Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 10:48     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
Take more of the harder APs (in all subject areas) and fewer of the filler APs. Also, search what APs give the most credit/satisfy gen ed requirements at your kid’s top choices.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 09:02     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it is a matter of how many AP courses. The issue is taking the right combination of AP courses and doing well on them and the exams, especially if the reach colleges consider those scores.


The UVA dean blog agrees.

with the number of AP courses offered these days, you can rack up a lot of APs in just one subject. There could be students with big AP numbers who also haven't take an advanced course in other core areas.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 08:28     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
I don’t think it is a matter of how many AP courses. The issue is taking the right combination of AP courses and doing well on them and the exams, especially if the reach colleges consider those scores.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 07:53     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
Anonymous wrote:There does seem to be a double standard for CS and engineering. While humanities can probably get away with not taking Calc BC and MV/Linear, the hard Science majors better take AP Lang/Lit. Honors English likely won't cut it.


We have normalized "I am not a math person". It is just as stupid as saying "I am not a reading or writing person" and getting away with not taking AP Lang/Lit.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 06:52     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Take at least one AP in each of the five main subjects, and as far as you can in your area of interest. Also, at least one of the science APs should be Bio, Chem or Physics…. AP Env Science is not considered as rigorous.

Taking five social studies AP and five in other areas won’t be as impressive.


My DC has to take the honors version of the science classes before they can the AP version. They are taking these classes in 9th-12th: Honors Bio, Honors Chem, Honors Physics, AP Environmental Science. College Counselor says this is fine for UVA if not a science major. Is CCO incorrect? DC attends a Virginia private school.


Students are evaluated in the context of their HS. FCPS does not require honors before AP. Comparing private school with FCPS is not likely to be informative.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 23:34     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
My kid got in with 9 AP courses from a “lesser” fcps high school. I assume most UVA admits from fcps, end up taking at least 8 APs. The kids from lower ranked high schools still end up taking the most popular AP courses, which are usually available at their schools.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 22:42     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
Anonymous wrote:Is it frowned on by colleges to take APs online instead of at Langley/McLean? Seems an easy way to get out of the difficult courses and it sounds like the FCPS Online campus is easier.


Yes. And now transcripts note if a course is taken online. Top colleges generally look down on online bc of the known cheating.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 22:10     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Take at least one AP in each of the five main subjects, and as far as you can in your area of interest. Also, at least one of the science APs should be Bio, Chem or Physics…. AP Env Science is not considered as rigorous.

Taking five social studies AP and five in other areas won’t be as impressive.


My DC has to take the honors version of the science classes before they can the AP version. They are taking these classes in 9th-12th: Honors Bio, Honors Chem, Honors Physics, AP Environmental Science. College Counselor says this is fine for UVA if not a science major. Is CCO incorrect? DC attends a Virginia private school.


I am this PP. Happy to report that my DC was just accepted to UVA with APES as their only science AP. Took the honors version of bio, chem, and physics.


hooked?
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 17:06     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Take at least one AP in each of the five main subjects, and as far as you can in your area of interest. Also, at least one of the science APs should be Bio, Chem or Physics…. AP Env Science is not considered as rigorous.

Taking five social studies AP and five in other areas won’t be as impressive.


My DC has to take the honors version of the science classes before they can the AP version. They are taking these classes in 9th-12th: Honors Bio, Honors Chem, Honors Physics, AP Environmental Science. College Counselor says this is fine for UVA if not a science major. Is CCO incorrect? DC attends a Virginia private school.


I am this PP. Happy to report that my DC was just accepted to UVA with APES as their only science AP. Took the honors version of bio, chem, and physics.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 16:35     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
Thank you!
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 14:29     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
Anonymous wrote:If planning on science major in college, is it ok to wait until Senior year to take the first physics class? Ie take AP Physics (in FCPS, I don't think honors Physics is required before this) Senior year?

That would be AP Physics 1, which is akin to an honors physics course.

You don't need to take Physics C, but I would not choose AP Physics C without a prior physics course.

You need to take a physics course of some type. Then choose among AP Bio, AP Chem, and AP Physics C.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 13:08     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
If planning on science major in college, is it ok to wait until Senior year to take the first physics class? Ie take AP Physics (in FCPS, I don't think honors Physics is required before this) Senior year?
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2024 08:03     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Take at least one AP in each of the five main subjects, and as far as you can in your area of interest. Also, at least one of the science APs should be Bio, Chem or Physics…. AP Env Science is not considered as rigorous.

Taking five social studies AP and five in other areas won’t be as impressive.


My DC has to take the honors version of the science classes before they can the AP version. They are taking these classes in 9th-12th: Honors Bio, Honors Chem, Honors Physics, AP Environmental Science. College Counselor says this is fine for UVA if not a science major. Is CCO incorrect? DC attends a Virginia private school.


1. You need to understand the whole transcript before answering this.

2. What APs were offered junior year in science?

Anonymous
Post 09/17/2024 07:45     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
Anonymous wrote:My kid went to McLean and is at sn ivy for college. 9 APs and mulitvariable calc. APs were all “hard” except comp sci a.

In the end I don’t think it’s the number of APs you take. I think it’s the entire package. Are you taking APs that makes sense for your intended major. And do you have extracurriculars where you made an impact on your community.


+1
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2024 07:42     Subject: For Langley/McLean, how many AP classes should a student shoot for to be taking a most rigorous courseload
Anonymous wrote:Take at least one AP in each of the five main subjects, and as far as you can in your area of interest. Also, at least one of the science APs should be Bio, Chem or Physics…. AP Env Science is not considered as rigorous.

Taking five social studies AP and five in other areas won’t be as impressive.


My DC has to take the honors version of the science classes before they can the AP version. They are taking these classes in 9th-12th: Honors Bio, Honors Chem, Honors Physics, AP Environmental Science. College Counselor says this is fine for UVA if not a science major. Is CCO incorrect? DC attends a Virginia private school.