How many AP classes is considered rigorous?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't this subjective though?

My kid has 11 APs... which may look like a lot, but their school has 26 available. So what is most rigorous.. half, most?

Not usually. The school typically has a definition of “most rigorous” that it can apply objectively - may be aggregate number of AP’s but not always - may have distribution requirements as well. At our school, a number of years ago, a student could not have a “most rigorous” no matter how many AP classes is student didn’t take four years of foreign language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't this subjective though?

My kid has 11 APs... which may look like a lot, but their school has 26 available. So what is most rigorous.. half, most?

At least in some cases, schools can calculate a percentile, comparing the number taken by one student to that of other students at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on the high school. Different schools have different class offerings. Also, your kid wants to take a sufficient number to be, for example, in the top 10% of the class.

As an aside, I think is daunting to look at admissions numbers and see that the average admitted student to UVa or UMCP from Fairfax or Montgomery county has something like a 4.5 weighted GPA, and then work backwards to see how many APs that requires.

OP here. My kid is at Langley. It feels like everyone takes at least 10 AP so that would not be considered rigorous. I hate that my kid is at this pressure cooker school.

The seniors parents I know or the ones who had kids graduate seemed stressed about even getting into UVA with perfect grades. These kids all have 4.5+ GPAs.

I am a Langley parent and my senior will graduate with having only taken 6 APs in all. My child doesn’t feel like it’s a pressure-cooker. Most of my child’s friends from last year went to good schools, and all had fairly balanced schedules while in HS. Sure, if you want to get into an Ivy, then maybe you need to play that game; but, there are plenty of good schools out there for kids who don’t have a 4.5 gpa and 1600 SAT. Just ensure your child displays his/her authentic self (don’t take APs for the sake of taking APs, and engage in whatever activity makes them happy). And stop talking to other parents! They will stress you out. Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on the high school. Different schools have different class offerings. Also, your kid wants to take a sufficient number to be, for example, in the top 10% of the class.

As an aside, I think is daunting to look at admissions numbers and see that the average admitted student to UVa or UMCP from Fairfax or Montgomery county has something like a 4.5 weighted GPA, and then work backwards to see how many APs that requires.

OP here. My kid is at Langley. It feels like everyone takes at least 10 AP so that would not be considered rigorous. I hate that my kid is at this pressure cooker school.

The seniors parents I know or the ones who had kids graduate seemed stressed about even getting into UVA with perfect grades. These kids all have 4.5+ GPAs.

That’s the problem, when a school gives out too many As, every one has the same gpa and it becomes arbitrary as to who gets in and who doesn’t .

Maybe they are giving out A’s, but my child is getting 4’s and 5’s on her AP exams — so she’s learning something!

[Anonymous]

My kid graduated from McLean last year with 9 APs. I'm pretty sure that counted as "most rigorous". I don't think there are any APs for 9th graders and only one for 10th (AP World) though I do understand some kids request and get permission to enroll before they are technically eligible. She graduated with a 4.5 something GPA. Didn't apply to any top 20 schools but got into UVA (and is there now).

[Anonymous]

It’s not just about the number. It’s also about what subjects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid graduated from McLean last year with 9 APs. I'm pretty sure that counted as "most rigorous". I don't think there are any APs for 9th graders and only one for 10th (AP World) though I do understand some kids request and get permission to enroll before they are technically eligible. She graduated with a 4.5 something GPA. Didn't apply to any top 20 schools but got into UVA (and is there now).

Did she apply ED?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't this subjective though?

My kid has 11 APs... which may look like a lot, but their school has 26 available. So what is most rigorous.. half, most?

You need to ask the college counselor. Generally, you need to take the most rigorous of the APs offered. And he will be compared to his classemates… have they taken 11?

[Anonymous]

My DC has 8 completed and enrolled in 4 more now. Public HS. All depends on high school. And what is offered. His has mostly AP curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on the high school. Different schools have different class offerings. Also, your kid wants to take a sufficient number to be, for example, in the top 10% of the class.

As an aside, I think is daunting to look at admissions numbers and see that the average admitted student to UVa or UMCP from Fairfax or Montgomery county has something like a 4.5 weighted GPA, and then work backwards to see how many APs that requires.

OP here. My kid is at Langley. It feels like everyone takes at least 10 AP so that would not be considered rigorous. I hate that my kid is at this pressure cooker school.

The seniors parents I know or the ones who had kids graduate seemed stressed about even getting into UVA with perfect grades. These kids all have 4.5+ GPAs.

Same. I don’t hate the school at all, but I do regret the choice. It’s really, really hard to be top 5%-10% of the class when the top 20% has a 4.5. And- we moved and kid entered as a sophomore. It requires a transition that most colleges don’t allow for. Accommodations and preference for all kinds of hardship in life, but colleges don’t give an inch for moving across the country into such a pressure cooker. First semester there tanked the college wish list even though grades went back to fantastic and impressive rigor. Good education, nice people, terrible strategy for college admissions.

[Anonymous]

If you ask your high school counselor in FCPS, they won't give an answer.

[Anonymous]

DC took 10 at Langley and was not considered “most rigorous”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC took 10 at Langley and was not considered “most rigorous”.

Did they tell you why? It should be transparent. Was it the number? Or did your DC not take an AP in one of the core areas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid graduated from McLean last year with 9 APs. I'm pretty sure that counted as "most rigorous". I don't think there are any APs for 9th graders and only one for 10th (AP World) though I do understand some kids request and get permission to enroll before they are technically eligible. She graduated with a 4.5 something GPA. Didn't apply to any top 20 schools but got into UVA (and is there now).

Did she apply ED?

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you ask your high school counselor in FCPS, they won't give an answer.

Then take it to the principal. You need to know if your child is on track to get that “most rigorous” box checked off