At my school, only juniors and seniors can take AP’s. They’re also not offered for a lot of the classes I’m interested in until senior year (Spanish, science, Gov, etc.) I’m really scared that colleges will think I’m not challenging myself a lot but I go to a very rigorous, top public school and get pretty good grades. Right now my cumulative is about a 3.53 but I’m hoping to graduate with a little higher than that, maybe in the 3.6 range? I’m expecting to graduate with 11 honors and 3 or 4 AP’s. I have really good extracurriculars and published a book. My top choices are BU, BC, Syracuse, American, and GW. Will these be too much of a reach?
p.s. I’m waiting to get my PSAT’s back but I took a practice test a while ago and got a 1220 but I’m starting tutoring soon and plan on getting it up to 1420.
Your school profile goes with your transcript to colleges. It will explain all those specific school policies and AP course offerings so your transcript can be evaluated in the proper context.
Agree with the above. Also if your guidance counselor checks the box saying you have taken the most rigorous courseload available in his/her LOR then you are fine.
Check that your school has a school profile that’s sent along with your counselor’s report. If so, you’ll be fine, because the policy on Ap’s will eb explained.
If you can take 1-2 AP’s junior year, and 2-3 senior year, you’re good.
(AP Lang, APUSH, AP CS Principles, AP Physics 1, AP Psychology, can all be taken junior year without specific pre-reqs).
To give you an example, this is what my DS’s school has on their school profile. They have no issue getting students into top colleges. The ability to get a freshmen AP is new. The emphasis is theirs.
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
• Advanced Placement courses are ordinarily available ONLY TO JUNIORS AND SENIORS. Select freshmen are placed in AP World History. Admission to these courses is competitive and is based upon past performance/testing, and, in all cases, approval of the Instructor.
• Due to schedule requirements, MOST JUNIORS CAN ACCOMMODATE ONLY AP BIOLOGY and/or AP U.S. HISTORY in their schedule.
• Even the most rigorous senior schedule would rarely include more than 3-4 AP courses