How many AP classes should I take?

They're not required. But if you want your transcript to stand out to college admissions officers, AP classes are definitely a good idea. Of course, that's only true if you take AP classes that you can get good grades in.

But what are AP classes? Are they the same as college classes? Do you have to take an AP class to take an AP exam? If AP classes are not required to apply for college, why consider taking them? And, if you do, how many should you take?

Good questions! And, in this blog post, we're sharing all the information you need to determine whether one, two, several, or none is the right number of AP courses for you.

Sound good? Good. Let's get started!

What are AP classes?

AP classes, or Advanced Placement classes, are advanced-level subject courses that give high school students the opportunity to challenge themselves by taking classes with a rigor similar to college classes.

The College Board (the organization behind the SAT) is responsible for designing the AP curriculum and overseeing the exams given every year in May to students worldwide.

Your school likely won't offer every AP class that's available. But here's the full list of AP courses currently offered by the College Board.

Arts

• AP 2-D Art and Design

• AP 3-D Art and Design

• AP Drawing

• AP Art History

• AP Music Theory

English

• AP English Language and Composition

• AP English Literature and Composition

History and Social Sciences

• AP Comparative Government and Politics

• AP European History

• AP Human Geography

• AP Macroeconomics

• AP Microeconomics

• AP Psychology

• AP United States Government and Politics

• AP United States History

• AP World History: Modern

Math and Computer Science

• AP Precalculus (New for 2023-24)

• AP Computer Science A

• AP Computer Science Principles

• AP Calculus AB

• AP Calculus BC

• AP Statistics

Sciences

• AP Biology

• AP Chemistry

• AP Environmental Science

• AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based

• AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based

• AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

• AP Physics C: Mechanics

World Languages and Cultures

• AP Chinese Language and Culture

• AP French Language and Culture

• AP German Language and Culture

• AP Italian Language and Culture

• AP Japanese Language and Culture

• AP Latin

• AP Spanish Language and Culture

• AP Spanish Literature and Culture

There are also the AP Seminar and AP Research courses if you enroll in the AP Capstone Diploma Program.

Should I take AP classes?

The short answer: more selective colleges generally care about AP classes. So, even though you don't have to take AP classes to apply for college, depending on your college list, you probably still should (but a heads up that AP policy varies from school to school—some schools allow students to take anything they want, while others have various rules and restrictions, and some schools have chosen to drop AP classes entirely). It's usually a good idea to discuss what fits you best with an advisor or counselor at your school.

The more detailed answer involves several factors to consider:

Show college admissions you can excel in challenging courses

The “rigor” of your high school coursework is one of the most important factors that college admissions officers consider when reviewing your college applications. For example, look at the MIT admissions requirements or UCLA admissions requirements: you'll see both colleges believe the rigor of your secondary school record to be "very important."

Why do colleges care so much about rigor? Because if you can do well in rigorous classes while in high school, college admissions officers feel more confident that you can succeed in college. The more challenging courses you've taken, the better. So, if your school offers several AP courses and you choose to take none, you may be at a disadvantage compared to other students who have taken AP classes. But note that if your school doesn’t offer any AP courses, you will not be expected to take them. (Side note: if that’s the case, it may be useful to clarify in your Additional Info section)

Show fit for your intended major or pre-professional programs

AP classes are also a great way to demonstrate your interest in whatever subject you list as your intended major on your college applications. For example, let's say you want to enter a pre-med program or BS/MD program and major in Biology. If you take AP Biology and do well on the AP exam, college admissions will believe you have a strong foundation in Biology and that you're more likely to be able to handle the challenging coursework required for a pre-med student.

Develop college-level academic skills

Many students worry about whether they'll be able to handle the increased expectations and workload of college classes. AP classes can help you develop the time management and study skills you'll need in college. AP classes also give you the opportunity to build your critical thinking and analytical skills and deepen your understanding of complex content and concepts.

Bonus: sometimes, college credit

AP classes also offer the opportunity to take an exam at the end of the course, which can earn you college credit or advanced placement in some programs. But the exact score and requirements for college credit will vary depending on the school and program. Typically, you'll need to score a 3 or higher on the exam to receive college credit.

Some colleges don't offer any credit for AP classes but will use your scores to place you in higher-level courses or exempt you from certain requirements. For example, if you take an AP English course and score high enough on the exam, you may be able to earn college credit or skip a lower-level writing course. Because things vary from school to school, you’ll want to double check as you build your college list.

What are AP exams?

AP exams test you on the material you learned over the course of your AP classes. Each exam typically lasts 2-3 hours and can include multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.

When are AP exams?

AP exams are offered once per year during May and June, typically lasting for two to three weeks. You can find the most recent exam date schedule here.

Can I self-study for an AP exam?

