<p>What makes someone an AP scholar?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Award Levels
AP Scholar
Granted to students who receive grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.</p>
<p>AP Scholar with Honor
Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.</p>
<p>AP Scholar with Distinction
Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.</p>
<p>AP State Scholar
Granted to the one female and one male student in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia with grades of 3 or higher on the greatest number of exams (at least three exams), and then the highest average grade (at least 3.5) on all AP Exams taken.</p>
<p>National AP Scholar
Granted to students in the United States who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.</p>
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</p>
<p>This is from the CollegeBoard website.</p>
<p>I must admit, I'm a little confused. My son took two AP courses junior year, but each had two AP tests -- so he got four scores. He was designated an AP Scholar based on his scores, so that went on his college apps and was sent to his colleges along with the scores.</p>
<p>What I'm confused about is that now -- in his senior year -- he is taking more AP courses, so he has a good shot at becoming some additionally glorified award-winner. But he won't tkae the AP tests until May, and the colleges won't hear about his scores until the Fall. So as far as awards are concerned, and using them to get into college -- too late!</p>
<p>I suppose we're just supposed to be happy with the award designation and stop trying to use it to get goodies?? Sorry; I'm a competitive mama!</p>
<p>VeryHappy:</p>
<p>While a designation is nice, it really does not make a difference to college admissions. First, it is only confirmation of existing information--i.e., what the scores were--it is nothing really additional. Second, the criterion for recognition is lower than what many colleges would recognize--i.e, a score of 3 which, at many colleges, is equivalent to a C. </p>
<p>The fact is, that for seniors, the scores, let alone the designation, arrive later than the date for making decisions. While AP exams are not taken until mid-May, letters of admission have gone out by April 1 if not earlier. In this case, what counts is the fall semester grade.</p>
<p>That's right -- many seniors achieve higher AP Scholar "levels" based on exams they take after committing to matriculate at a college, so it's only for the warm fuzzies and not "useful" in college admissions. Good results on the AP exams are often useful for course placement freshman year, though, so still can be very worthwhile!</p>
<p>Mootmom:</p>
<p>You are absolutely right about the value of high scores for placement. But the designation remains worthless except for the warm fuzzies, as you put it.</p>
<p>My entire adult life as a parent has been geared toward getting my kid into a good school. You mean he'll get awards that DON'T COUNT?? Gasp!! </p>
<p>[This is what I refer to as Dry Humor. Please don't take me seriously.]</p>
<p>Well, he'll get a nice certificate to put in the binder with the other awards. It won't arrive until the fall after he's off to college, though. (I got to spend some time going through the award certificates binder when adding it, though, so it was a nice little trip down memory lane. And the kid never needed to know I'd smiled over his binder while he was off to college. :) )</p>
<p>well, they'll help make the binder thicker, but they won't contribute to getting him into a good school. :)</p>
<p>ActauallyAP awards, especially the National one, earned before senior year do get noticed. Also, no matter when one gets them personal satisfaction should still be important.</p>
<p>A P stands for ADVANCE PLACEMENT- i.e. being placed in a more advanced or tougher college course. THAT is the chief purpose of taking the AP tests, so students can avoid taking basic college level classes in areas they have already mastered.</p>
<p>It depends on the AP score. A score of 3 will not get "noticed" at HYP (it may even get negative notice). And yet, such a score will contribute to AP awards.
I put no weight on the awards.</p>
<p>The AP National Award is not for 3's.</p>
<p>There are colleges that often do not look at test scores in the application process but if a kid is an AP National Award winner after 10th grade and it is shown in his list of awards even Ivy leagues will notice! This I know for a fact.</p>
<p>No, it's not but the AP Scholar award is. And the AP Scholar with Honors is for scores of 3.25. Yawn.
EDIT:
A kid who has a slew of APs as a 10th grader will get noticed, even without being an AP National Scholar. that, too, I know for a fact.</p>
<p>Looking back on it I have had a fair number of kids who would not earn credit at their chosen colleges but who still took a ton of AP test's senior year. I asked them why they were doing iit. Most said they wanted to see how well they could do or wanted to see if they could make national or state scholar for their own satisfaction. At one school I think some wanted to know that their name would be engraved on the AP wall of fame at the school. As with many recognitions in life they are just that and are not linked specifically to any further gain. Sort of a pat on the back in certificate form. Still something to be proud of.</p>
<p>I think the designation is most useful for the high school - our high school's school description that they send out with college applications tell how many AP scholars were awarded for the previous year.</p>
<p>Yes, my kids' school makes a big deal out of this. That and [whatever the right price is these days] will get you a cup of coffee.</p>
<p>I have seen high schools where students who score high on APs have their pictures up, and where there are plaques that honor them. Our school is not like that. I had no idea who got NMSF status until we got to the little (before school) reception.
I don't know what goes onto the high school profile.
AP awards are a bit like making Dean's List: Recognition for what's already done.
My S not only took APs but also a whole slew of college courses, knowing he would not get any credit for them (though he got advanced). He worked harder than ever in his last year of high school because of the convergence of AP exams, high school finals and college finals.</p>
<p>olddad:</p>
<p>its not the AP Award per se that matters to admissions committees. Yes, they will notice 8 AP tests (with four or better) completed prior to Sr year. But they would notice the scores regardless of the CB certificate; obviously, Admissions counselors can count AP scores on the transcript. </p>
<p>However, I'd be willing to bet beauoup cyber dollars that an adcom ain't gonna care much if a kid has 7 or 8 APs....and, this, is where SB's marketing comes into play. How many kids would stop at 7 APs, and not self-study that last one, if CB did not have a magic certificate for #8?</p>
<p>btw: It is virtually imposssible to take 8 AP classes at the vast majority of high schools, and adcoms also know this well. For example, our HS offers ~15 AP classes, but they are essentially limited to Jr & Sr year, so the national award is impossible to achieve. But, MIT, Olin, Stanford and the Ivies didn't seem to care when acceptances were handed out last year.</p>