scholar.</p>
<p>now, will the colleges think i am like a weirdo? i would love to hear some experiences and how the harvard people think about this issue.</p>
<p>Taking 8 ap’s and self studying 5 is unnecessary and excessive. That being said I don’t think ao’s will assume you have no life as long as your ec’s are strong and diverse. I would not recommend taking 13 ap tests but to each his own.</p>
<p>My D’s large public average school has many kids each year who take that many APS, most don’t get that many until their senior year, only a few get 8 by their senior year. And that’s a very “normal” school. Our school does offer a LOT of APs (most of them, over 30, missing some languages I think). Some high schools don’t have more than a handful. When you’re aiming for the top, you should be achieving at the top. You’re on track. </p>
<p>Will it look “excessive”? No. Not for an Ivy. As long as the scores are good, it will look great. Your application will also show that you have a “life” (extra curriculars). Good luck to you.</p>
<p>APs only matter as a means to demonstrate your course rigor, as compared to others in your high school. I don’t think anyone pays too much attention to the actual scores of the tests, provided that most of them are in the 4-5 range (for Harvard). Don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>Because you could probably be doing more productive things. Honestly, 12 tests and 20 tests probably count the same, unless you go to a school unlike Harvard that will let you graduate early simply by taking the tests. I mean, you don’t need 20 to do advanced standing even at Harvard.</p>
<p>productiveness. hmm. alrighty.
hey dwighteisenhower i read many of your posts and they were real helpful! as i am in your position year ago, can i ask you some questions? through message</p>
<p>I took around 13 tests, self studying 5. I took all 8 my school offered; I got 5s on every 1, including Physics C mechanics, EXCEPT for a 1 on physics C electricity lol ( I knew it would happen).</p>
<p>In any case, by ‘self study’, I mean that the DAY before the test I read an AP micro book and got a 5 never knowing it before, the day before I read a psych AP book and got a 5, the day before I read a BC book ( I had done AB so this is different), the day before I read a physics C mechanics book, and the day before I ATTEMPTED to read a physics C electricity book… BUT I realized my limit is 1 AP book a day, which is why having to do two for physics wrecked me.</p>
<p>Since I technically didn’t even self study I was able to do many EC’s, while still having more than enough time for a social life. My interviewer said she had seen my Facebook page and I looked like a normal kid, even though it was private (my picture was of my girlfriend and me together with a few of my friends behind us). The only thing she said that she was unsure of was why I never had a job other than these small silly money makers like working at the state fair etc… Which I told her my Dad and step-mom have 2 kids who I have to babysit at night because they are a cop and a nurse who work night shifts. Therefore I need to be home at night so they can work, and that’s when I invite my friends over/have fun.</p>
<p>The reason I tell this long-winded and grammatically-effortless story was because she said she would rather see a job/something like I did and good EC’s like volunteering than even 13, which she said was too much</p>
<p>Taking 13 in one year is overly excessive and pointless. You should try cutting it down to 10 at the most and focus on specific courses. There’s no reason to take so many tests in one year merely as an accomplishment. Also, it would seem very rare to get many 5s while having to study for so many. If you’re doing a ton of minor APs, like Environmental Science and Human Geography, just cut them out. A lot of colleges know they’re crap compared to others and can tell if you’re taking them just to pamper your application. I am aware of 187 though, a CC poster here who’s taking 11 while doing a massive amount of ECs together.</p>