<p>So my AP scores came in the mail today...and it was a huge disappointment(although I did deserve the scores I got b/c I procrastinated until 24 hrs before each test) :(</p>
<p>Here's what my AP scores look like so far:</p>
<p>Stat-4
Biology-5
US History-4
Spanish Lang-3
English Lang-4(not my first language)
Chemistry-4</p>
<p>Although I am still an AP scholar w/ distinction, this totally ruined my day, as well as my hope for the Ivy Leagues...</p>
<p>So I've come on this board to ask for some wise opinions and insight. How much does Harvard weight these scores?? Are they an admission factor, or solely for the purpose of exempting applicants from the respective courses? </p>
<p>I called the office of admissions today & they gave me a vague answer. From what I could tell, they only care about 5's (I think the guy was saying they don't matter, but if you have a 5, it'll help)</p>
<p>I got a 770 on both chemistry & math II subject tests...if I take Biology, Spanish, and US history in the fall and make 800's on those, will this overwrite the lame AP scores?</p>
<p>Are the odds of admission ruined?</p>
<p>(by the way, when do you get the "AP scholar w/ distinction" certificate? Should I include that in my awards on the common app?)</p>
<p>I don’t think you need to send them your AP scores before you apply. I don’t think most people do, actually. Am I completely off base or out of date here?</p>
<p>Well they ask for the self-reported AP scores on the common app
Should I hide Spanish if I make above a 750 on the subject test? (on the AP exam, I misread the instructions on a major part of the exam…so that obviously hurt my score)</p>
<p>So a few years ago, you didn’t have to report AP scores? Since Harvard claims that it has used the same admission strategies for years, I hope that means they really don’t care that much about AP scores.</p>
<p>Really? I thought it would be good to show ability in a variety of subject areas(Harvard’s website even encourages this).<br>
I don’t think they don’t really take too much time. I spend 2 days studying for both chem &math, so I was thinking I could cram all the subject test studying into 1-2 weeks max.<br>
But you know more and I’ll take your advice :)</p>
<p>Well, I’d seek more opinions than just mine; and I do think 3-4 is better than 2. I’m pretty sure that at some point, you can have too many subject tests. I’m not sure what that point is, though. I would guess 5, but maybe it’s, like 9.</p>
<p>A friend of mine(the only one from our school who was even waitlisted to Harvard this year) took 7. He said that was his only strength and recommends that everyone does the same. I’ll try calling the colleges I’m applying to and see what they say.</p>
<p>Would you suggest retaking my 2 subject tests to score 800’s? I KNOW I can do better on the math II test…but I don’t want to look like I’m obsessed with scores(my problem, actually, is that I don’t put enough effort into studying for these) What do you think?</p>
<p>That’s not necessary. Take no more tests than are required for admission or to escape onerous requirements - any more and you’ll be wasting your time.</p>
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<p>If you got a 600, sure. If you got a 790, no.</p>
<p>Hello again:).
I have to say that based on almost everything I have read, I have to agree with the other posters on this one. Above a 750 is pretty much fine, and taking a ton of tests stops impressing them at some point. I read somewhere that they like to see that you spent your last year of high school doing more than studying for standardized tests. My friend got into Harvard with 3 SAT II tests while the requirement was still 3. And she reported only 1 AP score which she got a 5 on although she took 3 (and got 4’s on two). She thinks what got her in was her essay, recs, high ACT/SAT (took both…) and her involvement in school activities. But above all else she said it was her essay that probably did the most for her (as well as for most successful, no hook applicants). </p>
<p>That is why I am not too stressed with AP tests or SAT Subject Tests, I think having 750+ scores on 2-4 will be perfectly acceptable. I also don’t think that standardized tests-quantity or quality- will ever be a real deciding factor in an admissions decision to a top 20 school. High scores can give you an edge, but there’s only so far that can go. Get the best scores you can on the SAT and a few Subject Tests, but don’t stress. And if you must stress, make it about your essay and actual school. The last thing you need is to submit a bunch of test scores trying to make up for the bundle of C’s that you got while trying to study for them…lol.</p>
<p>I just talked to her and another girl now at Princeton and they both seem to agree. