I have already taken all the AP core classes.
it is exactly two pages.
That is not the only option you have.
If you cannot think of any other way to occupy your time than to take online AP classes then you are not the kind of student elite schools look for.
@VickiSoCal Tis is not a helpful comment.I have to take 7 classes. I think they would rather me take an online AP that period than take Study Hall.
Your school doesn’t offer any non-AP classes that interest you that would be enriching? Theater? Speech? Journalism? Art? Creative Writing? You absolutely have to have every spot in your schedule filled with an AP class? Why? Your thread title implies it is because you think that makes you more attractive to elite colleges. Many people here with experience have said that 17 vs 15 vs 13 AP courses is not goign to impress.
You have already proved you are good at studying for and taking tests.
@vickisocal I already take Debate class. Also, taking even one nonhonors class, which is what the classes you suggest are at my school, would remove me from my ability to be valedictorian.
No misunderstanding at all. You have listed colleges that accept roughly 10% of applicants. This means that 90% do not get accepted…and the vast majority have a rigorous high school schedule, and great ECs.
And there are plenty of valedictorians who do NOT get accepted to these schools.
Hoping you find some sure thing colleges to apply to as well.
Of course I know every school I listed was a reach for anyone, regardless of how well qualified. I have some others that are safe.@thumper1
I’m not gonna try to hate on you here. If you have over 8-10 APs and your guidance counselor checks off that you took the most rigorous course load possible, it really doesn’t matter how many APs you take after that. At that point, it’s for your personal benefit what AP classes you take. Just make sure you’re taking classes that are either essential to your future goals, interesting, or for AP credit that you can realistically achieve. Don’t take an AP class just to impress a college but choose your classes for the most part based on what you want to learn and at the right pace.
Just a note, online AP courses senior year are beyond useless because you won’t have a grade and they generally don’t appear on your transcript.
Please be sure to read the ivy results thread next week where you see all the over AP’ed students get upset at so many “lower qualified” applicants that got in. The AP race is not impressive for top schools…I know you don’t believe that even though everyone here is telling you that. 12 APs taken at school vs 15APs taken at school and online give you zero edge. Choose an interesting course. Please, read the ivy threads next week.
With the caveat that the users posting on the results thread are not a representative subsection of college applicants.
Taking a bunch of AP classes and 1 debate class shows nothing special. It actually looks quite bland. Although I don’t know your list of EC, you say you want to be a Spanish major, yet when I first looked at your classes I would not have guessed that- which is not a good thing. Plus being valedictorian does not give you a good edge if say you were in the top 3 of your school. Maybe, top 5 heck even sometimes top 10. Because even though colleges do want you to be the top of your class, being a valedictorian won’t get you a spot over salutatorian. Plus taking a bunch of EC is not better than having a ‘spike’
I wouldn’t put down this course load. It’s quite rigorous and commendable if you can handle it.
I also wouldn’t pay attention to whether other people think you are a drone or not. But I also wouldn’t take courses just to impress colleges or people. The main reason to take and do well in AP is to get high scores on AP tests so that you can get credit for them or to apply to UK unis (a bunch of 5’s in relevant/rigorous tests would almost guarantee admission to any British uni besides Oxbridge/LSE, who look for more than that).
@Cressidy it’s not my fault my school has a horrible language program. I want to dual major in political science and English with a minor in Spanish so this is out of date. Also, your comment about blandness is rude. My resumé shows a variety but depth in two particular fields (politics and community service)
@studentathlete18 Sorry I came off as rude, but I did say I didn’t know your list of ECs or resume
The number of APs you take will,show the strength in your HS courseload selection.
Will it help you gain entry to a top university? Maybe…maybe not. Remember…the vast majority of applicants to top universities also take lots of AP and DE courses…and get top grades in them as well.
I’m not sure taking a lot of AP courses will distinguish you in any way for these top schools.
That’s all well and good, but younare a HS student. If your resume is longer than one page…it’s too long.my opinion. And I’ve read tons of resumes. This will apply to when you apply for jobs someday as well. One or two pages. After that…it’s just noise…not the signal. More is NOT better in terms of resume length.
@thumper1 it’s 1.75 pages.
@studentathlete18 your best hook is, as your name suggests, as an athlete. Start interacting with the coaches to get recruited by the top schools. My son had 16 AP/College classes and they helped but the athletic side really opened the doors.
At the top Universities, the stats of the “average” student are indistinguishable as are the ECs. The athletic hook really differentiates you.
Best of luck.
At any top,school that is division 3, that athletic “hook” so to speak will not get you additional need based aid as the schools are not allowed to give athletic scholarships. But if you are a recruited athlete, it could help with admissions.
But this student sounds like he thinks admissions are in the bag.
@thumper1 the D3’s give out substantially more merit money than the D1’s do. Plenty of discussion on these boards as well as personal experience.
Also, to the OP’s original question, he did not ask about aid.
And to your last point, I agree he does, but making assumptions based on his plans of where he is 2 years from now with AP’s will only put him in the statistical middle of the heap at the selective schools.
IMHO it’s purely a numbers game and unless your last name is on one of the buildings or your a 3+ start recruit, not such thing as having it in the bag as you point out.