Yes. You can self-study for an AP exam even if you haven't taken the AP class. Self-study can be a great option if your school doesn't offer any AP classes or doesn't offer an AP subject that you're interested in. It's also a good choice if you already have a strong background in a particular subject.

The biggest issue with self-study for an AP exam is that you might have to learn a lot of complex material on your own in addition to the rest of your high school coursework. And self-studying is not a good idea if it will cause your grades to slip.

If you do decide to self-study, it's also essential to use an official AP curriculum or test practice book to guide your studies. Why? AP exams may expect you to answer the questions in a particular way based on what's taught in the standard AP curriculum.

A great alternative to self-study is to take an online AP prep course. These courses often include instructional videos, practice exams, and study guides tailored specifically to each AP subject. 

We don't have any official recommendations for these online courses. But here are two examples of free and paid options:

• Free online AP course: edX Online AP Courses

• Paid online AP course: Northwestern's CTD’s Online AP® program

Unfortunately, there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The right number of AP classes for you will depend on various factors, such as your academic strengths, study habits, learning style, and college list.

Some things to consider include:

• Can you handle the increased workload of AP classes?

• Do you have good study habits and time management skills that will allow you to succeed in AP classes and on exams?

No matter whether you take AP courses, or how many, the most important thing is to choose the classes that are right for you and work hard to excel in them!

Another factor to consider, as mentioned earlier, relates to your college list: Are you hoping to apply to highly selective (aka “highly rejective”) schools?

If not, then you can mostly focus on the factors just mentioned.

But if so, those schools will consider the “rigor” of your course load—did you generally take the toughest classes available to you? If you maintained a high GPA but did so by avoiding the harder courses your school offers, that will tend to hurt your chances with selective schools.

So… are AP classes worth it?

If you're applying to competitive college programs and have the time and motivation to take on the challenge, AP classes can definitely be worth it. They can help you prepare for college, build your academic confidence, and give you a leg up on admissions.

On the other hand, if you're struggling to balance schoolwork with other commitments or are simply not interested in AP courses, there's no need to feel pressured to take them. There are plenty of other ways you can prepare for college.

Preparing to take an AP exam soon? Check out these resources:

• How to Create the Ultimate Study Schedule 

• 25 Practical Ways to Reduce Testing Anxiety

Taking Too Many APs? Thoughts from Jed Applerouth...

by Jed Applerouth, PhD on January 17, 2023

  

What is right level of academic rigor for your high school student? How many APs or IBs or dual-enrollment classes should your high school student take? As noted in a previous article, APs and other advanced classes have taken hold of American secondary education, and admissions offices around the country closely evaluate applicant’s level of academic rigor, attending to the number of AP, IB, and dual enrollment classes.

The expectations for academic rigor continue to escalate, even in the face of mounting evidence that more APs, beyond a fairly low threshold, do not predict greater college achievement. However, they do predict higher stress levels for students. Against this backdrop the College Board has announced new APs, such as PreCalculus, while its CEO, David Coleman, publicly advocates that colleges “stop the madness” and consider no more than 5 APs for college admission.

I’ve been working in this field since 2001, and living in Atlanta, I know how closely parents and students attend to the level of competition for our highly economical flagship state schools, UGA and GA Tech. When I began coaching students who were interested in attending UGA, the general wisdom was that the admissions office wanted to see at least 2-3 AP exams to demonstrate academic preparedness. Having no advanced classes on the transcript made an acceptance at UGA less likely. When I read the most recent stats for the Early Action acceptance data for UGA, my jaw dropped. The middle 50% of the 8,253 accepted students had 8-13 AP, IB, or dual-enrollment classes. That means ¼ of the accepted students had more than 13 of these advanced classes. (I was also stunned that the middle 50% had a 32-34 ACT, 1370-1510 SAT, and 4.16-4.38 core GPA, but that’s another article).

In 1994, I graduated high school at the top of my class having taken 7 AP classes and 8 AP exams. Nobody was close to taking 13+ advanced classes. The idea would have been ludicrous. And now ¼ of students getting accepted early into UGA early are operating at that level. Inevitably there are trade-offs here, opportunity costs, and other costs. What is being sacrificed to the altar of academic rigor? What activities are reduced, social engagements missed, sleep diminished, anxiety and stress enhanced?

If there is no cap on academic rigor, then students will continue to push into higher and higher number of rigorous classes. Seeing as we are entering a time of greater anxiety and depression and stress for teens, it’s impossible to ignore how the greater academic burden may be contributing to the teen mental health crisis. Our young adults need more than advanced classes to form a self, and be ready for the next steps towards adulthood. Things are clearly out of balance, and we are seeing the effects of the imbalance, at a national level.

Parents and schools need to consider the overall well-being of our young people and not myopically focus on academic success. The goal, after all, is to build healthy adults.

