jlsniff

I'm thinking about not taking this exam. I would probably do very well on it. However, with princeton's AP policy, I would not be getting any credit. I would just get "advanced standing". Further, I heard that people can take placement exams, which are the same policy, right? Also, isn't it wiser to take the placement exams, since those exams would be taken close to when I take classes first semester. So, the exams would measure how much I knew at that time, and not May 7th. I think I would forget lots of the information over the summer. I would really like to get the refund of 70 dollars also, especially since the exam is not going to do anything good for me.

Weasel8488

It's a lot less of a hassle to get placed into the correct course if you have an AP score. You're a second semester senior--you don't have that much to do right now. During freshman week you'll have a lot of stuff going on, and the last thing you'll want to do is take a math exam.

I don't think that the time you take the exam is all that important. You may surprise yourself with how well you retain the information (after all, you did get into Princeton). If on the off chance you sign up for classes and realize that you're in the wrong math course, you can switch during the first few weeks with no penalty.

It sounds to me like you're trying to rationalize something that doesn't make a lot of intuitive sense.

ec1234

take the AP test- the placement tests that Princeton offers are usually much harder (I don't know anyone who has placed out of a language through the placement test, for example, they just get placed in 108) Also, you;ll be so busy frosh week that you won't want to sit and take a math class. On the other hand- you can usually just take whatever class you think works for you, with or without a score. Most majors don't care, but I can't speak for all of them. I skipped 104 (the equivalent of calc BC) without taking the BC test and only getting a 4 on the AB part--- but I took multivariable sophomore year after taking a hard physics class where we learned a lot of 201.

tokenadult

True that. Princeton's legendary math department has a lot of experience in correctly placing students in math courses based partly on their AP calculus BC scores.

guitars101

Are AP's important to an ivy once you've been accepted? in other words, can your admission be rescinded if you don't do well on the AP's?

Hunt

No. You don't even have to report them, unless you want to use them for placement.

guitars101

Wow, good to know. Are you sure? When final reports are sent in won't they ask if you took them?

Hunt

I guess if your school puts AP scores on your transcript, the college might get them. Many schools don't put them on the transcript, so I don't know how the school would get the score unless you give it to them. But they don't count like your high school grades.

Weasel8488

Your admission will not be rescinded based on your AP scores.

guitars101

Thanks everyone.

theLurker

If you talk to the right people, you can also place into upper-level classes at Princeton by taking post-AP classes in high school (you won't reduce your overall courseload for taking a high school class, though). Doing so will give you more options for taking classes when you get to campus. Don't count on this, though; it varies by department. At the very least, the prerequisite classes at Princeton/[insert elite school here] will be easier.