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Weight of AP scores

12311231 Registered User Posts: 150 Junior Member
edited July 2006 in Johns Hopkins University
Hi, I am a junior-going-to-be-senior student. I am very interested in Hopkins. I have a 3.8-3.9 GPA, a reasonable SAT score, and fabulous SATII scores. However, I was absolutely disgusted by the lack of 5's and 4's on my recent AP scores. I see that on the application, Hopkins has an "optional" box to submit AP scores. I had A's in all my AP classes, and trust me, they were hard earned grades, however, I did not to very well on the AP tests. If I do not submit it, will the adcoms look to it as a great example of grade inflation or not consider it at all? I'm worried that the adcoms will know that I purposely did not submit it because my scores were not high... Not many people can be modest when it comes to college applications...
Another question: If i submit only my good scores, and not submit my bad ones, will not make it too obvious that I failed the other ones?
Sorry if i seem so negative. I am just so shocked by these scores..

THANK YOU!
Post edited by 1231 on
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Replies to: Weight of AP scores

  • smder99smder99 Registered User Posts: 802 Member
    well if u got all A's and then sub-par AP scores, theres something wrong there...and they would assume grade inflation...so there may not be any way around it :(
    if they are 3s and 4s..i would still put them on..cuz the lack thereof may alarm them even more and they might assume u got 1s and 2s...but in the case that you did..its probably better not to report it lol
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  • 12311231 Registered User Posts: 150 Junior Member
    well I did not mean to seem arrogant- since the scores are not 1's and 2's. there are a couple 4 and 3 s and a 2. I did not study for the ap exams because I was told that submission was "optional." Which is true. I am so worried.. I do not want to submit a 3 or 2
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  • bootupbootup Registered User Posts: 60 Junior Member
    rofl you are screwed if you got anything less than 4's. they will assume your gpa is greatly inflated. also, if you managed to get 3's and 2's in important subjects like calc bc, chem, bio, physics, then you're even more screwed. and remember, you must be honest and report everything.
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  • tanmantanman Registered User Posts: 2,645 Senior Member
    "you must be honest and report everything."

    If the application says that AP scores are optional, then you don't have to report them. To the OP, wait for an answer from AdmissionsDaniel, but if I were you, I'd self-report the 4's and maybe even the 3's.
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  • jmmomjmmom Registered User Posts: 9,084 Senior Member
    Agree that you should wait to hear from AdmissionsDaniel as to whether to report some, none or all.

    But, be aware that not everyone even takes the AP exam for every AP course. Some high schools require that you do, some don't require it; so some kids don't take the tests for a variety of reasons (cost, no desire for advanced standing or college credit....). If it's optional, you are not being dishonest to leave them off.
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  • 12311231 Registered User Posts: 150 Junior Member
    what if I told you that I got a 800 on satii biology but only managed a 3 on the ap biology. Trust me. My grades are not inflated. I was one of the only A's in the class. Admission Daniel??
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  • 12311231 Registered User Posts: 150 Junior Member
    This is a question to AdmissionsDaniel:
    Can AP Scores harm me if I did poorly on it?
    Can the scores help me if I did well on it?
    If I submit only my good scores, and not my bad ones, will that make it too obvious that I failed the other ones?
    My scores aren't necessarily "failing scores" but they are not what I wanted it to be. I am just so worried.
    I am planning to leave the AP score report section totally blank, and not take any risks, in case the admission officers will think that I had failed my other ones. Willl that harm my chances at all?

    Thank You!
    I'll see you at open house on the 29th!
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  • mrcapslockmrcapslock Registered User Posts: 236 Junior Member
    at my school, we only have 2 available AP classes and you have to take them your senior year. definitely no help for college app. The rest are college classes which doesn't give any prep towards AP.

    I hope college admission won't frown too much upon that since I don't really have a choice and I'm too poor to afford a prep school.
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  • jprojpro Registered User Posts: 74 Junior Member
    My D took scads of AP classes in HS but never took even one AP exam.She was accepted into the BME program so ,at least in her case,the AP tests were seemingly irrelevant.
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  • AdmissionsDanielAdmissionsDaniel College Rep Posts: 2,788 Senior Member
    OK so to make this clear, I am going to state the question I am answering and then give you the answer:

    Q: Do AP scores matter in the admissions review for Hopkins?
    A: Yes, everything in an application matters!!!

    Q: How much do AP scores matter?
    A: Not much. We pay much more attention to your transcript review and the grades you got in your classes, then how you scored on an exam on one day. The AP score is seen mainly as a means to possibly gaining academic credit if you choose to enroll. I like "jpro's" phrase "seemingly irrelevant" -- though I would repeat that anything in an application is fair game to be reviewed.

    Q: Should I report all my AP scores?
    A: Ultimately it is your choice, but the Admissions committee suggests you submit all your scores.

    Q: On this thread, whose opinions should I listen to and whose should I ignore?
    A: Listen to (1) jmmom, (2) tanman, (3) jpro. Ignore (1) bootup.

    Q: Final question, can my AP scores make an ultimate difference in the Admissions process.
    A: NO.
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  • chelbell47chelbell47 Registered User Posts: 2 New Member
    When your report AP scores to a school the College Board AP Company automatically reports ALL of your AP scores to the school. So really you have no choice report ONE and THEY ALL ARE SENT IN.
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  • tanmantanman Registered User Posts: 2,645 Senior Member
    You don't have to send in an official score report when you apply - you only self-report your AP scores on your application.
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  • jmmomjmmom Registered User Posts: 9,084 Senior Member
    Good point, tanman. You don't have to, nor would it make much economic sense. It costs to send official reports of your AP scores; you could be sending them to a lot of schools where an official report would never be needed. You only need an official score report for the school where you eventually matriculate; even then, maybe only if they request if for placement or if you want credit.
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  • 12311231 Registered User Posts: 150 Junior Member
    thank you so much guys. this took a lot of pressure of my back. i think i am going to either leave the ap box blank or just send in my 4's. THANKS AGAIN!!
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