What Advanced Placement Courses Should You Take?

You’re thinking ahead to your college goals, and you know that what you do in high school can make or break your dreams. When it comes time to apply to your chosen universities, having advanced placement (AP) classes on your transcript absolutely can give you an edge over numerous other candidates – more so than your grade point average (GPA) and extracurriculars combined.

Why? Because AP classes show that you aren’t afraid to challenge yourself, and you’re willing to go “above and beyond” the regular academic requirements. When you’re successful, they tell an admissions board that you can handle a rigorous schedule, are an independent thinker, are highly self-motivated and – above all – are capable of college-level work.

That does not mean, however, that you should take every AP class that your school offers. If you do that and end up with mediocre scores that fail to earn you credit, your transcript is going to look like you don’t know your limits or interests. You may also not give yourself enough time to develop the other interests and hobbies that make you a well-rounded applicant in the eyes of the average admissions officer.

What’s the Right Number of AP Classes to Take?

Studies have indicated that five AP classes throughout your high school career may be the optimum number to impress an admissions board and still give a student time to explore other activities.

Now, you just have to pick the right ones. Here are the things you need to consider:

1. All of Your Commitments

No matter what your ambitions, there are only 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. You have to balance out your academic workload with things like the sports you engage in, the clubs to which you belong, any part-time job or internship you hold, the volunteer work you do and your other obligations.

You don’t want your AP classes to be so burdensome that they cause burnout – because that is counterproductive to your goals. Try to pick subjects that feel less like “work” and more like an exploration of something that you already find interesting and worthwhile.

2. Your Preferred Colleges’ Policies

To get college credit for an AP class, you have to pass the standardized test for the class at the end – and that’s not always easy. Plus, every school sets its own policies for what score they accept. One school may be perfectly willing to give you credit for a 3 on an AP test, while others won’t accept anything less than a 4 or a 5.

Choose your classes with a mind to both your strengths and weaknesses. If you know that you’re great at math and science, AP classes in statistics and chemistry might be right up your alley, while AP classes in history, English or psychology may be better for students who prefer the liberal arts. You’re far more likely to absorb the information and pass the AP test with a higher score if you play to your strengths.

3. The Reputation of the Instructor

Some teachers really know how to bring a subject to life – and some do not. It’s hard to excel in a subject when an instructor isn’t good at helping students understand the material.

Talk to your school’s guidance counselor and see if you can learn more about the pass-fail rates for the AP classes available. That may help inform your decision about which classes to take, especially if you have several options.

AP classes can be a lot of hard work – but the payoff can ultimately be admission to your top-pick school, so they’re worth exploring.