Anonymous
05/12/2026 09:08
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
It's not about the number of APs. Need the whole package. 25 shows incredible rigor and is not possible at most schools that limit enrollment esp in 9th and 10th. But ya gotta also have the grades, the testing, the ECs, the essays, the recs....Impressive but not in a vaccum.
Anonymous
05/12/2026 09:03
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of schools that don’t offer AP classes or exams and still send lots of kids to top 10 colleges.
This.
We've been told by several AOs that they look at APs in the context of your school's offering only. Moreover, that once a candidate crosses an academic threshold, which varies by school, they move on to the intangibles which matter far more in the end of who gets in or not (and yes, that includes hooks). As one put it, I've never pushed a kid in decision discussions because of scores, and it's never served as the tiebreak, either. The rigor of the school and transcript matters far more. Once you make it past the threshold, I've moved on to the real substance of the application.
And some kids won’t make it over that threshold and will still be admitted. Hooked kids, mainly recruited athletes. The process is incredibly screwed up.
The process is screwed up if kids are making themselves crazy by taking 25 AP classes in four years. That sh$$ should be illegal.
PP above. Agree completely. Colleges and AOs are responsible for so much.
Anonymous
05/12/2026 08:48
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of schools that don’t offer AP classes or exams and still send lots of kids to top 10 colleges.
This.
We've been told by several AOs that they look at APs in the context of your school's offering only. Moreover, that once a candidate crosses an academic threshold, which varies by school, they move on to the intangibles which matter far more in the end of who gets in or not (and yes, that includes hooks). As one put it, I've never pushed a kid in decision discussions because of scores, and it's never served as the tiebreak, either. The rigor of the school and transcript matters far more. Once you make it past the threshold, I've moved on to the real substance of the application.
And some kids won’t make it over that threshold and will still be admitted. Hooked kids, mainly recruited athletes. The process is incredibly screwed up.
I don’t see why it’s “screwed up” for different kids who are good at different things to attend the same school. Most workplaces have different employees with different strengths filling different roles, and I’ve never heard anyone say that the whole idea of division of labor is “screwed up.”
Anonymous
05/12/2026 08:46
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of schools that don’t offer AP classes or exams and still send lots of kids to top 10 colleges.
This.
We've been told by several AOs that they look at APs in the context of your school's offering only. Moreover, that once a candidate crosses an academic threshold, which varies by school, they move on to the intangibles which matter far more in the end of who gets in or not (and yes, that includes hooks). As one put it, I've never pushed a kid in decision discussions because of scores, and it's never served as the tiebreak, either. The rigor of the school and transcript matters far more. Once you make it past the threshold, I've moved on to the real substance of the application.
And some kids won’t make it over that threshold and will still be admitted. Hooked kids, mainly recruited athletes. The process is incredibly screwed up.
The process is screwed up if kids are making themselves crazy by taking 25 AP classes in four years. That sh$$ should be illegal.
Anonymous
05/12/2026 08:45
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
The college board is really taking advantage of the public school crowd, and AOs know.
"APs" are, in essence, college 101 type classes in their subject area, which is why they can count towards college credits.
Personally, I question any "AP" class that is offered freshman or sophomore year, there is just no way it's truly a college equivalent level class.
"APs" are, in essence, college 101 type classes in their subject area, which is why they can count towards college credits.
Personally, I question any "AP" class that is offered freshman or sophomore year, there is just no way it's truly a college equivalent level class.
Anonymous
05/12/2026 08:44
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
Anonymous wrote:How many times do we have to say this - they aren’t looking for machines. Be well-rounded, find some activities you like.
Show you can work as part of a team (academic or athletic or in the arts etc) and work up to leadership. Be interesting. Show community involvement. Be kind.
Anonymous
05/12/2026 08:43
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
At first I thought this was about St Anselm's Abbey School.
Anonymous
05/12/2026 08:42
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
How many times do we have to say this - they aren’t looking for machines. Be well-rounded, find some activities you like.
Anonymous
05/12/2026 08:34
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of schools that don’t offer AP classes or exams and still send lots of kids to top 10 colleges.
This.
We've been told by several AOs that they look at APs in the context of your school's offering only. Moreover, that once a candidate crosses an academic threshold, which varies by school, they move on to the intangibles which matter far more in the end of who gets in or not (and yes, that includes hooks). As one put it, I've never pushed a kid in decision discussions because of scores, and it's never served as the tiebreak, either. The rigor of the school and transcript matters far more. Once you make it past the threshold, I've moved on to the real substance of the application.
And some kids won’t make it over that threshold and will still be admitted. Hooked kids, mainly recruited athletes. The process is incredibly screwed up.
Anonymous
05/12/2026 08:32
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
Anonymous wrote:Spending too much time on your own academics is a sign of arrogance and self-centeredness. Schools do not care if you are top .1% intelligence if you are solely focused on racking up stats. I'm not speaking to this kid in particular, but there are plenty of brilliant maladjusted geniuses that will spend all day in their room studying, masturbating and playing shooter games, rather than contributing to the campus community. Schools would rather take to 5% intelligence and community impact than the .1% top student who is glorying in their own intelligence all day.
Wow. You need to spend some time on your own issues.
Anonymous
05/12/2026 08:31
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of schools that don’t offer AP classes or exams and still send lots of kids to top 10 colleges.
This.
We've been told by several AOs that they look at APs in the context of your school's offering only. Moreover, that once a candidate crosses an academic threshold, which varies by school, they move on to the intangibles which matter far more in the end of who gets in or not (and yes, that includes hooks). As one put it, I've never pushed a kid in decision discussions because of scores, and it's never served as the tiebreak, either. The rigor of the school and transcript matters far more. Once you make it past the threshold, I've moved on to the real substance of the application.
Anonymous
05/12/2026 08:19
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
Spending too much time on your own academics is a sign of arrogance and self-centeredness. Schools do not care if you are top .1% intelligence if you are solely focused on racking up stats. I'm not speaking to this kid in particular, but there are plenty of brilliant maladjusted geniuses that will spend all day in their room studying, masturbating and playing shooter games, rather than contributing to the campus community. Schools would rather take to 5% intelligence and community impact than the .1% top student who is glorying in their own intelligence all day.
Anonymous
05/12/2026 08:11
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of schools that don’t offer AP classes or exams and still send lots of kids to top 10 colleges.
By “plenty of schools” you mean very selective private schools. That doesn't count when comparing since these schools have admission criteria and aren't accepting low performing, low IQ kids. Public schools have to take in everyone in their district, and in any districts, the majority of kids are not high achieving. AP classes are the only way public school kids are able to any semblance of higher rigor.
Anonymous
05/12/2026 08:01
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
There are plenty of schools that don’t offer AP classes or exams and still send lots of kids to top 10 colleges.
Anonymous
05/12/2026 07:59
Subject: 25 APs not enough for Top 10
Anonymous wrote:Kid that took 25 APs in high school couldn’t crack top 10, but still got into UCLA.
https://youtu.be/MlTf-qxcY3k?si=FH7sakCHHqgeDH3X
It’s not only APs, everything else does matter.
Did he get good scores?