Advanced Placement (AP) classes are college-level courses offered in many high schools. Created by the College Board, AP classes are meant to expose top-performing high-school students to the type of challenging curriculum they will experience in college. There are nearly 40 different AP courses offered, but not all high schools offer every course. Each course culminates in an exam, and students who score well on their AP exams can receive credit and potentially satisfy certain academic requirements, allowing them to take fewer classes before graduating from college.
AP classes can also significantly enhance your college applications by showing admissions officers that you’re ready for the rigor of college-level work. Though there is no required number of AP classes, applicants to highly selective colleges and universities often take between 5 and 12 AP classes to challenge themselves and improve their GPAs. But remember, colleges also consider how many AP classes are offered by your high school when considering your workload. More than the number of AP classes taken, colleges are looking for evidence that you’re challenging yourself.
AP classes can also significantly enhance your college applications by showing admissions officers that you’re ready for the rigor of college-level work. Though there is no required number of AP classes, applicants to highly selective colleges and universities often take between 5 and 12 AP classes to challenge themselves and improve their GPAs. But remember, colleges also consider how many AP classes are offered by your high school when considering your workload. More than the number of AP classes taken, colleges are looking for evidence that you’re challenging yourself.