We’d love to be able to give you some simple formula, like
N AP classes x Z extracurricular activities + Q GPA = admission to your dream college
Unfortunately, the answer to the number of AP courses you should take in high school isn’t that cut and dry.
But, if you’re up for digging into a bit of detail, we can help you make an educated decision about this important part of your high school career.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(click to skip ahead)Factors to consider when choosing which AP classes to take
As you think about how many AP classes to take and which AP classes make sense for you, there are several things to consider, many of which have to do with what you know about yourself as a student. So, clarity on your goals and some self-awareness (and some honesty about how much you’re really able to commit to) will be helpful for you.
It does you no good to take 5 AP courses your junior year only to find you can’t complete the work, can’t keep up with the reading, or simply aren’t interested enough to stay engaged. These things will no doubt impact your grades (which are one of the biggest things colleges consider in students). So our advice is to challenge yourself in a reasonable and sustainable way.
Don’t be afraid to push yourself (this is how we grow!), and don’t push yourself to the point that you’re drowning.
Be realistic about your schedule
AP classes in high school are fast-paced, require a lot of work outside of the classroom, and build to the relevant AP exam (which usually takes a great deal of time and effort to prepare for).
If, in addition to taking AP courses, you’re also a multi-sport athlete, part of student government, someone who takes care of your family members or has a job, or someone whose heart is dedicated to your multiple volunteer projects, you’re likely to find yourself pressed for time (remember you have to eat and sleep!).
Key action: We encourage you to carefully consider what you can reasonably fit into each day (and to acknowledge that multiple AP courses might not be reasonable).
Reflect on your personal pacing
Maybe you don’t have a bunch of outside responsibilities like those above, but you know it takes you a long time to read and digest information from class. AP classes move through the material quickly because there is specific content teachers must cover to help you get ready for the exam.
This means that there often isn’t time to revisit an idea or concept multiple times during class. If this pacing sounds tough, keep that in mind before you load your schedule with every AP class available to you.
Understand your educational goals
Are you one of those rare high school students heading into college knowing exactly what you want to do with your life? Have you known your major since you were in 4th grade? (If not, don’t worry—most people are unsure, and most people change majors.)
But if you have some sense of what you want to major in and/or your career path, these things can also help you decide the best AP classes to take.
Let’s say you’re planning to go to med school, and maybe you’re even thinking about applying to BS MD programs. You’ll definitely want to consider the AP science courses your school offers (and that some colleges require for a particular major). Your school counselor can help you figure out which AP courses make you a more attractive applicant for particular majors and programs, so use that resource as you plan your junior and senior year schedule! Additionally, be sure you understand how colleges assess the strength of your high school curriculum.
Understand your interests
Finally, and maybe most importantly, think about what you’ll actually enjoy learning.
AP courses are not easy, and taking a class you have no interest in will only make it harder. Do you really want to spend hours every night working through Calculus problems if you really, really don’t like math? Though a heads up that, if you’re applying to highly-selective schools, you’ll generally need to take a rigorous course load. (For “highly rejective” colleges like, say, MIT, you’ll generally need to take just about the most rigorous course load you’re able to.)
At the same time, ideally learning should be interesting and engaging. Hopefully you’re excited about the wisdom you’re gaining and the skills you’re mastering beyond getting AP credit for passing an exam. It doesn’t mean you have to truly love every AP course you take, but we’d hope you aren’t making yourself miserable.
How many AP classes are there?
The College Board offers 39 AP classes (but keep in mind that most schools offer only a handful of these). Students can take AP courses in these broad categories:
Arts
English (and Writing)
History and Social Sciences
Math and Computer Science
Science
World Languages and Cultures
English offers the fewest choices (two courses), and History and Social Sciences offers the most with nine courses (click here for a complete list of AP classes, along with brief course descriptions). With so many subjects to choose from, there is a good chance you can find something that interests you and aligns with your educational and career goals.
“Best” AP classes to take
The “best” AP classes to take differ from one person to the next, and a lot of it depends on your educational goals, such as where you’re hoping to attend college and what you’re hoping to major in, since those things powerfully impact how AP classes are read by admissions officers on your transcript. (E.g., if you’re hoping to study computer science at Carnegie Mellon, the “best” AP classes for you are those that help make you a competitive applicant for their extremely competitive CS program.)
If your goal is to bump up your GPA, then there are some AP classes that are potentially “easier” (check out our list of "easiest" AP classes). You might also consider these classes if you’ve never taken an AP course before and want to dip your toes in.
But to be clear, “easy” doesn’t really mean easy when we’re talking about high school AP classes. Instead, these classes are the ones with the highest pass rates on the relevant AP exam, but there are huge asterisks to understand with those pass rates (check out the guide above for details), and the courses themselves still require your hard work and effort. You can’t count on coasting in any AP class.