The problem is not a simple one, and the competitive dynamics fueling the runaway growth in academic rigor need to be addressed. The ultimate fix will have to come from colleges, and then high schools setting limits for students. Parents need to be very mindful of the need for balance, and the natural tradeoffs that occur when students place such a tremendous focus on maxing out their curriculum, rather than on having a healthier, more balanced young adulthood.

 

AP vs DE Courses-the Pros and Cons for UGA Admissions

By: David Graves     

 

Every year, one of the most asked questions for UGA Admissions concerns whether students should take Advanced Placement courses or Dual Enrollment courses. As you can guess, our standard reply is “It Depends”. This is not a cop out answer, but rather it is based on the student’s actual situation. What courses are available at the high school? What options does the student have with colleges in their community? What is the course preparation leading up to these classes, and what is the student ready for academically? What future colleges is the student considering, and what are these colleges credit policies on AP/IB/DE work? As you can guess, this is not always our most popular answer (right up there with the parental favorite “Because I said so.”). This is my attempt at giving you the potential positives and negatives of each choice.

AP COURSEWORK

Potential Positives

• Most colleges around the US will give credit for strong test scores on either AP, with limitations set by each college. 
• AP coursework is consistent worldwide, so the student, the school and the college all know what is expected. Yes, there are variations based on schools and teachers, but the curriculum is standardized.
• AP students are able to get an idea of the level of work needed for a college-level class while still in a high school course.
• Taking AP courses in your high school allows a student to remain active in high school activities and events, as they stay on their HS campus.
• AP students are in classes with other people who are looking to really challenge themselves in their coursework and in class interactions/projects.

Potential Negatives

• Obtaining college credit for AP exams is not consistent nationwide, and there is the potential to not receive any credit for a lower exam score.
• At times, there are limitations on the variety of AP courses offered at a high school.
• There is a cost associated with AP exams, which while not huge, can still be daunting for some students and families.

DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSEWORK

Potential Positives

• The availability of dual enrollment options is very widespread, and this is especially important for students who attend a high school with no AP courses. In addition, the wide range of courses offered for dual enrollment students at each college is great.
• If you pass a DE course, a majority of public colleges (and some private ones) will award you credit for the courses.
• For students in some states, the cost of a dual enrollment course is minimal.
• If you are attending dual enrollment courses at a local college, you are in class with true college students, which allows DE students a chance to both see and learn from this experience. Students also are able to get an idea of the level of work needed for a college-level class.

Potential Negatives

• The consistency of dual enrollment colleges and courses varies greatly, so make sure you choose locations and courses which will prepare you for upper level major courses at your potential future colleges.
• A number of very competitive colleges might not accept dual enrollment coursework, and it varies depending on whether the DE course is taught on the college campus or on in the high school (HS campus DE is sometimes referred to as Concurrent Enrollment by colleges).
• Dual Enrollment courses will remain on your permanent record, so if you are looking at graduate school programs or if you really struggle in a DE class, this could be an issue. When UGA calculates an overall college GPA, DE work is a part of this calculation.

I hope this has answered some questions for you, or at least stimulated some questions. Please know that this is not a full or exhaustive list of the pros and cons for each, as each individual situation brings its own unique pluses and minuses. In the end, admissions offices cannot recommend what you should take, as this should be determined after a meeting with the student, the parents and a school official.

 

Good luck, and Go Dawgs!

 

Guide to Advanced Placement Classes

As we get ready for advisement, students and parents want to know more about Advanced Placement offerings and how many classes to take.  I wanted to give you an overview of AP, how many you should possibly take, and the pros and cons. 

Source: Princeton Review 

You want to challenge yourself. And you want to show admissions committees that you can pass college muster by taking rigorous high school courses.

Taking an Advanced Placement (AP) class in high school and scoring well on the related AP subject exam is a smart choice. Accepted applicants at selective colleges typically have taken multiple AP classes.  

What is Advanced Placement?

Advanced Placement (AP) is a program run by the College Board (the same folks who make the SAT and SAT Subject Tests) that offers high school students the chance to take college-level courses in subject that interest them.  View the full list of AP subjects.

AP exams are given each year in May.  View 2019 AP test dates. Depending on the AP subject, exams are typically a combination of multiple choice and essay questions. AP exams are scored out of 5. Earning a score of 4 or 5 will help you impress the admissions committee at your dream school, and it may help you place out of required introductory level courses during your first year in college. 

But how do you choose which AP classes to take?

What AP Classes Should I Take?

1. Which APs are Offered at Your School?

Check with your school counselor for a list of AP classes in your high school. While there are 38 total AP subjects , they are probably not all offered at your school. I n general you should try to take courses each year in English, science, math, the social sciences, and foreign language. Colleges want to see that you are taking on challenges when available, so if your school offers AP courses in any of these areas, you should consider taking them.

