So this year was my first year of AP exams (I finished sophomore year), and the only two exams I took were AP Computer Science A and AP Statistics. I want to go into machine learning/artificial intelligence in college and beyond, and that was the main reason I took these two courses.
I got a 5 on Computer Science, but I got a 3 on Statistics. I know that Statistics is one of the easier AP exams and I should have been able to get a 4 or 5, but I guess that day wasn’t really my day. Statistics is pretty important for machine learning (mostly the regression part), so what I want to know is will this score hurt my chances of pursuing my desired field in top colleges?
In case it matters, I had an A- for the year in Computer Science and an A for the year in Statistics.
So you took a college level course as a sophomore and got a C (equivalent of a “3”) on the AP test? You are fine. Make sure you get through calculus in HS. Don’t rush to take AP classes you may not be ready for. You can take statistics in college and you will be fine.
Bopper,
I am taking AP Calculus BC next year, and I plan on taking Calculus 3 / Linear Algebra in senior year at Fairfield University, as I have a scholarship there for two courses that year.
I’m not at all worried about not getting through calculus in high school, I was just worried about the fact that my test score (for a comparatively easier topic) would be lower than other applicants to colleges like MIT, CMU, etc, and that would hurt my chances of getting in.
Thanks for the input.
Fret not…colleges are much more concerned about your grades in those classes as opposed to the AP tests.
Why is that?
- Doing well in a class shows you can learn over the year and work hard over a period of time. That is what they want in college.
- Not all HS have many APs.
- Many people take AP tests senior year which is too late for admissions
For example, Stanford says:
Students currently enrolled in AP courses are not required to submit AP scores as part of our admission process. AP scores that are reported are acknowledged but rarely play a significant role in the evaluation of an application. Grades earned over the course of a term, or a year, and evaluations from instructors who can comment on classroom engagement provide us with the most detailed insight into a student’s readiness for the academic rigors of Stanford.
http://admission.stanford.edu/basics/selection/prepare.html
Where does this leave you?
- It tells you that you cannot place out of those classes in college…you will need to take them in college like many many other people do.
- Do not self report your score