How stressed should I be about APs?

[Juliak709]

Hi. I have a 790 math sat, a 750 reading/writing, an intensive course load, and a lot of good extracurriculars. I am looking at some very advanced schools, including a number of Ivies. I am a junior. This year, I am taking 5 APs. I am confident I will get a five on AP Computer Science Principles and on AP US History. I will likely get either a four or a five on AP English. The two tests I am concerned about are Calculus BC and Physics one. On practice tests, I am consistently scoring in the middle fours on each of them. There are two weeks until the test, and although I have been studying intensively I know I may get fours (and possibly, but doubtfully, threes) on those two tests. How much benefit/harm could my AP scores, especially for Calculus and Physics, do if I plan on applying to study Comp Sci or Econ at, say, MIT?

***in short, if I get a four on calc AP bc and physics 1, is that the end of me?

[skieurope]

if I get a four on calc AP bc and physics 1, is that the end of me?

In short, no.

How much benefit/harm could my AP scores, especially for Calculus and Physics, do if I plan on applying to study Comp Sci or Econ at, say, MIT?

None. AP scores are used primarily for credit/placement. Here is what MIT says:

Let me state clearly: we do not admit students solely because of their AP courses/scores. There is no minimum or recommended number of AP courses. AP scores are not part of an admission formula.

http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/on_aps_1

[ripcity0]

In general ivies want perfectionist students. So, Ap scores arent the end, but are another factor. Someone with 14 5’s is better than one without

[skieurope]

In general ivies want perfectionist students.

Untrue. Every Ivy League school and its peers will routinely reject 4.0/36/1600 applicants while accepting some with lesser stats.

Someone with 14 5’s is better than one without

Also untrue. No college is even expecting 14 APs. Once you hit a certain level, which IMO is 6-8, the law or diminishing returns kicks in.

Colleges that practice holistic admissions will evaluate in context, and scores/classes are but one part of the application package.

[ProfessorPlum168]

FWIW, a UC-Berkeley Admissions officer 3 years ago once told me that they expect a mimimum of 8 AP classes for applicants. I seem to think that this was for CoE but can’t remember if he meant all schools. So it was one of those silly goals to get my kid to take that into account. A bit difficult since the school he went to didn’t allow APs as a freshman, only 1 max as a sophomore, and 4 max as a junior.