Additionally, “best” heavily depends on your school, so it’s really helpful to have discussions with teachers, counselors, and peers who understand things like expectations and teacher contributions. Think of it this way: Is there a teacher at your school who is known for being especially and infectiously excited about the material, one who makes difficult concepts fun to explore and tease apart and easier to deeply understand? Details like that are why, for most students, school context is more informative of “best” than something like average AP pass rate.
If your goal is to really differentiate yourself from other applicants from your school, you might consider taking the hardest AP classes (again, based on exam pass rates provided by the College Board, meaning how hard the class and exams are will vary based on student background, knowledge base, interests, etc.). Challenging yourself this way lets colleges know you can tackle some hefty academic courses (especially if you do well in the class and on the exam), and that you’re not afraid to get in there and do the work (check this out for more info about what colleges are looking for).
As we mentioned above, your intended major (if you have one in mind) can also help you determine the “best” AP classes to take. If it’s been your dream to earn a STEM degree from MIT, those AP Computer Science classes and AP and post-AP math courses probably make good sense for you. Or if your heart jumps a beat when you think about majoring in Political Science, you should stroll on over to the History and Social Science exams!
Finally, if you just really, truly love a subject and there is an AP course your school offers in it, consider taking that class. Oftentimes, students take APs because they’ve taken all the other classes in a specific discipline they can, and they want to keep going. AP courses can give you that chance for more advanced study, and you’ll usually be surrounded by other students who are as committed to learning as you are.
How do colleges view AP classes?
As with everything else AP-related, the answer is: it depends. It depends on the college; it depends on the specific students applying in any given year; it depends on the schools students are applying from. But there are a FEW constants in terms of how colleges view APs.
Colleges that consider the AP courses a student takes tend to use these as one marker of someone’s college readiness. If a student can be successful in managing their time and in mastering the content of an AP course, this is a positive sign to colleges that these same students probably have the skills and habits that will serve them well in their college classes.
Colleges also look at the total number of AP classes you take in comparison to the total number your high school offers. For example, if your high school offers 15 AP classes and you take two throughout your high school career, that will look different on an application than a student who has also taken two AP classes but whose school only offers 5 total.
The key is to challenge yourself in AP courses that make sense for YOU, to strengthen your profile appropriately for college applications (which, again, depending on where you’re applying and what you’re hoping to major in), but not to take more than you can reasonably handle, so that you can maintain life balance, mental health, and (we hope) even enjoy high school.
FAQ on AP classes
How many AP classes should I take junior year?
Again, it depends. Junior year is probably the most important in terms of your college applications, so if you haven’t taken any APs yet, this would be the year to do it. And you should consider taking at least as many AP courses as you did sophomore year (and add one more if it’s feasible for you).
Remember that the most selective colleges are looking for academic strength across disciplines (core subject areas) and alignment with your potential major in college. Take the courses that make sense for you and your goals!
Is it better to take a lot of AP classes and get lower grades or take just a few and get higher grades?
With the usual “it depends on student context” caveat, we’d generally encourage quality and relevance over just quantity.
If you take 5 AP classes your junior year while also trying to balance the college application process, your extracurricular activities, holding down a part-time job, and anything else that requires your time, your grades might suffer (unless you have superpowers). If that’s the case, you will have a much richer academic experience if you focus your efforts on fewer AP classes and can really devote your time and attention to them.
Is it ok to take an AP course in something I’ve never studied before?
In some cases, absolutely! For example, you don’t necessarily need to have already taken Biology to do well in AP Bio. But in some cases, it won’t make sense for you to take an AP class if it’s your first time studying the subject (and many high schools won’t let you do this anyways).
Let’s say you’ve decided at the last minute that you want to start learning French… you wouldn’t want to start with AP French Language and Culture. Your school counselor is a great resource to help you figure out what you can jump into and what you should do some prep for by taking other classes first.
Is there a “right” number of AP classes to take?
The answer is 11 … just kidding! There is no “right” number when it comes to AP classes. It’s about finding the right balance between aligning with your longer-term educational goals, challenging yourself, and still making sure you have time to do all the other things you need and want to do. Colleges do want to see that you’re taking the opportunity to enroll in these advanced courses if your school offers them, but they’ll also take notice if you’ve overenrolled in AP classes and, as a result, your grades start to fall or you don’t do well on the AP exams.
Be realistic about what you’re capable of, and don’t be afraid to push yourself. If you feel confident you can manage 3 AP courses in a year, great! If you know one AP course each year is more realistic for you, that’s also great! If you are applying to highly-selective colleges, taking more AP courses (assuming your school offers them) will generally help your application. But if you’re applying to less selective colleges, you might not need as many AP classes under your belt.
Special thaks to Jessica B for writing this blog post
Jessica has a Ph.D in English from the University of Southern California and teaches English at a Los Angeles-area independent school, where she has also been English department chair and a class dean. Sandra Cisneros is her hero, and she loves books, her awesomely-sarcastic family, the beach, cozy sweaters, and more books. Oh, and her sweet pitbull/lab mix named Ruby.
Top values: Curiosity, equity, wonder
