My older D ended up skipping one of her AP exams and so literally could not report it. Since there are lots of reasons that a score might not be reported - didn’t take because student was ill, or just didn’t take - I don’t know how an AO can assume it was a bad score. Clearly, he or she could though. Soooooo, I think it’s a toss up and maybe really no “right” answer on this.
How long are you guys assuming Admissions officers are looking at these applications and transcripts. I may be mistaken, but I don’t think DP Jr. was sending many AP scores, mostly because they are primarily from Senior year.
Opinion Warning: AOs don’t have time to cross reference an AP score with every AP class taken, to notice an omission and evaluate intent of that omission.
@ShrimpBurrito do all of the schools you’re applying to require GC recs? Just wondering because out of 9 schools for my DS, only 5 require anything from GC. That might help the situation.
As for sending both SAT and ACT scores, for my DS we sent both, mainly because they compliment each other and are pretty comparable in score (1550 SAT with 800 Math, 34 ACT with 36 English and 35 Reading). Probably doesn’t matter for safeties/matches, but for reaches or merit aid, I think more is better.
If the application doesn’t ask for AP exam scores, then they won’t need reporting until the student makes their matriculation decision, and then only for getting college credit, which varies from school to school.
In my understanding, taking AP classes are important for showing rigor.
And a score of 3 is nothing to be ashamed of.
@HeliMom74 - Our S18 has had Mines on his list for the past year. We haven’t visited, but his best friend did and said it was beautiful and the kids all seemed pretty laid back.
As for the tuition, if your student has pretty good test scores and GPA, they have auto merit for certain GPA/test score combos. My S18 qualifies for the auto $14k/year, which would bring him down to in-state tuition. It’s a good chunk of change! 
S18 also got an MIT mailer this week, but it didn’t have the fun puzzle. It did have a step-by-step manual on how to apply, which he is keeping. He’ll be applying regular decision later this fall.
@S18D20mom D’s (final?) apply list is at 7, so she’s fine regardless, but no, a couple of her schools do not require counselor recs. I just find the HS’s policy interesting, as I know it isn’t the norm.
If I’m an AO at a top school, then I’m looking at grades, course rigor and standardized test scores (SAT, SAT II’s and AP scores). And while I’m spending 10 +/- minutes (or whatever) with the app, I’ll at least sample the reporting of AP scores versus transcripts. It’s not that hard to match up. And then I’d review the essay(s) to see if the kid made an honest effort and review the teacher recs. Finally, I’m skimming the EC’s quickly, because I think EC’s for the most part, but not all, are “fluff.”
But I’m not an AO. 
DS has 9 EA apps completed and has been accepted to 5. He is still working on Honors College apps and essays. All of his schools are safeties/matches with a 3 financial reaches. Now that he is getting acceptances, the next step is housing apps and deposits. This is going to get pricey for a kid who is chasing merit and trying to leave all 9 doors open for comparison. Do we apply/pay app fees (non-refundable) and deposits at all 9 schools? Hate to jeopardize his dorm options by waiting but really don’t want to “waste” money. Most schools have priority dorm choices based on when you apply for housing. At this point, his top 3 preferences are all financial reaches (of course) so really not sure what to do. Advice?
@sushiritto interesting…if I am AO, I am quickly looking at GPA/class rank then SAT/ACT. I am then taking a good closer look at course rigor and extracurriculars because that tells me how much effort a kid is willing to put forth and possibly where their interest truly lie. I read the essay (and my university has not asked you the inane “Why Us?” question) because I am hoping to learn something special about you. I ignore the letters of rec because no one ever writes a bad letter of rec and I think they are useless, plus I don’t know you, recommender. And last, I take a quick look at your AP/SAT II scores, but I am not too concerned about them.
I hope more time is spent on the essays if you are an AO, especially at the schools that are requiring several! Kids are putting in a lot of effort with those. Plus, it is a way for the AO to get to “know” your student more than just the academic side - what kind of community member are they going to be? What is their personality like? We have encouraged our S18 to write essays that showcase his personality and passions outside the classroom (unless the essay specifically asks something academic). My favorite essay he has written so far is about what he would do with an extra hour gifted to him during the day. It reads exactly the way he would just chat about that with someone and is precisely what he would do with that gift of time. It’s not academic, it’s not “fluffy”, it’s just him. I am hopeful that answering questions honestly like that will set him apart because he does have some unique interests and hobbies - and a great personality, we think!
@S18D20mom You have to pay a fee to apply for housing? Or am I misunderstanding that?
At a couple of DD’s schools the housing deposits are refundable. I haven’t looked into it far enough to see if there’s an extra application fee (no acceptances yet).
@labegg While I think GPA is important, there’s a voice inside my head that says “grade inflation” and “manipulated.” Yes, I’m a cynic and skeptical. That’s me. :)) But they’re very important as a hoop to get through.
As I said, I’m not an AO, but those AP and SAT II’s are tough, tough tests. The AP exams are college-level courses, so they give me an indication of how you’ll fare at my Sushi University. Those exams separate the men from the boys and the women from the girls. But I do realize that not everyone can take them for a variety of reasons.
I also think the letters of recommendation deserve a cursory look, since I think some are better than others. I’ve read here that some recs aren’t exactly full fledged endorsements of the students. And I’m also looking at the essays, but I know kids are using all sorts of resources to “boost” them. Like HGH or steroids. =))
And that’s why I’m not an AO. No one will hire me. And also why my kids don’t listen to me.
Re the Bold, You and me both.
But to my point, sampling Ap scores is different from cross referencing them for completeness.
Over generalization warning: My guess is AOs, and more pointedly, Appliction Reviewers weight things differently than I would…
And factors are likely weighted differently from school to school, if you believe colleges’ CDS.
Here’s an Gedankenexperiment:
If you had to make an admission decision using only ONE of the categories below as the factor informing your decision, with no visibility to the others, what would it be?
A) UW GPA
B) W GPA
C) Standardized comprehensive test scores (SAT and/or ACT only)
D) Subject test scores (AP and/or SAT II only)
E) Personal Essays (limit 2)
F) Letters of recommendation (limit 2)
G) Bribe amount. (Just kidding, wanted to see if you read the whole list)
UW GPA, but that’s because I think I read somewhere that it has the strongest correlation to academic performance in college
ACT or SAT, with access to the (un-edited by adults) essay.
And I’ll keep repeating, no one would EVER want me as their application reviewer. I’m so opinionated, cynical, skeptical, etc.
I see/know kids that have their parents, professionals, and other types of reviewers (e.g., CC has reviewers), take a look at and edit their essays. And that’s fine. For example, I know of someone starting this school year at a prestigious institution who had multiple readers and editors of his/her essays.
Of course, I have no clue what my D has written for her college apps, BECAUSE SHE WON"T SHOW IT TO ME. But she’ll let me read her current event essay for American Government. ~X(
As for the EC’s, well, while kids have some awesome activities and it shows me where you spent some or all of your time outside the classroom, most are pretty much standard fare. Just looking at these chance me threads, I tend to glaze over when I see a list of 50 items.
As for picking one item, I’m picking course rigor, aka AP scores/SAT II scores. But I’m Abbey Normal.
I would say SAT/ACT or other standardized test scores. We came from another school where my dog could have gotten a 4.0. To me, grades only matter if the standardized test scores correlate.