First, figure out your end game which is what your college goal is. If you are holding out to get into an Ivy League school the best Ivys have the same expectations of their admits for academics.
-Get the best grades possible like a 3.90-4.00 unweighted which is a 97.5% Min UWGPA.
-Take the hardest classes which show course rigor with the caveat that if your HS only has 4 AP classes and you take all 4 APs, that's good. But if your school offers 22 APs you want to take like 8-10, but anywhere between 7 and 11 is perfectly fine. Keep in mind that the admissions officers would rather see you get As in APs or IBs and 5s on the AP exam, not Bs and 3s and 4s. So if you take 7 APs and get 7 As and score say 5s in 5 or 6 of them, that's way better than taking 11 APs and getting 7As and 4Bs and showing a mix of AP scores between 2 and 5 with a 3 average. That just meant you bit off way more than you could chew so to speak. I recommend taking only 2 APs sophom*ore year, 4-5 Junior year, and 3 to 4 Senior year. That puts you in the 9-11 range which more than enough. Also keep in mind that if you apply to Brown with 12 APs, you've wasted your time since they give you ZERO AP credit. And most of the top Ivys only give you credit for a 5 and that's on a subset of APs, some courses like AP Human Geo, AP Environ, AP Psych, or AP Physics 1/2 or AP World Hist, never count in Ivys. So you have to research which APs are eligible for course credit and what your score needs to be. It's rarely a 4, mostly 5s that can get credit.
-Show evidence of intellectual curiosity or vitality. This means that you have to do things that are outside of the classroom that is academic in nature. I'm not talking about typical ECs but academic pursuits for the sake of learning. This might be taking dual enrollment classes, online college coursework, doing independent research on a topic, writing a book, or getting published for a research article.
-Until Ivys are all test-blind, you want to submit an SAT or ACT score that is ideally a 99% percentile score but to pass most testing thresholds that would be a 1500+SAT or 33+ACT. The caveat is that if you are a BIPOC applicant I would say that 1450+ 32+ is a safe goal and if you are Asian then 1550+ 35+ is where you need to be since that demographic is the most competitive with regards to Ivy applicants.
I would strongly disagree with one of the respondents and say you are too heavily STEM weighted for an IVY track, maybe a TECH university track.
Harvard has the most stringent HS requirements list so based on that I would not take AP World History and opt for AP Euro History instead because APUSH and APEURO are pre-requisites at Harvard. I also would not take 5 STEM classes at one time. I get it, that's your spike but most Ivys want to see 4 years of a foreign language so you need to get that accomplished. So ideally you want to present a transcript with say Chinese 1,2,3,4, and AP Chinese or 5 years. 4 years is the requirement at Harvard, and some Ivys have 3 years minimums but I'd err on the side of caution and say 4 years min. if you are applying to Ivys. Also, admissions officers don't reward you and possibly mark you down if you pick a foreign language as the one you speak at home or your country of origin. So don't pick Japanese if you are Japanese or Spanish if you are Spanish. Your admissions scorecard might get a haircut for taking shortcuts.
As an end goal if you are applying to the Ivys, you want:
4 years of math, ending in AP Calculus AB minimum, AP Calc BC or something higher ideally, like Multivariable Calculus or Differential Equations.
4 years of science, with 2 of those being lab classes and at least on advanced like Physics C - (but you use Calculus for this course).
4 years English - preferably taking AP Eng Lang, and AP Eng Lit 11/12 grades
4 year foreign Language
3 years history - with APUSH and APEURO in the mix.
https://blog.collegevine.com/what-sat-score-do-you-need-for-harvard/
FAQs
Instead, students typically start by taking 1-3 AP classes during their sophom*ore year, beginning with some of the less demanding courses. They may then pick up the pace during their junior year, enrolling in more challenging options. These courses can enhance your transcript and boost your GPA.
How many AP classes should I take as a Sophmore? ›
Sophom*ore Year: Take one to three AP classes. Consider adding a more challenging AP class, like World History or US History, and one or two less-demanding APs. Continue to take honors courses if possible in your other core classes.
Should a 10th grader take AP classes? ›
AP isn't just for juniors and seniors. In fact, over one million 9th and 10th grade students took AP courses last year. By starting AP classes earlier you'll build important skills that will help you succeed throughout high school and beyond.
