Am I Taking Too Many AP Classes? Finding the Right Balance
I’ve signed up for three AP classes next year. Most of my friends are taking five or six, which makes me feel that I might be falling behind. With my busy soccer schedule and part-time job at the physical therapy clinic, I’m worried about burning out. What should I do?
This was a very legitimate concern from a former student, and it's gotten worse over the years. What used to be an impressive course load has become the expectation at many competitive high schools, leaving students exhausted and families wondering: how much is too much?
The AP Arms Race
Advanced Placement courses were originally designed to give motivated students a taste of college-level work in subjects they loved. Now, they've become a currency in the admission game, with students stockpiling them like they're collecting coins in a video game.
Thie often results in students taking AP classes in subjects they don't care about, simply because they feel they have to. Teenagers getting four hours of sleep. Families spending thousands on tutors just to keep up. And surprisingly, not always better college outcomes.
What Colleges Actually Want
Most admission committees want to see that students challenged themselves within the context of their school. That's the key phrase: within the context of their school.
If your school offers thirty AP classes and students regularly take ten or more, then yes, having only two on your transcript may not seem very ambitious. However, at a smaller school with a limited menu of AP offerings, taking three or four courses could still reflect ample academic rigor within that particular educational context.
College admission committees aren't counting AP classes on their fingers. The key questions they’re asking are:
Did the student take advantage of the opportunities available to them?
Did they challenge themselves in areas related to their interests?
Can they handle college-level work without falling apart?
Do their grades suggest they were genuinely learning, or just surviving?
A student with five APs and straight As, strong extracurriculars, and thoughtful essays is far more appealing than a student with eight APs, mostly Bs, and not much else to show because they were constantly struggling to keep up academically.
The Magic Number (That Doesn't Exist)
Although it may be tempting to think there’s a “minimum” or “ideal” number of AP classes needed to get into a selective college, the truth is that there isn’t one.
Here are some general guidelines to consider:
For most students aiming for selective colleges:
6-8 AP classes total across all four years of high school is solid
This might mean 1-2 in sophomore year, 2-3 in junior year, and 3-4 in senior year
Focus on APs in areas of genuine interest or intended major
For students aiming for highly selective schools:
8-12 AP classes total is common, but not required
What matters more is depth in areas of passion
Taking AP Calculus BC, AP Physics, and AP Computer Science matters more for an engineering applicant than also cramming in AP Psychology and AP Human Geography
For students at schools with limited AP offerings:
Take what's available and challenge yourself with honors courses, dual enrollment, or independent study
Colleges understand not every school offers twenty APs
Red Flags That You May Be Taking Too Many
Watch for these warning signs that the course load is unsustainable:
Academic Red Flags:
Grades are dropping across multiple classes
You are scoring 1s and 2s on AP exams despite taking the class
You’re not retaining information despite spending extended hours on homework
Teachers are expressing concern about work quality
Physical and Mental Health Red Flags:
Chronic sleep deprivation (less than 6-7 hours regularly)
Frequent stress-related illness or headaches
Anxiety or panic attacks about school
Complete loss of appetite or stress eating
Withdrawal from family and friends
Lifestyle Red Flags:
No time for extracurriculars you previously loved
Sacrificing activities that matter for your wellbeing (exercise, hobbies, social time)
Weekends entirely consumed by homework
Relying on energy drinks or other stimulants to function
Talk of "just getting through this year"
If you're seeing multiple red flags, the course load is too much. Period. No college is worth your health.
The Hidden Cost of Overloading
Taking too many APs can actually hurt your college application, and sometimes this realization doesn’t set in until it’s too late.
You can't build a compelling profile when you're drowning in homework. Admission committees tend to be more excited about applicants who have genuine passions outside the classroom. Of course, pursuing those passions - be it sports, performing arts, research, or community engagement - takes time and energy. The student who takes five APs and uses their remaining time to start a charity organization, compete at a state level in debate, or work a meaningful job is more interesting than the student who takes eight APs and does little else.
Leadership positions require availability. Club presidents, team captains, and editors-in-chief need time to actually do the work. If you’re too overwhelmed to show up, you probably won't get selected for these roles.
College essays require reflection. The best essays come from students who have time to think, to pursue interests deeply, and to have experiences worth writing about. You can't write a compelling essay when you're in day-to-day survival mode.
Finding the Right Balance
Every student is different. Here's how to figure out what's right for you:
Start with Your Interests
Make two lists: subjects you’re genuinely curious about, and subjects you need for your intended college major or career path. Those are the classes worth taking at the AP level.
If you love history but are taking AP Chemistry just because "everyone else is," that's not a particularly effective motivation. Unless you’re planning to major in a science, regular chemistry or honors chemistry is perfectly fine.
Consider Your Track Record
How did you handle your course load in the past couple of semesters? If you were barely keeping your head above water with three APs, think twice before signing up for five next year.
Be honest about your learning style and capacity. Are you naturally an efficient operator and routinely able to juggle multiple demands, or do you do your best work when you’re able to focus on one thing at a time? While there is no “right” or “wrong” approach, understanding what works for you will help determine how to approach your academic courseload.
Factor in Everything Else
AP classes aren't the only thing happening in your life. As you think about how much academic rigor to take on, considering the following:
Are you playing a varsity sport with a heavy practice/competition schedule during season?
Do you plan to take on a part-time job or spend regular hours volunteering?
How much time will you need to devote to preparing for the ACT or SAT?
Are there any personal or family obligations or challenges that may require time and energy?
Remember that your life has multiple facets to it, and your academic demands don’t exist in isolation.
Plan Strategically Across Four Years
You don't need to frontload everything. In fact, it's smarter not to. A common approach:
Sophomore year: 1-2 APs in strongest subjects
Junior year: 2-4 APs, building rigor
Senior year: 3-4 APs in areas of genuine interest
This shows an upward trajectory while preventing burnout in junior year (which is already intense with testing and college prep).
The Key Conversation between Parent and Student
When a student insists on an unrealistic course load for the sake of keeping up with peers, parents may need to intervene and have a conversation about priorities. What matters more: getting into a more prestigious school or having a fulfilling high school experience? Checking boxes on a college application or pursuing deeper learning? Maintaining good health or bragging rights?
Rather than watching their student on the proverbial hamster wheel in pursuit of arbitrary standards, parents can play step in and frame the conversation in the following way:
"We want you to challenge yourself and reach your potential. But we also want you to be healthy, to find joy and purpose in what you’re learning, and give yourself enough time to do what you love. Let's look at your schedule together and be honest about what's realistic. If we need to choose between an extra AP and getting enough sleep, or having time for the robotics team you love, which matters more to you?"
Help them see that their worth isn't determined by the number of AP classes on their transcript.
The Bottom Line
Your student is probably taking too many APs if:
They're consistently stressed, sleep-deprived, or sacrificing their wellbeing
They're taking classes just to check boxes, not out of genuine interest
Their grades are suffering across the board
They have no time for meaningful extracurriculars
They're probably in a good place if:
They're challenged but managing the workload
They're taking APs in subjects that genuinely interest them
They have time for activities outside of school
They're sleeping adequately and maintaining their health
Their grades reflect actual learning
The goal is not about impressing an admission committee at any cost. It’s ultimately about becoming a healthy, balanced, and intellectually curious person who is ready to embrace the wonderful opportunities and challenges college has in store. A teenager who burns out in high school isn't set up to thrive in college, no matter where they are admitted.