I want to take AP lang in a few weeks because I’m pretty good at that stuff, but I don’t know if it is worth it because I very easily may get a 3. (There’s no AP lang class at our school). If I took it and then decided not to send it to colleges, would it still look bad having it?
No, particularly since there will be no AP English class showing on your transcript.
really? it won’t show weakness to top schools?
Unless I’m missing something, if you do not have an AP English Language class listed on your transcript; there is no way the college would know that you even had the opportunity to take the class.
However, let’s suppose, just for a minute, that you did have an AP class listed, you took the test, and chose not to report it. What’s the risk? Pretty much no risk. AP scores carry little to no weight in the admissions process for the vast majority of US colleges; they are primarily used to determine credit or placement. Additionally, as AP offerings vary by HS, from none, to almost every one, applicants will not be penalized for not having AP exams. AP scores are self-reported; most applicants only submit official scores to the college that they will attend, and then, the scores generally go to the registrar’s office, bypassing admissions.
Having said all that, if you do not report scores, you run the risk of an admissions officer thinking one of 3 things:
• Financial hardship prevented you from taking the exam
• You were not motivated enough to take the exam
• You took the exam and performed poorly (1 or 2)
The first one will not affect your application; the last 2 may raise an eyebrow. AO’s can, and have, contacted GC’s to explain why there are no AP scores reported.
Personally, I would report anything 3+. I would not worry about what an admissions officer may or may not think; it’s not like you will have a lot of interaction with him/her even if you matriculate at that college.
Colleges do not see your scores at all for ap tests until you are accepted and select a college. so, if you take an ap course and don’t do well enough on the test, you don’t have to send it and colleges will never know. it is like sending the sat score or not to the colleges if you don’t do well on it.
Not sure I understand. I’ve been told that colleges see all your AP scores when you apply. Is that untrue?
Yes, it’s untrue. Colleges see the scores that you reported on the application. Unless you’ve sent in official scores, or your school puts the scores on the transcript, that is all they see.
I think my school puts the scores on the transcript, is that possible?
^ It is very possible. You could ask them to take them off, if you so choose. Of course, that does not mean that they will honor your request.
Oh, ok, thanks! @skieurope