<p>1)Does low AP scores affect admission? ( i got a 1 Chemistry) I’ve hearing conflicting statements about this
2)On the commons app, I noticed that I can put what AP scores I have. Do I have to put in my low chem grade?
3)I didn’t take AP physics exam as well. How do I show that I took that class?<br>
4)On the activities page, can I put how I self taught my self piano? I mean I play it quite well now. Should I put that I play well enough to play a certain piece? And is it there that I should put my summer workshop?
5)Where do I put how many volunteer hours I have?</p>
<p>1) Most schools say they don’t. However, a 1 might indicate grade inflation or a lack of effort to some top universities.
2) You report all the AP exam grades you received (you can cancel your 1, though). Sometimes there aren’t enough slots (if you take more than 9 exams). In that case, you could probably omit the Chem score
3) The transcript will show you took the class.
4) You can put anything you want really, but I’d focus on an official EC (which admittedly is difficult to define). But self-taught piano seems somewhat commonplace. You can submit an arts supplement with your piano playing though.
5) Nowhere on the common app (it asks for hours per weeks or weeks per year), but some schools may require that in their supplements. I’m not absolutely certain on this point.</p>
<p>Rethink your self assessment of your piano playing abilities. Self taught musical instruments maybe special to you is fairly common among motivated naturally musical students. Maybe if you taught yourself music theory and composed original piano pieces…</p>
<p><<most schools=“” say=“” they=“” don’t.=“” however,=“” a=“” 1=“” might=“” indicate=“” grade=“” inflation=“” or=“” lack=“” of=“” effort=“” to=“” some=“” top=“” universities.=“”>></most></p>
<p>TheAscendancy - what about the opposite? DS worked his butt off and barely just barely managed a B for both semesters of APUSH, but got a 5 on the exam.</p>
<p>Grcxx3, then colleges will know that the APUSH class was probably difficult as compared to others in the nation. A 5 definitely indicates a comprehensive understanding of the subject and will make those B’s seem less significant. Of course they might take into consideration other factors for the discrepancy (i.e. student-teacher relationship, work ethic, etc.). That being said, scoring a 5 on an exam but having low grades is fairly common. I know a few friends personally who have been in the predicament (they weren’t particularly impacted negatively and all received admissions to some pretty good universities).</p>
<p>^^^^^
Thanks for your thoughts. </p>
<p>Actually, DS got on quite well with the teacher (who recommended him for the Academic Decathlon team) and maintained all A’s and B’s last year. </p>
<p>If ANYTHING, I hope that they will take note that last year was his first year at the school (a large public HS) after 7 years of living overseas and going to small international schools (2 countries, the latter one following a full IB curriculum).</p>
<p>We’ll just have to see… :)</p>