How Many AP Classes Should I Take Total?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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 AP classes is too many?

Unless you're applying to the most selective universities,

4 to 5 AP courses over your high school years

is more than enough. For students applying to the most selective colleges, you might need 7–12.

How many AP classes should you take for Harvard?

Going up the selectivity chain, the average at Harvard is

eight AP classes

. 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.

How many AP classes do you need for Ivy League?

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.

Is 11 AP classes a lot?

If you manage to take 11 AP classes throughout your high school stay, that's enough

(33 credits on average)

to skip a whole year of . While that may too much, even a couple of classes can be enough to give you a semester ahead of your peers coming into college.

Does Harvard prefer IB or AP?

While Harvard will not grant college credit for your

AP tests

, the school does want to see that you have taken advantage of all of the opportunities that are available to you, including AP courses and tests. Some schools offer international baccalaureate classes.

Does Harvard accept AP credit 2021?


Harvard only accepts AP® scores of 5 for course credit

. If you have 4 scores of 5, you can opt to obtain Advanced Standing. You can use AP® credits to opt-out of lower-level classes. Harvard has general academic requirements that all students must take.

Is 12 AP classes too much?

If you're looking for a specific number of APs that you should take, it will depend on your school's offerings, but a safe number for admission at Ivy League schools is usually

between 7 and 12 AP classes

throughout high school.

How many AP classes does Yale have?

The smartest counselors are telling them that

four to six AP courses

and tests are enough to satisfy the ivyest Ivy.

Is 3 AP classes too much?

Take as

many as

you can handle without spreading yourself thin, and make sure you will have time to study for the ACT or SAT this year. An Ivy League hopeful might take 3 to 5 AP classes, while if you're aiming for less-selective schools, 2 to 4 would be enough.

Is 3 AP classes too much junior year?

Junior Year: Based on your experience and scores from freshman and sophomore year, start taking APs in core classes, like AP English, AP Calculus, or AP Biology. … AP classes, while if you're aiming for less-selective schools,

2 or 3 would be enough

.

What is the easiest AP class?

The easiest AP classes to self-study are:

Computer Science Principles, Psychology and Environmental Science

. These are also rated as the easiest and least time-consuming AP classes overall, so you should be OK.

Do universities prefer IB or AP?

Universities look

very favorably upon students who take AP courses

. They do not classify an IB school as being any higher or lower than an AP school, but want to see that students are taking the most rigorous courses available to them at the school they are currently attending.

Do Ivies like IB?

Based on what the Oxbridge universities in the UK expect from IB applicants, an

overall grade of 38+ would be well received by the Ivy Leagues

. … Universities appreciate the IB's rigour and they know it takes hard work and dedication to perform well, particularly in Higher Level (HL) subjects.

Do colleges accept 3 on AP test?

What score do you need for each AP Subject? Colleges are generally looking for a 4 (“well-qualified”) or 5 (“extremely qualified”) on the AP exam, but

some may grant credit for a 3

(“qualified”). These scores mean you have proven yourself capable of doing the work in an introductory-level college course.

Carlos Perez
Author
Carlos Perez
Carlos Perez is an education expert and teacher with over 20 years of experience working with youth. He holds a degree in education and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as in community-based organizations. Carlos is passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential through education and mentorship.