Take 4 APs by Junior Year - An Honor Could Be Yours

Here is an instance where planning ahead could really strengthen your college application. As you think about your high school course load, your goal should be to complete at least 4 APs by the end of junior year. If you receive an average score of at least 3.25 and scores of 3 or higher on four of them, then you will receive the distinction of "AP Scholar with Honor" from the College Board. You can use this "honor" on your college application.

Unfortunately, most kids don't even know that this honor exists so they don't plan for it. Instead, they casually take 2 or 3 AP classes in junior year and then maybe another 2 in senior year. So, by the end of senior year they have 4 AP tests under their belt making them eligible the academic honor from the College Board, but what good is the honor after high school graduation? Students need the honor at the end of their junior year so they can leverage it in their college application.

So, plan ahead! Take at least 4 AP classes by the end of your junior year and strive to earn at least a 4 on several of them! You will need to fill in the honor drop down box on the Common App and Coalition App with something, so let's make it a real academic honor!