The most important factor in college admissions is the strength of your academics. That means more than just grades; it also takes into account the rigor of the classes you took. Straight A's in bowling and finger painting aren't going to get you into Yale. Often times, getting a B in a hard class looks better than getting an easy A. Admissions officers are after applicants who challenge themselves by taking Advanced Placement classes.

Just how important are the APs in college admissions and why should you take them? These experts give their thoughts:

• Robert Bardwell of "Guidance Office" says, "The score of the actual AP test is not as important as the fact that the student took the AP class and what grade he earned. This is particularly true for a senior whose test score will not even be seen by the admissions committee."
• Dean Flagel at Not Your Average Admissions writes, "If you think a course will be so awfully difficult that not only will your grade go down in that course, but also in your other courses, you do need to think about how much that will impact your overall admission chances ... You should try picking courses because they interest and challenge you, and not just to get into a school."
• Babs at Campus Compare says, "The real end-goal of an AP course is to get college credit before you even apply to college. Sure, they look good, but you’ll also save possibly thousands of dollars and the boredom of taking 'Bio 101' or 'Intro to American History' with 300 of your “closest” friends."