@jordanbelfort Was Calc a self-study, or did you take a class for it? Calc BC as a sophomore is quite impressive, either way. While that certainly shows your interest in getting as challenging an education as you can, AP exams alone seldom set you apart from others. SAT/ACT scores, GPA, course selection, and EC’s/hooks are all much more important to college acceptance. You might be able to use the fact that you got a 5 on Calc as a sophomore if you were to highlight it somehow, like in your essay. If you can make it a hook, then yes it can help set you apart. If you are just submitting it as an AP score, it certainly won’t hurt, but it won’t be that big of a help.
I took an honors calculus class in preparation for it at my school, but do self studying APs look more impressive? Thanks for the advice.
@jordanbelfort No; if your school offers the course, it is better to take the course.
Wait @skieurope why is it better to take the course? If it is in your ability to self-study and get a 5, then does taking the course provide an advantage of some sort?
@collegenow111 I imagine because self studying is a waste of time if you could have just taken the course.
@jordanbelfort It’s very nice, but I doubt it will set you apart. 6-7 of us took the Calc BC exam (graduating class of 65) and we all got 5s… One of the easier exams.
@Frigidcold I don’t mean to push the topic, but if you’re efficient then self-studying shouldn’t take more than a few weeks. A full course on the other hand is - what - 9 months?
@collegenow111 You would have to take a course in that time slot regardless. And there are more impressive things you could do with that time.
I was really surprised by my score, I somehow got a 5 on AP English Literature even though I thought I failed it, my open essay was trash. maybe good MC score or something. I was actually hoping for a 4 and expecting a 3 :o
well no college English class for me (yay!)
also happy about my other scores, all 5: Physics 1, Physics 2, US Gov, Macroeconomics.
if only my SAT scores were as good as my APs
AP Bio 3
APUSH 3
AP Lang 3
So surprised I even passed!
@collegenow111 Is an opportunity to say that you self-studied a course in college apps? I was running under the impression that unless there’s a section in the Testing portion where it allows you to describe your preparation for the exam, the exams themselves don’t really have much weight in differentiating you from other applicants.
@FrigidCold @IBscholar I see what you mean.
I think I looked at the whole testing thing differently because I’m homeschooled and a number of my graduation/admission requirements are fulfilled through AP exams (not courses in themselves). I run a small tech company, so I’m really not bound by the whole ‘must take courses throughout year’ mentality. Thus, for me it makes more sense to self-study for a few weeks - rather than waste a whole year taking a course when I have more important things to do.
But yeah, I totally get what you mean because obviously most people go to actual high-schools where I guess a minimum courseload is required.
Yes those scores set you apart for sure! !!
Calc AB: 5
Lang: 5
Human Geo: 5
Physics C Mech: 4
Psych: 4
APUSH: 5
I honestly thought I was going to fail physics; I didn’t even solve a fourth of the free response and it seemed at the time that solved barely half of the mc questions… maybe the curve was extra low this year… Also the one AP I really studied for, Psych, I got a 4 
lol but I’m really happy, ecstatic actually, with my score and I promised to sacrifice a lamb if passed the physics test so off I go~
@collegenow111 I’m curious. How does your homeschooling work? I only know one person who is homeschooled and he doesn’t take time-set courses regardless. He just works at his own pace.
@sodonewithlife Sounds delicious.
fyi i’m pretty sure ap scores aren’t even apart of the admissions process in almost all colleges.
@DickTracy you’re right - they aren’t. However, many colleges (including the UCs) accept AP scores not only for college credit (we all know that) but also to satisfy admission requirements.
Check this out: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/options-satisfying-a-g.pdf
The scores are great; be proud of the achievement. Will the fact that you achieved this as a sophomore set you apart? No, IMO.
@purplegold We got the same scores on the same exams!