College Discussion - View Single Post - Colleges That Request AP Scores on Their Application Forms

Chedva · 07-21-2007, 07:14 AM

I have to agree with calmom on this one - reporting scores is optional. Just as happens at "SAT optional" schools, the students with the strong scores report them and the ones with weaker scores (or no scores) don't.

Schools do not accept a student's word for their SAT I, SAT II or ACT scores. They do not accept a student's word for the courses they've taken or for the grades they've received. Yet they accept the student's word on for their AP scores, and consider them important in the admissions process? I don't think so; it just doesn't make sense to me. They're already asking students to provide other official score reports. If the AP scores were important, they'd simply ask for an official AP score report of exams taken before senior year.

Not only is the submission of scores optional once matriculated, but any scores sent go only to that school. You could lie like a rug about AP scores, get into a particular school, and if you're not going there, the school will never know.

Additionally, students can withhold AP scores from their reports (for a fee, of course). So if the Harvard admittee gets 2 5s, a 4 and a 1, and reported only the 5s on the app, he or she can send only the 5s.

07-21-2007, 07:14 AM	#39
Chedva Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Threads: 86 Posts: 5,453	I have to agree with calmom on this one - reporting scores is optional. Just as happens at "SAT optional" schools, the students with the strong scores report them and the ones with weaker scores (or no scores) don't. Schools do not accept a student's word for their SAT I, SAT II or ACT scores. They do not accept a student's word for the courses they've taken or for the grades they've received. Yet they accept the student's word on for their AP scores, and consider them important in the admissions process? I don't think so; it just doesn't make sense to me. They're already asking students to provide other official score reports. If the AP scores were important, they'd simply ask for an official AP score report of exams taken before senior year. Not only is the submission of scores optional once matriculated, but any scores sent go only to that school. You could lie like a rug about AP scores, get into a particular school, and if you're not going there, the school will never know. Additionally, students can withhold AP scores from their reports (for a fee, of course). So if the Harvard admittee gets 2 5s, a 4 and a 1, and reported only the 5s on the app, he or she can send only the 5s.