Do I really need any AP tests for selective colleges?

jadedm · 01-23-2012, 03:26 PM

I'm applying ED to a school with a sub-20% acceptance rate in the fall. I have a glut of testing besides the APs: the regular SAT (2300), the ACT (36), Math II (750), Biology E (800), Literature (800), US History (790), and World History (790). I will also have 39 college credits upon applying - I dual-enroll. I feel confident that I would be prepared for the AP testing, but it just doesn't make sense to me to take a test to get college credit when I'm taking the actual course. Will this be a disadvantage come application time? I'd really not throw down ~$600 on testing if it's not necessary.

GeekMom63 · 01-23-2012, 05:40 PM

My guess would be that you don't need AP tests if you have dual enrollment credits. OTOH, my son did both.

You might also consider that, depending on what school you end up at (possibly not the one you ED at if you get deferred or rejected), the school may give credit for AP classes but not for dual enrollment classes. An AP 5 is a known quantity, but an A from Whatever CC isn't.

sbjdorlo · 01-24-2012, 01:30 AM

That's a tough one, Jadedm. Are you junior this year or a senior? If you're a senior, taking the APs won't help a bit in admissions so save your money. You've got great scores on some great tests. If you're a junior, why not contact your ED school and ask admissions what they think?

My son did all of the above but in moderation (5 AP exams and will take one more this year, 3 SAT II exams, SAT I, 55 units of community college, and 19 units of audited university classes) and was so far admitted to one selective college with admissions rates under 10%.

Keep in mind (as you probably already are) that admissions are about a lot more than just test scores so if the AP exams are a financial hardship, explain that to the colleges. You sound like you'll be a great candidate without them but they are a good validation, even of classes taken at the community college.

NeedAVacation · 01-24-2012, 08:41 AM

I don't think you need AP exams on top of what you have for admission purposes. Others have a point about the acceptance of college transfer credits, if that is an issue for you. (Some schools won't give credit for AP exams either.) If college credit for what you did in high school is an issue, I would call Admissions to ask about it if it is not clear on their website.