Should I take APs to boost my GPA?

I have had plenty of sophomores come to office hours asking which APs they should take. Their justification is often “I want to take [insert AP class] because it will boost my GPA for college apps.” But is that really the right reason to be taking an AP course?

Do AP classes boost your GPA?

AP classes at most schools boost students’ weighted GPA. However, each school is different, so you should confirm this with your school’s guidance counselor. My high school did not, so my unweighted GPA was my only GPA!

Should I take APs to boost my GPA?

The question students are really asking is “will it look better to have a higher GPA because of my AP classes?” The short answer is yes, but the long answer is it depends. Yes, it absolutely looks better to have taken and succeeded in an AP course because of the academic rigor they demand. However, you should be asking yourself if you can handle the workload in addition to all of your other commitments. A “B” in an AP course is not the same as an “A” in a regular course. What I mean by that is that admissions officers will judge your “B” in the context of the AP course, and it won’t necessarily be considered an “A” in a regular course, even though your GPA may reflect that.

Colleges, especially elite ones, want to know what level of rigor you can handle. I would recommend taking AP classes if you know you have at least a shot at a B+ or above. I encourage students to take on the challenge of an AP course but to be careful not to overwhelm themselves.

Summary

Take APs if you can handle the rigor and if you think you have a genuine chance of getting a good grade in the class. It won’t necessarily serve you well if you perform poorly in an AP class! (And if you do, it’s not the end of the world.)

I’ll keep this one short and sweet. Make sure to come to Office Hours if you have more questions!