Should I take these AP classes for the year 2021 - 2022?

Hi, firstly I want to tell you that realistically whatever decision you make probably won't impact your chances as it is already clear that you are able to excel in high-level courses in both STEM and the humanities. I would personally recommend doing AP Physics C as top schools are looking for their engineering students to have a solid background in physics. However, if you are looking to go into a different field of STEM I think there is more leeway with your decision. As for European History, while taking it and doing well definitely won't hurt you, it could overwhelm your workload especially as there are college apps in addition to all your academics this year. So, to summarize I would definitely recommend taking AP Physics C if you are applying to the engineering school and it is up to you whether to take AP European History taking into account that it won't make much of a difference even if you ace it and will add to an already busy year. Hope this helps and good luck!

I would do a limit of 4 challenging classes.

Your list of APs and Exam scores is very impressive for anyone applying, even if you didn't take any more APs. 6 (5s) is definitely higher than what most Ivy admits report for AP scores.

After watching a lot of youtube videos about HS students in China, Taiwan, HK, and S.Korea and their workload to get through their own national exams plus the US American ones, I think the main problem is that these applicants are not very interesting people.

Granted, they are all extremely book smart students who grind it out to get the best possible test scores and take the most rigorous classes but I think what the Int'l Asian applicant pool is lacking has more to do with individual "spikes", passions, leadership, community service, volunteerism, and sports.

So on one hand, the clear winners for having the best grades, test scores, are Asian Int'l students but on a purely "holistic" scorecard, many of these applicants are missing signs of individuality and leadership characteristics and evolved interpersonal communication skills.

If I were a college prep consultant or coach focused on your demographic, I would say the following:

-Don't be a follower, be a leader.

-Work on what you bring to the table as a human global citizen, not a student in the classroom.

-Curate a narrative in your application that supports with evidence that you are more than your test scores and grades. Show me that you have one or more passions that separate you and single you out as a unique interesting creature in a giant school of swimming sharks.

-Work on published works of expository writing. And have an ability for storytelling and creative writing like poetry or prose.

-Develop your ECs so they align with your spike. I understand that in certain Asian countries, your internet access may be restricted or censored or that your school may not have resources or teachers that know how to help kids with ECs but, if you have access to the rest of the world, do not hesitate to get involved or interested in things that are not taught in your school. Many Ivy League and Elite College admits have started businesses, written books, are national-level athletes, taken a year off to campaign for a Presidential candidate, traveled to faraway places to volunteer and build things, or have won awards for something they have done creatively outside of school. If you can take college courses online or do things outside of your comfort zone, taking those risks is what makes you unique in a sea of similar applications.

-If college admissions were purely based on test-taking and course rigor, I guaranty there are enough Asian International applicants to fill all 8 Ivy league seats for the next 4 years. But that's not what the criteria are focused on. Each Top college only uses test scores, grades, GPA as a threshold marker. Once you clear the hurdle for that particular school, the real application decision process starts. That is the one that looks at all the pieces of the puzzle a certain candidate brings to the table for that school. Brown might be looking for a Goalie Water Polo player, and Yale might be looking for an Oboe player and someone to lead their Acapella group, and Dartmouth is hoping for (4) star Lacrosse players who were in the National finals. College is a complicated thing because besides accepting students who have Top 10% academic records, colleges want very interesting people that have a high probability of doing great things for the world and giving back to the very schools that supported them. And that is why you really should NOT be worried about your competition who took a gap year and has 9 perfect APs with 5s. That is the least of your problems. What you should be asking yourself, is how can you stand out besides your grades and test scores.

What triggered me was when you said you and your classmates all have less than excellent ECs. Your school or town or country is not limiting you from being an excellent human, your ideas of what excellent ECs are. When I think of someone marginalized yet a prime example of a remarkable human being I think of Malala Yousafzai. She took risks to use her voice and was even shot in the head. And because of being brave and trying to speak truths, plus her 6 A level and 4 As landed her on full scholarship at Oxford University and now has graduated.

I think anybody including myself who just got into Columbia U. would have been thrilled if I had taken the amount of APs you did and your near-perfect test scores but I honestly don't think that would have made any difference in my admission or my fellow cohorts. Schools like mine are getting 10,000 or more international applicants every cycle for about 300 spots based on matriculation numbers. So you can see by the numbers, you have to work on a being an interesting person more than test scores. Within that 10,000 pool, I'm certain there are many perfect GPAs and perfect test score applicants.

Good luck with your final year of HS.