I'm planning out my high school schedule and want to know how many AP courses I should aim for to be competitive for the Ivy League. Is there an ideal number?
It's great that you're thinking ahead when planning your high school schedule! While there's no specific number of AP courses that guarantees admission to Ivy League schools, taking a challenging course load can definitely help your application stand out. Ideally, you should aim to take the most rigorous courses available at your school that you can manage without being overwhelmed.
As a benchmark, some students who successfully gained admission to Ivy League schools took 5-8 AP courses throughout their high school career. However, it's important not to compromise your overall GPA or extracurriculars just for the sake of taking more AP classes. Admissions officers look at your application holistically, so it's essential to have a balanced approach. Focus on both academic excellence and involvement in activities that showcase your passions, leadership abilities, and resilience in challenging situations. Good luck!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.