Is 3 AP classes in one year too much? ›
This is the big year for all levels of student.
Depending on what kind of school you want to go to, you should be taking between 3 and 5 AP® classes this year. You will need to manage your time well, however, as you also need to study for the SAT® or ACT® during this time.
Is 4 AP classes a year too much? ›
However, students who take 4-5 AP courses can still qualify for good schools, including many of the country's top public research institutions. Students should balance taking AP courses with maintaining a healthy schedule to avoid burnout.
Is 2 AP classes too much sophom*ore year? ›
Instead, students typically start by taking 1-3 AP classes during their sophom*ore year, beginning with some of the less demanding courses. They may then pick up the pace during their junior year, enrolling in more challenging options. These courses can enhance your transcript and boost your GPA.
Is 3 AP classes too much sophom*ore year? ›
I recommend taking only 2 APs sophom*ore year, 4-5 Junior year, and 3 to 4 Senior year. That puts you in the 9-11 range which more than enough. Also keep in mind that if you apply to Brown with 12 APs, you've wasted your time since they give you ZERO AP credit.
What is the hardest AP class? ›
United States History, Biology, English Literature, Calculus BC, Physics C, and Chemistry are often named as the hardest AP classes and tests. These classes have large curriculums, tough tests, and conceptually difficult material.
Which AP is easiest? ›
Easiest AP exams by pass rate
| AP Subject | Pass Rate (Exam Score of 3+) | Median Score |
|---|
| Ap Physics C Mechanics | 73.4% | 3.41 |
| AP Psychology | 58.3% | 2.71 |
| AP Research | 82.7% | 3.3 |
| AP Seminar | 82.6% | 3.19 |
34 more rowsJan 13, 2023
You most certainly can take 3 AP classes, but it is a purely personal decision if taking that many AP courses and the workload that goes with it is too much for you to handle at once. I will say from personal experience that of those 3, AP English Language will be the most challenging.
You can definitely take 5 APs, but just make sure to stay on top of your work and spend a good amount of time studying to make sure you know the material.
How many APs do Ivy Leagues want? ›
How Many AP Classes Should You Take for Ivy Leagues and Other Top US Universities? For students aiming for the Ivy League and Top 20 schools in the United States, a good target is to take (and pass) 10-14 AP classes throughout your high school career — or 3-4 each year.
How many APs is too much in a year? ›
Your AP course load should be dictated by the answers to these questions: -If your school over 20+ APs , then taking 1/2 of them is not too much. If your school only offers 6, then take 6. -If the best students at your school typically take 10-12, then you are in the right zone.
How much can 4 AP classes raise your GPA? ›
GPA Weight
At many high schools, honors and AP classes both offer more heavily weighted training compared to regular classes. While honors courses usually add 0.5 points to your GPA, AP classes often add 1 point. In other words, a 3.5 GPA would be boosted to a 4.0 in an honors class and a 4.5 in an AP class.
Is it smart to take 4 AP classes? ›
Aim for four to eight AP exams in your junior and senior years. For competitive Ivy League schools, admission officers also want to see AP courses for core subject areas and additional courses. If possible, aim to pass about seven to 12 AP exams if applying to these highly selective schools.
What AP classes do Ivy Leagues like? ›
Ivy League schools want you to take the most challenging classes in math, science, social studies, English, and foreign language. If you take all APs in those subject areas but skip AP Music Theory, admissions committees won't fault you for it.
Is it OK to take no AP classes sophom*ore year? ›
It's completely fine to not take any APs freshman year. Ideally, you should pace yourself and limit the number of APs you take every year. 3 for sophom*ore year and 5 each for junior and senior year is going to feel much better than 8 junior year and 5 senior year.
Is one AP sophom*ore year good? ›
Having just one AP in sophom*ore year won't make a difference in college admissions. You do not need to take APs at all, actually. However, most of your competition for these spots will have taken a few by the time they apply.
Can sophom*ores be in AP classes? ›
AP® isn't just for juniors and seniors. In fact, some of the most popular courses are often taken by 9th and 10th graders.
Is 17 AP classes too much? ›
To be competitive at some of the most highly selective colleges in the country, 8-12 AP courses may be the sweet spot amount, assuming the student can handle that level of rigor. There are no colleges out there that require you to take 14, 17, or some other obscene number of Advanced Placement offerings.
