Hi. I got a 3 in AP Calc AB, planning to take BC this year (I am a junior). I want to apply as an engineering major. Will this score jeopardize my chances of getting into UCLA, UC Berekley, and UCSD engineering? If I can get a better score in BC, will they care less about my AB score?
Thanks.
Are you a rising junior or a rising senior?
What grade did you get in calculus AB?
In any case, you don’t need to submit your AP score at all.
If you get a 5 in BC and the AB Subscore you’ll be fine
@MYOS1634 I am a rising junior and I got an A both semesters
Getting A grades in AP courses with only 3 scores on the AP tests, if that is typical in your high school, should cause you to question the quality of your high school’s curricula and instruction.
The consensus on CC is that AP scores pay little part in your admission decision. Adcoms recognize that AP scores aren’t necessarily indicative of your intelligence or mastery of the material (you only have one shot and could’ve been sick or having an off day). You aren’t even required to submit AP scores for most schools. So i would say your chances aren’t “jeopardized” by your AP calc score.
However, as an engineering student i use calculus a lot in my upper level coursework - and if you don’t have s firm handle on calc AB you may struggle in engineering classes. I don’t know why you scored a 3 on your exam, but if your calculus isn’t as strong as you’d like you should definitely try to work on improving that.
^ actually, submitted scores are taken seriously, especially if there’s a discrepancy between grade in class and score, because reporting scores is optional so the student should think before submitting.
Report ONLY the BC score. It wouldnt even be questioned: not only do lots of students not take the AP exam (schedule conflict, cost…) But since you’re taking BC, which has an AB subscore, it’d make total sense if you only took the BC exam.
Do inquire around to see if tour situation is common IE., A: a 3, B 1-2?
As others have said, the AP scores shouldn’t impact your admission results too much, but if your grade in the class differs a lot from your score on the test, it will look strange and indicate grade inflation. The great thing is you have another chance with BC, so I agree with @MYOS1634, only submit your BC score once you take that test next year.
By the way, aside from college admissions, I would encourage you to spend some more time with calc this year. Math will play a fundamental role in your future endeavors, and you will want to have the best grasp of it to be successful.
Good luck!
I thought you didn’t have to send AP scores? Why not wait to send them until after you get accepted, then send them to the college that accepted you. If they aren’t required, and they could potentially hurt you…then what’s the point in sending it?
ucla lists as one of their factors performance on standardized tests including AP exams. See https://www.admission.ucla.edu/Prospect/Adm_fr/FrSel.htm I suggest not reporting a score of 3.