AP scores and admission

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
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<p>I was just wondering how AP scores might help/affect admission to selective colleges.
How great of an effect would you say good AP scores have?
For example, would great AP scores give a serious boost to an application? </p>

<p>The thing is, I rarely hear about colleges asking for AP scores in regards to their admission process. The thing is, I see AP scores (for me and also a few others I know) as one of the strong points of their profile. </p>

<p>I've received 5's on APUSH, gov, micro, macro and environmental science,
and a 4 on eng. lang.</p>

2

<p>I imagine that in coming years, as college admissions becomes evermore competitive, colleges (looking for yet another way to quantify student achievement) will begin taking AP test scores seriously.</p>

<p>For the moment, however, my understanding is as follows: High AP scores coupled with a high grade in the corresponding class demonstrates that you truly understood the material, and while that is to your benefit, it's ultimately a minor factor in the "holistic review" process.</p>

<p>The majority of colleges leave a section open for the inclusion of scores, though they do not ask for an official score report at the time... ostensibly, if you lie about your scores, get in, matriculate, and they then bust you, you would be in a world of trouble. Nevertheless, the demand for official SAT and SAT Subject Test reports suggests a much greater emphasis is placed on those scores.</p>

<p>Because the AP program is not available to all students, and because many similar topics are covered in the more accessible SAT Subject Test series, many selective colleges do require 2 - 3 SAT Subject Test scores, and the variety of tests allow you to play to your strengths. I only took two subject tests, but my 5 on the APUSH exam and 5 on the AP English Language exam (combined with AP English Literature practice) definitely paired well with my scores of 770 and 760. </p>

<p>Take subject tests soon after completing the course work and AP exams, the material will be fresh in your mind, and you will undoubtedly perform very highly on tests that colleges will certainly hold in high esteem.</p>

<p>Also, keep in mind that many 'selective' colleges do not allow for much AP Credit, or may only use the scores for placement... so take AP classes in order to sate your intellectual appetite, not because you need the title of "National AP Scholar" to boost your ego.</p>

3

<p>first off, that is why i take AP exams, and because of the fact that if i end up at my safety state school, they will take a lot of time and money out of my stay there.
I know one school (i think williams, i'm pretty sure its one of the top lib arts schools) accepts AP scores in lieu of subject tests. I wish every school did that lol. I've already taken 3 subject tests, but two are in history, and i know a select few want three in different subject areas.</p>

4

<p>most colleges <em>claim</em> that ap scores are mostly for placement and NOT admission.</p>

5

<p>Would a 780-800 chem sat II help to offset a 4 on ap chem?</p>

6

<p>A 4 on AP Chem isn't bad, and a 780 on SAT II Chem isn't necessarily impressive. I scored a 770 in SAT II Chem after taking an introductory course - if you know AP, you have no excuse not to get an 800. Also keep in mind that the SAT will factor into admissions, but the AP score more often than not will have no impact.</p>

7

<p>if what some people are saying is right, and it seems right because of the fact that some schools don't even ask for scores on applications, (that AP scores are meant more for placement, less for admission) and that being combined witht he fact that so many higher level colleges don't accept all AP credit, limit AP credit, etc, what's the point of a princeton (or similar school) seeking student taking so many AP tests ?
i know some great schools that limit AP credit at like 6 hours, so most AP tests will pretty much mean nothing.
that's frustrating! I wish they all accepted AP scores in a similar way to the SAT II scores.</p>

8

<p>"what's the point of a princeton (or similar school) seeking student taking so many AP tests ?"</p>

<p>More often than not, they don't. Every top school will say the same thing: they want you to challenge yourself, and they want you to enjoy high school, but they do not want you to take as many AP classes as possible to try to impress them.</p>

9

<p>lol I think we need to get a quote like that from one of the Ivy League schools websites and make it a sticky here ;)</p>

10

<p>i don't know about other colleges, but duke's profile in collegeboard says this about AP tests:
AP and Admission
* From the college:
* As part of the applicant evaluation process, we assess the degree to which a student has challenged himself/herself academically. We determine the quality and rigor of a student's curriculum in several ways, including the number of AP courses the student has taken. We also use AP Exam results to help us understand a student's academic accomplishments.</p>

11

<p>
[quote]
Would a 780-800 chem sat II help to offset a 4 on ap chem?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Just for the record - 4s are not all that bad!! Even really really good colleges take them for credit. Lol wanted to clear this up, because it seems like here on CC, people think that if you don't get a 5 you failed.. I mean, you could have been ONE POINT away from a 5! Who knows? So it's not the end of the world, and your 4 doesn't even really need off-setting.</p>

<p>But of course, a good score on the SATII's will "off-set" it anyway :]</p>

12

<p>^Thanks, I know it's not a 'bad' score, but it makes me paranoid reading all these things.</p>