How Many AP Classes Should I Take To Get Into Ivy League Colleges?

Reviewed by: Liam Taft

Published

26 June 2025

Contents

Kudos for setting your goal of getting into an Ivy League college. For many, it seems to be a lofty goal, and it’s certainly not an easy one to accomplish.

Honestly, if you are determined to reach this goal, it will take a lot of work on your part. It will require you to make a solid plan and stick to it, no matter how difficult it is. It is a competitive field, and you may have to work harder than you ever imagined. But it is doable!

Let’s take a look at what you will need to do to get into an Ivy League college. We’ll discuss what the top schools look for in a candidate, the many factors you’ll need to consider, how many AP classes you should take, and which ones you’ll want to focus on. If you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. We want to help equip you so you can reach your goal.

What Ivy League Colleges Look For

Seven of the eight Ivy League schools give college credit for AP coursework. To get college credit, you will need at least a 4 on the AP exam. But some require a score of 5 for credit.

This can vary between schools and even departments within each school. Some schools use AP scores for advanced course placement, while others will give college credit for higher scores.

Let’s take a look at these seven Ivy League schools and how they view AP coursework.

Ivy League School	AP Score Policy
Brown University	Accepts AP exam scores for placement or credit. Typically, credit requires a minimum score of 4.
Columbia University	May grant placement or credit for AP scores of 4 or 5.
Cornell University	Usually grants placement or credit for AP scores of 4 or 5.
Harvard University	The school doesn’t require AP scores for admission. High AP scores (especially 5s) strengthen an application and may allow all students to skip introductory coursework.
Princeton University	Accepts AP scores for credit, but usually requires a score of 5. In some cases, a score of 4 may be accepted.
University of Pennsylvania	The school doesn’t allow AP credit to waive their general education requirements. UPenn sometimes allows placement into advanced courses based on a student’s AP scores.
Yale University	Yale has some exceptions, but usually gives credit for scores of 5. They may use scores for placement sometimes.

Factors to Consider

Choosing your AP classes for Ivy League schools can feel overwhelming. We’ll help you break it down to the basics, so your choices will be easier to make.

Admissions officials at Ivy League schools look for academic rigor and a genuine passion for learning and excelling academically. While you’ll want to prioritize important courses like math, science, social studies, English and foreign languages, there are other factors to consider.

Ivy League Schools Admissions Requirements

Every college has admissions requirements. Of course, Ivy League schools have set very high academic standards. Most applicants need to maintain a GPA of at least 4.0. You’ll also need to score at least a 700 on every SAT test section. If you take the ACT, you’ll want to score at least a 31.

These are the most essential parts of Ivy League applications, but there are other factors that can make you stand out.

Make sure to do your due diligence in researching your Ivy League preferences when it comes to AP coursework. You’ll want to make sure you understand their admissions requirements. Knowing what your school choice requires helps you shape your strategy for your academic future.

Personal Interests and Academic Strengths

Choose AP classes that you are genuinely interested in. This helps make the learning process more enjoyable, and you’re more likely to stay engaged. If you are engaged and enjoying a class, you are more likely to excel in the subject.

You’ll also want to pick AP courses that reflect your academic strengths. For example, if you do well in science, think about taking AP Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. If you enjoy and do well in history, consider AP US History, World History, or European History. Think about your potential major. Select AP courses that align with the field of study you plan on pursuing.

Academic Rigor and Course Load

Ivy League schools want to see that you have challenged yourself academically. To demonstrate this to admissions officials, take the most challenging AP courses you can. However, make sure to focus on courses that will strengthen your profile without negatively impacting your academic reputation.

How Many AP Classes Do Students Typically Take?

The number of AP classes students take can vary significantly based on their personal goals and their schools. The College Board published a report that breaks down the available data to give us a basic idea. Most students take between 1 and 3 AP classes while they are in high school. Around 80% of students took one or two AP exams in a school year, and about 20% took three or more AP exams.

Both public and private high school students took an average of 3 to 7 AP classes over four years. Highly competitive high schools averaged closer to 7 and higher AP classes taken by students.

But what about Ivy League applicants? For Ivy League schools and other highly selective universities, expectations are quite a bit higher. Most applicants at Ivy League schools take between 7 and 12 AP classes during their high school years.

Most experts recommend at least 8 to 12 AP courses for students who want to attend highly competitive colleges. These classes should be balanced across the various core subjects: English, math, science, history, and foreign language.

Ivy League schools, like Harvard, do evaluate their applicants in the context of what AP courses are available through their high school. If a school doesn’t offer many AP classes, at student who takes most or all of them is viewed more favorably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need To Take AP Exams To Get Into Ivy League Colleges?

There are students who get into Ivy League schools without taking AP exams. However, you put yourself at a disadvantage by applying to a college without taking AP courses. Ivy League schools put a lot of stress on academic rigor, and the most successful applicants challenge themselves with the most challenging courses available to them at the high school level.

What Is The Minimum Number of AP Classes I Need for College?

There isn’t a magic number of AP classes you need to take for college. The ideal number of AP courses for you depends on a few factors, including which college you apply to, the AP courses available at your high school, and your individual capabilities and academic goals. For your local or state colleges, you may only need 1 or 2 AP courses. For the top 100 colleges, you need at least 4 AP classes to gain the advantage over other applicants. To get into the top 20 schools, you’ll need at least 6 AP classes. But for top, more selective Ivy League universities, you will want to score well in at least 8 AP classes.

How Do I Know If I’m Ready for AP Classes?

According to the U.S. News & World Report, there are three ways to measure your readiness for AP coursework. Firstly, you should be able to complete any prerequisites without too much difficulty. Secondly, you do not feel challenged by regular classes. And thirdly, you have a passion for the subject matter. Also, you should be passionate about reaching your academic and career goals.

Final Thoughts

Getting accepted into Ivy League colleges will require a strategic approach that starts with choosing your AP classes. Admissions officers prioritize academic rigor, strong GPAs, and high scores on standardized tests.

Even though there isn’t a specific minimum number of AP classes required, most students accepted into Ivy League schools complete between 8 and 12 core AP subjects. The perfect number for you will depend on what classes are available at your high school and your personal preferences and career goals.

It is important that students show they are dedicated to academic success and that they have challenged themselves with rigorous coursework.

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