Senior Year Course Load - No AP?

Hey, guys! So, I've been contemplating my senior year schedule and I'm considering not taking AP classes ('cause stress, man). What do you think? Does having fewer AP classes senior year affect college application chances negatively?

While it's definitely important to prioritize mental health and balance, it's also essential to maintain a rigorous academic schedule, especially in your senior year.

Colleges typically look for a rigorous course load as part of their review process to assess whether a student is capable of handling challenging courses at the college level. AP courses are one way of demonstrating this capability.

However, this doesn't mean you need to overload with all AP classes. The key is finding a balance between maintaining rigor and not overwhelming yourself. If AP classes will cause undue stress, consider taking a mix of honors classes and regular courses. This demonstrates that you are still pushing yourself academically while maintaining a level of sustainability in your schedule.

Remember, the quality of your grades also matters, not just the difficulty of the courses. Struggling through a bunch of AP classes with low grades will not look as good as doing well in a balanced mix of classes.

Finally, some colleges look at course rigor as part of the Academic Index and will consider not only the classes you've taken, but also how challenging those courses were relative to what's available at your high school. Be sure to check the individual policies at the universities you are interested in.