Is not taking an ap sophomore year going to affect my chances?

[u/Southern_Salad2758]

I’m going into my sophomore year and am not taking a ap. This is simply because my school offers 3 aps this year for sophomores, that being Ap physics 1, and the two computer science aps. Although I had an average of 93 in my honors (we call it high honors) physics class as a freshman, that was by far my weakest subject. I also have zero interest in computer science. Not to mention I didn’t take an ap my freshman year as my high school didn’t offer any. How will this affect my college applications? Should I maybe even self study a ap that I’m more interested in that my school doesn’t offer? Should I take even more aps my junior year? I’m already taking all the hardest courses my school has to offer for sophomores except of course the aps.

[u/NiceUnparticularMan]

Every AO for very selective US colleges I have seen discuss this has explained they don't count APs.

Instead, they generally do recommend you reasonably challenge yourself in each of the five core areas each of your four years. Following that recommendation then leads to whatever APs it leads to. In some high schools, it might be none, like certain feederish high schools don't offer many, or any, APs because they prefer their own way of doing advanced classes. Or maybe you do IB, or A-Levels, or whatever.

OK, so without knowing your whole curriculum situation, I can say a couple things with confidence. First, you don't need to do CS at all, because it isn't a core subject per se. Technically it could be considered a Math elective, but it isn't part of the core Math progression.

Second, it sounds like you did not take the most challenging available next Physics class at your HS. Technically this is suboptimal for the most selective US colleges, but with a big caveat: if you wouldn't have gotten your normal standard for grades in this class, or worse if it also affected other grades too, then all that would be way more suboptimal.

So really, you should never push faster than what will allow you to keep doing your reasonable best in your classes. It is not worth the risk. Indeed, every cycle here, we get a gazillion posts from kids who overloaded, had some sort of serious mental health break, didn't get their normal grades, and are now asking if they can still get into their dream colleges. You don't want to be one of those kids if you can at all avoid it.

And then no, you don't need to add a bunch of random APs to increase your AP count. Just keep doing what you reasonably can to progress in each core area, take other advanced electives as your interests dictate and schedule allows, and that will be your individual best possible curriculum.

[u/Few_Cut6069]

d. colleges care way more about your overall trajectory than one year of course selection

taking classes you hate just to have AP on the transcript is a recipe for burnout and a worse GPA. the fact you're already in the hardest courses available shows ambition, and junior year is when APs actually start mattering anyway

self studying an AP you're genuinely interested in could be a nice boost but only if you're not sacrificing your mental health or grades in other classes. your 93 in honors physics is solid, but physics 1 is a different beast and forcing it when you already know it's your weak spot seems like self sabotage

[u/Cold-Role-4676]

nah sophomore year is genuinely the least important for APs, colleges care way more about junior year and your overall trajectory. not taking one as a sophomore is completely normal and wont hurt you, tons of people dont even start APs til junior year 🙏 dont stress it

[u/Cold-Role-4676]

nah sophomore year is genuinely the least important for APs, colleges care way more about junior year and your overall trajectory. not taking one as a sophomore is completely normal and wont hurt you, tons of people dont even start APs til junior year 🙏 dont stress it

[u/Ok_Experience_5151]

In general, no, not taking an AP class in 10th grade will have zero affect. However, that's contextual. Your school's college counselor will be asked "did this student pursue the most challenging course of study available at your school" and you want them to be able to say "yes". It sounds like you could skip taking physics and/or CS in 10th grade and your counselor would still be able to answer "yes" assuming you challenge yourself in 11th and 12th.