S25 has an excellent GPA, but standardized tests are not his forte. He did okay on the SATs/ACTs, but will be applying to most of his colleges as TO, since we are going by the principle of “only submit if the score is higher than the 50% mark” and that is true for only a couple of colleges on his list.
I am wondering what other people think about AP scores, though. He has taken several AP exams, scoring a 4 or a 5, but on one exam he scored a 3. Most colleges he is applying to won’t accept a 3, so there is no benefit in terms of getting the credits (although a couple of schools do accept it). So, two questions:
To report or not to report to the schools where 3 is below the required minimum? They will obviously see on his high school transcript that he took that AP class, so could not reporting suggest to the AOs that he did worse on the exam than he actually did?
If we decide not to report it for the majority of schools, is there a way to self-report in the Common App for some schools but not for others? I read through the Common App help questions, and I think that is the case, but it was written in a way that was a bit convoluted, so I wanted to confirm with others. I suppose this question also pertains to selectively self-reporting SAT/ACT scores.
Don’t report the 3. He might submit it at the schools that accept it for credit. AOs are not going to assume the score is low, because many students who take AP classes do not take AP tests, for a variety of reasons.
For the schools you don’t want to send AP scores, take them out of the common app testing section, then submit the app. Conversely, put the scores in for schools you want to see the scores. You can go back and forth that way easily, but preview the app before sending it. You can do the same for SAT/ACT scores, but first you have to answer the question if you want to the school to evaluate scores (assuming the school is TO).
Our school (BS) is probably not the norm but students are required to take the AP exam for any AP classes they take. I have recently noticed that it says so on the school profile.
I don’t think HSs requiring the tests is the norm (but I’ve never seen data on that), and it’s good it says that on the school profile.
Some HS students and their families can’t afford the tests, some students might already be gone to camp or whatever for the summer, others might have overlapping tests and aren’t available for the make up dates…just to name a few reasons a student might not take a given AP test.
I am not sure if its “good.” I honestly had no idea it was there. The school should make sure everyone knows its says so. It probably changes the calculus on submission.
I understand your point, and agree students/parents should know it’s in the school profile (another reason for all to read their school’s profile.) The reality though is it’s a small group of schools that consider AP scores in the admission process.
Where would it say that about APs? Is there a database of school profiles where that information is available? I have no idea whether S25’s school requires it or not (though I suspect it does not).
It wouldn’t necessarily say so. The kids know they have to take the test. My point is that the colleges also know.
Still it’s good to see your school profile. Almost other things you can get a pulse on how strong your test scores might be, regardless of how high they are. It’s helpful to know what kind of context your school is giving to colleges.
For private schools it usually pops up on a google search. You should be able to get it from your school counselor. It’s just a 1-2 page pdf. Usually included explanation of grading system, average scores, typical work load at the school, graduation/college matriculation info… stuff like that.
Public school here. I still don’t really understand what “profile” means in this context – something that the state depts of education maintain? Like, who aggregates them? Is there some kind of federal or state compliance context that is the reason for these profiles to exist?
A school profile is typically put together by the school guidance department. At our public HS it includes a class breakdown by gpa (via decile - there is no class ranking), information about how gpa’s are determined (i.e. 5 for “A” in AP), number of NMSF, info on # of APs offered etc. It is updated every year to reflect information about the senior class.
Best way to find out if your student’s high school requires students taking AP classes to take the AP exam is to call or email your kid’s high school and ask them directly.
Our public charter high school requires students to take AP exams, but it’s not required for every AP class. Everybody has to take an AP Calculus exam. You have to take a min. of 6 exams, have to pass 1 with a min score of 3. Must maintain an average AP exam score of 3. If you transfer to a different school before graduation, you have to reimburse the charter school for the AP exam fees for any AP exams you’ve taken. The school’s counselors include these AP exam requirements in the ‘school profile’ that they submit along with their counselor letter of rec when students apply to college.
If you want to see what’s in your student’s high school “school profile,” contact the school’s counseling department and ask them to give you a copy of the one from the prior academic year. Worst thing they’ll say is no.
As you may have gathered, it’s just the name of the document. A “school profile” is often a required part of your application package. It is typically sent by the GC, along with transcripts, LORs, etc.
My S25 reported his AP scores on his common app because he applied TO. He had 4s and 5s and did not report his one 3 (even though 50% of his schools will give some credit for that 3). We figured it would provide more insight into him as a student since he’s TO. He can send all APs officially once he knows where he’ll attend, including the 3 if they take it. It cannot hurt, imo, to provide these scores. They may have nothing to do with admission, but may help paint a picture with TO.
You can try to search the school’s website. Often the school profile can be found in the pull down menu, usually in the home section or sometimes the guidance section. Other times, it can be retrieved by doing a search for profile or school profile on the school site.
Remember that AP scores are self reported on the application. Our CC’s guidance was to report 4s and 5s only.
You send the official report (with senior year scores) to the school you’ll attend. You will also decide, depending on the college, whether to get credit, placement, or to take the course again.
Our public high school requires the test as well, must be paid for by the student by the second week of school or else the student is dropped from the class. I have no idea if this information is given to colleges.