I’ve taken only one AP class/test in my life so far, U.S. History (in my junior year).
By the time I will have taken (four more) AP tests in May of my senior year, I will already know whether I have been accepted to colleges.
This seems to mean that taking AP tests during your senior year only has a point if you want college credit (by scoring 3s, 4s & 5s)…it obviously doesn’t affect your chances of admission because it’d be too late to give colleges your scores, right?
My question: since I’ve only take one AP test (on which I scored a 5), will I have as good chances as an “identical” student with more AP tests from junior year? Is there a difference between a college seeing that you’ve simply <em>taken</em> AP classes versus your taking the tests, too?
<p>If you are asking do the APs give you more oomph than someone who has none but couldn't take any.....NO. Are you getting more oomph than the person with a greater number of APs.....probably equal. Are you penalized for taking the course but not the exam.....how would that happen if you have already been admitted??</p>
<p>Taking the courses, when available, is probably the most important thing that you can do. Adcoms want to see applicants who have challenged themselves. Adcoms in their "memoirs" often mention that it is noticed when an applicant has only taken 2 AP classes in a high schools that offers 12. They will see what you have signed up for senior year.</p>
<p>The actual exam scores are much less important. If you have all 5's, or all 5's with a few 4's, then by all means tell them; but the AP scores are much less important than the other standardized test scores. At most, an AP score means as much as a single grade in a single class, albeit a class that supposed to be harder than most.</p>
<p>The main reason for taking AP classes senior year are: You want to get college credit for the course. You may need the score if you transfer to another college later. You want to see how you would do. You might alienate the teacher if you don't sign up for it and risk getting a lower grade in the class.</p>
<p>The AP exam scores from AP classes in senior year can never affect you admission decision. The universal date for being informed of your acceptance/denial by all of the colleges is April 1st.</p>
<p>Have you only taken 1 because your school doesn't offer many?
I had only taken one when I applied to colleges (I took three more senior year). My school wasn't big on APs, and I don't think I was penalized for it in admissions. A lot of apps ask what APs you are planning to take senior year also.</p>
<p>If they're there, you should be taking them. Courseload is an important admissions factor. If you take 1 AP and you could have taken 4, you won't stand very well against a person who took all 4, even if their grades are slightly worse.</p>
<p>Tests: Shouldn't matter in admissions, unless of course you receive straight As in APs and get 1s, 2s and 3s on the tests...</p>
<p>Reasons for taking APs senior year:
Funny...i think i have 7 on my plate next year. blah. Anyway, this is to show you're still challenging yourself in senior year. And the tests are only if you want college credit.</p>
<p>Please be aware that some colleges limit the amount of credit given for APs. You need to know also that in many cases this does not allow you to graduate early thus saving money....it does however allow you to take higher level course work or course work you would not otherwise had opportunity to take.</p>
<p>I think that many HS who promote APs tell students/parents that getting this advance placement will save money in college....thus justifying the expense of AP exams. Many HS students take APs but don't understand the credit system in college nor the requirements so that is my point. As to not knowing the college.....know the system and the ranges....not that hard to research.</p>
<p>That's true. A lot of school will give you credit but it won't mean you get to graduate early, you still have to fulfill all your distribution requirements and whatnot.</p>
<p>Exactly so why does the discussion "saving money" ever come up when speaking of APs. The implication is that one is spending less $$ for the credit than college tuition $$$. I just don't buy that argument. It is all a part of the marketing machine called CollegeBoard and is has proven to be very much a success.</p>
<p>My school never gave that argument to me, so i have no idea. Most of the people from my school go to highly ranked private schools that don't give sophomore standing so I guess that never really applied. Plus, being on finaid allowed me to take all my APs for free so it was kinda like why not?</p>
<p>I have been reading that educators are being disillusioned (my word) with AP courses/exams. As AP courses have become more popular, they have lost their rigor. Public high schools that are at the bottom are offering supposedly AP classes that don't cover the material. At my local high school, the principal got a county award for increasing the number of AP classes being taken. On the other hand, 56% of the exam scores were 1's or 2's. The number of AP exams taken is one of the measures that Newsweek is using to rank high schools. On the other side, colleges are becoming less willing to give college credit for AP courses because they don't believe they are actually at the college level. In the middle, AP exams and the associated fees are a huge cash cow for the College Board. CB justifies this by saying that the AP fees are much less than the course would cost you in college.</p>
<p>Even though you may not be able to gain sophomore standing through AP's, you can take more courses than you would've been able to without those credits. That means more electives or taking up a minor or double major without being forced to take extra classes during the school year or summer. THAT is how you save money.</p>
<p>I'm ready to hear about the exception, but tuition at college is on a yearly basis no matter how many classes you take. Of course, you have to pay extra for summer semesters; and if you get out early, you pay for one less semester.</p>
<p>No matter what, the amount of money CB is making off of AP is too much.</p>