Today's article focuses on course registration. As the time for planning next semester's schedule approaches, we have created this post to address the most commonly asked questions at A-One Institute.
This is an opportunity to provide answers to the questions you are most eager to have clarified as you prepare for the upcoming semester or year.
Is it advisable to take numerous AP (IB) courses next semester?
Before addressing this question, let me pose one to you:
“If you attend a highly prestigious university, you’ll likely face very challenging courses, increasing the chances of struggling or even dropping out. Would you still want to attend such a university?”
What would your response be?
If your answer is, “Yes! I still want to go to a prestigious university,” then we recommend considering a rigorous course load with multiple AP (IB) classes.
Universities review transcripts to assess how well applicants navigate the challenges of high school. However, keep in mind that overloading on difficult courses at the expense of your GPA could harm your chances of gaining admission to a Top Tier or Top 20 university. Strive to maintain strong grades while managing a demanding schedule. This balance is a key part of preparing for and succeeding in the admissions process for highly competitive institutions.
How many AP classes should I take?
If you search online for answers to this question, you might find responses such as "Ivy League schools require at least 8 APs," "Top 20 schools require 6," or "Top 100 schools require 4 to 8."
However, these figures represent averages for students across the United States and may not be directly applicable to Korean students.
To provide a more accurate perspective, I will share data based on the admissions results of students from our institute. Below are the average numbers of AP courses taken by our students who have been admitted to Top 20 universities over the past three years:
- Harvard: 12.3
- MIT: 12.4
- UPenn: 11.8
- Brown: 11.5
- Cornell: 10.5
- NYU: 8.5
If you are targeting prestigious universities, it’s useful to consider these averages. On the other hand, if your focus is on schools outside the Top 50, taking 1-2 AP courses would typically suffice.
Can I take an AP equivalent course from outside? Do I have to take the AP exam in May?
To address these questions, I’ve outlined six scenarios:
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Taking an AP course in school & scoring 4-5 on the AP exam
This is the ideal situation. Completing the course within your high school and achieving a high score (4 or 5) on the May AP exam demonstrates both commitment and capability. -
Taking an AP external course (not offered at school) & scoring 4-5 on the AP exam
This is also a favorable scenario. If your high school does not offer a specific AP course, taking it externally and earning a high score on the AP exam reflects strong initiative and academic ability. -
Taking an AP external course (not offered at school) & not taking the AP exam
While this can show the student’s interest in the subject, it leaves admissions officers unable to objectively assess the student’s mastery of the material. This situation may raise questions about academic ability. -
Taking an AP external course (offered at school) & scoring 4-5 on the AP exam
This can raise doubts for admissions officers about why the student opted to take the course externally when it was available at their school. However, a high score on the AP exam can mitigate some concerns and highlight the student’s academic capability. -
Taking an AP external course (offered at school) & not taking the AP exam
This is not seen as a positive situation. It’s better to focus on other academic or extracurricular areas than taking an AP course externally without following up with the AP exam. -
Only taking the AP exam & scoring 4-5 points
This approach is acceptable. Even without taking the course, achieving a good score on the exam demonstrates proficiency.
If you do not take the AP exam, whether the course is taken at school or externally, it typically holds little value in the admissions process. Based on the situations above, the recommended approaches, ranked by preference, are:
- Taking an AP course in school and earning a score of 4-5 on the AP exam.
- Completing an external AP course (if not available at school) and achieving a good score on the AP exam to provide objective evidence of skills.
- Taking the AP exam independently and scoring 4-5 points, even without enrolling in a formal course.
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If GPA can be combined:
High grades in an external AP course can positively contribute to your overall GPA, enhancing your academic profile. -
If GPA cannot be combined:
The advantage is that a lower grade in the external course won’t negatively affect your GPA, though strong performance in the AP exam remains crucial
Do I have to take AP English even if my English skills are weak?
At A-One, we consistently emphasize the critical importance of English proficiency. Based on the results of our students, we analyzed the academic records of 30 students who gained admission to Top 20 universities. The data revealed that all of these successful students took at least one AP English course, either AP English Language or AP English Literature.
Therefore, if you are aiming for admission to a Top 20 university, including UCLA or UCB, it is highly recommended to take at least one of these AP English courses, regardless of whether your focus is in STEM or non-STEM fields.
Do I really need to skip a grade in math?
We frequently receive inquiries about grade-skipping in math. If your goal is admission to a Top 20 university with a focus on STEM, grade-skipping should be considered.
However, this doesn’t mean you must skip a grade unconditionally. Students aiming for STEM majors should evaluate whether they can reach at least AP Calculus BC by the time they graduate. For non-STEM students, the minimum benchmark is completing Pre-Calculus by 12th grade.
If you can meet these standards within the regular school schedule, grade-skipping may not be necessary. However, if it seems challenging to reach the minimum requirement by senior year, planning to skip a grade through summer coursework could be a beneficial strategy.
What should I do if I messed up my GPA in 10th (or 11th) grade?
If your GPA significantly declines during 10th or 11th grade, it can create serious challenges, as this drop will be clearly visible on your academic record. While there are rare cases where students have overcome such weaknesses and gained admission to prestigious universities, a noticeable GPA drop is generally not acceptable to Top 20 institutions. Adjusting your expectations and targeting schools accordingly may be a more realistic approach in such situations.
This underscores the importance of consistently managing your GPA throughout high school, avoiding significant declines in any single grade.
Choosing between a general class and an AP class unrelated to your major
There is no definitive answer to this question, but here’s a guideline:
- If the AP class in question is a Core subject, it’s advisable to choose it even if it’s unrelated to your intended major. Core AP courses reflect strong academic preparation.
- If the AP class is an Elective subject, you can prioritize taking general classes that align more closely with your major.
Considerations about exceptional cases
While it’s true that some students have been admitted to prestigious universities despite poor GPA performance, and others have been rejected despite stellar qualifications, these exceptions can cloud judgment. Our recommendations are based on the typical cases of students who have successfully gained admission to Top 20 universities.
We hope this guidance helps you in making informed decisions about class selection for the new semester or year.
Thank you.
curriculum
AP
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