2. Where Do You Excel?

Do you love languages? If you’ve been taking Spanish all through high school, you might consider taking AP Spanish Lit or AP Spanish Language as a senior. Are you a history buff? AP U.S. History could be your chance to shine. Consider your past academic performance, and choose subjects that you’ve had previous success in. Artists, take note! There are even AP Studio Art courses in drawing and design.

Read More: Top 5 Ways to Prep for AP Exams

3. What Might You Want to Study in College?

If it’s your dream to be an engineer, for instance, taking AP Physics 1 or AP Physics C allows your transcript to reflect what you say about yourself in your application. AP classes signal to admissions officers that you’re ready for college work. Plus, these courses (and good AP scores on the corresponding exams) can eliminate the need to take foundation classes when you get to your university and allow you to immediately focus on your area of specialization.

The key is to build the most rigorous high school schedule you can while still finding success. Signing up for all AP classes can be a recipe for disaster if you also have other important commitments, such as sports, drama or other extracurricular activities , on your schedule.  Remember that colleges look for balance, and a straight academic plate, to the exclusion of everything else, does not make for a well-rounded high school resume .

How Many AP Classes Should You Take?

Bottom Line

If you’re completely at a loss, you can’t go wrong with taking AP courses that correspond to first-year introductory level courses (history, science, and foreign languages). If you do well on your AP exams (scoring a 4 or 5), you might be able to place out of a lot of these required courses, earning college credit and saving you tuition dollars.

We can help make your AP courses easier! Make sure your hard work pays off by working with  our expert AP tutors throughout the year.

What High School Classes Do Colleges Look For?

It is almost advisement time at Westfield and I have this question asked a lot by students and parents.  Here is some practical advice from the experts at the Princeton Review.

Author: Princeton Review

Colleges care about the classes you take every year until high school graduation, So should you sign up for AP Calculus and AP Physics the same year? Take it easy early on, and then pile on the challenging work junior year?

How to Craft the Perfect High School Schedule

The general rule is to take five solid academic subjects a year in English, math, social studies, science and foreign language.

Our tips will help you choose the right high school classes each year, and remove some of the stress from college planning.

First Year: Set the Foundation

It can seem tempting to try to ease into high school life when it comes to academics, but that can be a mistake. The question to ask is, “What is the most rigorous schedule I can take and have success? Work with your college counselor on a smart freshman year schedule now, so college applications aren't as stressful later.

Sophomore Year: Select AP Classes You Can Ace

It’s time to kick it up a notch. Sophomore year is usually the first time you can take AP classes. But before you sign up for the first course that catches your eye, look at the big picture. What classes do you want to take junior and senior year? Ensure that you are getting the prerequisites now that you’ll need for the next step. Check out more tips on choosing AP subjects.

Junior Year: Last Year to Shine

Junior year grades are of particular interest to colleges, both for GPA and rigor. So, this is the time to beef up your schedule with appropriate AP and honors classes.

Senior Year: It Still Counts

Not sure you’re up for the challenge? In most cases, taking an AP class and getting a B is a better choice than getting an A in a regular one. Many high schools give weight to AP grades so that a B in AP Biology might be a 3.3 instead of a 3.0 on your transcript. Not only do APs boost your GPA, but they also show colleges that you are preparing for college-level work.

Senioritis does not exist anymore. Colleges do consider fall grades, and even after admission your high school classes and grades still matter. Though it is far more common for a school to request a senior year schedule, there are many colleges that will ask for final grades. And, if you have been waitlisted, your spring grades could be an important factor in getting accepted. Get our tips for keeping your grades up during college application season.

Honors vs AP Classes?

Colleges like them both. Both honors and AP courses are rigorous courses that most high schools weight more heavily on your transcript. AP courses, however, culminate in the AP Exam. Good AP scores show colleges you are ready to succeed at college-level work and can even earn you college credits.

Leave Room for Electives and Extracurriculars

The bottom line is that admission committees want to see that you are challenging yourself academically, which means taking honors, AP, or IB (International Baccalaureate) courses if they are available. Check with your college counselor to see which types of courses and subjects are offered at your school.

You don’t want to go through high school feeling perpetually overwhelmed. Signing up for all honors classes can be a disaster if you have other commitments and extracurriculars on your plate. Remember that colleges look for balance. Academics are important, but so is a well-rounded high school resume. Taking electives (like art or graphic design classes) beyond your required courses is a great way to discover new skills and study interests.

Concerned you might not be able to handle AP Calculus or Honors Physics? Our Princeton Review tutors can help bridge the gap between classwork and homework. Try an online session whenever you need homework help, 24-7. 

Ready to prep for your AP Exams? Make sure your hard work pays off by working with our expert AP tutors. Whether you need comprehensive prep or a boost in a few areas, we’re here to help!