<p>Actually, will taking 15 APs set me apart from the majority of Princeton's applicant pool. I know some kids are academic superstars (they cure cancer in their spare time) or they are pretty much auto-accepted (Kennedy family). Basically, will 15 APs make the adcoms interested in my application?</p>
<p>It depends. If your school offers those 15 and you took the classes then no. The majority of students take the most APs they can at their high school so if one kid could only take 5 and you had 15 Princeton would not give you an unfair advantage. If you self studied for them then still probably not because it comes off as you are obsessed with tests when you could have used your time for something better.</p>
<p>Your 15 APs makes you a viable scholar. You’ll be accepted/rejected on other issues however.</p>
<p>No.</p>
<p>If your school offers 15 APs and you take them all, you are no different from someone who takes all 5 APs offered at his/her school.</p>
<p>It will set you apart from those who didn’t take advantage of their resources though.</p>
<p>Ok to clarify: I am in my school’s third graduating class, and we offer about 18 AP classes, however I am taking two of mine through Stanford’s EPGY program. </p>
<p>So I am not taking complete advantage of my school’s resources, but I honestly cannot stand art and history ( I’m not taking euro history, art history, music theory, comp sci, or studio art)</p>
<p>You could be hurting yourself.</p>
<p>How could I be hurting myself?</p>
<p>Taking 15 APs shows that you are taking a serious academic courseload.</p>
<p>Other than that, though, I don’t think it would matter that much.</p>
<p>My son will have taken 14 by the time he graduates from high school this year, but I am not counting on that being an entre’, in and of itself, to a top school.</p>
<p>In fact, it could make your decision harder, because, for example, down here in Florida, my son would get 1 1/2 years of college credit at FSU or UF, whichis like winning a partial scholarship, but at some top schools, he might get little if any credit.</p>
<p>A state AP scholar award might help…</p>
<p>It could hurt you not taking all of those courses that are available. You are only taking 13 of the 18 available. Yeah not taking art history wont hurt you but you didn’t take an ap history course.</p>
<p>It’s not whether or not you took all that you could. Once you have enough, they know you are capable.</p>
<p>Now what matter is your GPA, test scores in those AP classes, and extracurriculars. Enjoy life and do something productive that you love. That’s what Princeton wants.</p>
<p>It will set you apart. 15 APs is a lot more than the average ivy applicant</p>
<p>Once again it doesn’t set you apart. I mean there are kids who take over 24 ap exams and it doesn’t do anything for them.</p>
<p>No - the vast majority of unhooked applicants that Princeton will seriously consider have all taken the most demanding schedule available to them.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your input!</p>
<p>If you do well it will certaintly help, as they can see you can handle rigerous classes, but at a certain point 15 doesn’t help more than 7 or 8. </p>
<p>Are you applying EA? That might help</p>
<p>Your APs are going to tell them your course rigor is high. That’s one part of the equation. Now you just need sky-high test scores, GPA, recs, essays, and then a little magic pixie dust thrown in on top of all that. That will get you guaranteed acceptance to Princeton.</p>
<p>Otherwise, apply to Princeton and be prepared to go to a second choice if it doesn’t work out. Don’t get caught up in one school before you’re accepted. Love your safeties.</p>