AP scores = 3

Should AP scores of 3 be included in Common App? College counselor told us that schools assume students received a 2 or below if no scores are identified and student has taken AP class(es).

Adding to the dilemma is that there were no class grades last semester, just CR for credit due to school’s decision on reports during the first wave of COVID19.

Yikes. A 3 with a strong grade says more than a 3 with a CR, because in the latter case all they really have to evaluate you by is that 3. That’s a tough one.

What kinds of colleges would you be sending this to?

Your choice. Personally, if it’s just one 3 and the college gives no credit for the 3, I would omit. Not every student takes every corresponding AP exam.

If you omit several scores, then yes, an AO may wonder why.

There’s a decent spread between reach, match and safety according to the guidance we have.

What’s “n I credit” ?

My D was advised to submit her 3 in AP Chem (other APs were 5s & one 4) because her grade in that class was a 97 UW (104 W at her school, for what it’s worth). I questioned this because her intended major is Chemistry. Our GC specifically told us his recommendation would be different if she did not have the grade to “offset” the 3. So it seems in agreement with @skieurope.

Grades in this case would have been an A and a B, but we were not given the option of CR vs. grade. Decision was unilaterally made by the school to only identify CR / NE on the transcripts for equity.

@Andromache I believe that is a typo in @skieurope 's post. I believe it is “…no credit for the 3…”

Edit to add: My understanding from the much more knowledgeable posters is that AP scores typically have little impact on admission decisions. They are used for class placement/credit. However, I do not know if that is accurate for this unusual year with so many colleges going TO and so many HS sending CR/NE vs grade transcripts…

Thanks, @DramaMama2021. He scored very well with 35 composite on the ACT last year, and is also a National Merit Semifinalist. I don’t know what happened with those AP tests, other than everything was supposed to ride on a couple of problems.

I wouldn’t send a 3 to reach schools.

I don’t think anyone can know what admissions will do with 2020 AP scores. While it’s true the transcripts were impacted, so were the tests. Many, many kids had issues whether they were due to technology, different format etc. My son had a test on the first day where there were widespread outages and his second answer never submitted. I imagine many of those kids never opted for the second try 2-3 weeks later.

Any college that has mentioned it has said no change from 2019 or earlier. No college has said that will consider them any differently.

That said, there are a host of reasons why students may not have received their ideal score, and I suspect admissions will be less critical of omitted scores this year.