Total Number of AP Courses?

Hey, I'm a bit confused. How many AP courses do colleges recognize, and how much does taking them impact my college admissions?

There are currently 38 Advanced Placement (AP) courses that the College Board offers and colleges generally recognize. However, not every high school offers all 39, so the number available to you may vary.

The impact of taking AP courses on your college admissions is fairly significant. When admissions officers look at your transcript, they're looking to see how rigorous your course load was relative to what your school offers. In other words, if your school offers many AP classes, they would expect you to take quite a few to demonstrate you're challenging yourself academically. At least five AP classes throughout high school is typically a minimum for high-achieving students aiming for top-tier colleges.

However, it's very important that you're actually capable of handling the increased work and rigor of these classes. Quality over quantity is a good rule to go by. It's better to take fewer APs and get A's than to take a lot of APs and get lower grades.

Also, keep in mind that while AP courses and the grades in them are crucial, colleges don't place much emphasis on AP exam scores when considering admissions. Outstanding scores can perhaps add a bit of context to your capabilities, but they typically won't "make or break" an admission decision.

So in summary, taking AP classes shows a readiness to handle college-level work and can improve your chances of admission, especially at more selective colleges. But remember to balance rigor with your other commitments and abilities.