My AP scores aren’t the worst but also aren’t great. I got a 4 on Physics 1 and Language and Composition and a 3 on Chemistry. My SAT, ACT, GPA, and class rank are all very good so my question is should I submit these AP scores when applying to top schools?
Submit the four, not the three.
ALL of my daughters’ AP scores were automatically submitted to her university. Not sure how that happened–I would’ve preferred to pick and choose.
To the OP- you could submit the 3, it’s a passing score. Up to you, and it depends on what your intended major is.
@choirsandstages that means that she chose a college to send the scores to on her test sheet. If she just graduated, it doesn’t really matter- all it does is determine which classes she can get credit for. If she’s a rising senior, AP scores don’t play a big role in admissions at all, so I wouldn’t stress about it.
Colleges do not require AP scores for determining admission. If you want a college to be aware of any score when you apply, all you need to do is self-report it on your application or in an essay. The exception to that is that there are a small number of schools (such as NYU) that will take AP scores in lieu of submitting SAT, ACT, or subject tests scores. If you choose to go that route and not submit SAT, ACT, or subject test socres, then you need to submit offiial AP scores.
Otherwise, you do not need to send offical scores until after you are admitted and seek college credit for the course. Whenever you order official AP scores, College Board will send them all unless you specifically choose to exclude a score and choosing to do so is not as simple as SAT score choice. You need to fill out and submit a form to exclude scores and it costs $10 per score withheld, see http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-score-witholding-form.pdf
In your situation, you are probably OK mentioning all three scores in your application but might choose to mention just the fours.
@drusba I was told by a friend that when her son applied, the outside college counselor told her to submit all the AP scores (they were 5s and 4s I think) because this would strenghen the application. It seems like some say to do it (even though the college does not request or require) and others say just to self report? I see that you say colleges do nor require the AP scores and I do know this is true…BUT, don’t you think submitting them (offiically) during the application process can strenghen if your child as all 5s?
Nope. If colleges wanted official test scores, they would ask for them. Sending them with the application s just a waste of money. At my college, and many is its peer group, the official score report goes straight to the registrar’s office; the AO’s never see it. Send one official test score to the school you will be attending, who will use it for credit/or placement.
Now back to the OP, I’m of the opinion that you should report all passing scores, but it really does not matter in the long run; AP scores will not weight heavily in you application - if at all.
Higher ranked colleges used to have spaces for reporting AP scores in a supplement to the common application. Now the common application itself has spaces to report them. I have asked some colleges, namely Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Northwestern, and UChicago, all which do not require such scores but give them consideration if submitted, along with everything else, and all have confirmed that self-reporting is fine. I am apparently not the only who has asked
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@hcmom65 I believe it does. Why? Some schools say AP achievement is a better indicator of college success than ACT/SAT – that’s why. Granted, not every kid up through 11th grade can submit great AP scores (most APs are taken by Seniors) – but if you have them, send them.
Also, if your kid is targeting very competitive colleges and attends a school w/o lots of history sending kids to them, superior AP achievement confirms that your school’s curriculum is top notch.
There are schools whose AP courses don’t do much. I recruit in my large urban school district – my alma mater district. One of the top two schools there boasts about its AP offerings. But rarely do kids get above 3s. For my college’s admissions officers, it raised a red flag and applicants’ other factors had to be weighed more.
Self report 4 and 5 on the common app as they ll strengthen your application. Send all scores to the school you are attending so that you can use them for credit and/or placement if you choose.
Self reporting is fine because if the student gets accepted, and it turns out they lied when the scores are actually submitted, they would be rescinded of course. It’s kind of self-policing.
So I should report my two 4’s but not the 3? The 4 on physics 1 was after just taking an introductory physics course, not an AP course- I don’t know if that makes any difference.
Yes, that’s right.
@MurphyBrown yeah that’s what I was thinking. My chem teacher was horrendous and left in the middle of the year but colleges won’t care about that. I’ve heard AP scores aren’t that important regarding admissions so I think I’ll just report all scores.
My understanding is that you won’t be dinged for not reporting a score below four. Not all kids can afford to take every AP test. They could assume you didn’t do well if you don’t report it, but I think they won’t, because you also might not have had the money to pay for it, or maybe you were sick that day and of course there are no make ups for AP tests.
Reporting a good score is a good thing. Some senior posters say AP scores make no difference, others cite colleges that have said good scores are an indicator of college readiness. In any case, a good score don’t harm your app. They really would rather see a good grade in the class, and a good score is a bonus, which shows that the teacher didn’t inflate grades.
On the other hand, good grades and a lack of any good scores might show that the teacher was an easy grader. It is generally best to have good grades and good scores to support the good grade.
@T26E4 THANK YOU! I think we are going to send the AP scores because she is applying to competitive schools and I too have read that it may be more indicative of how one would perform in college (versus subject tests and ACT/SAT).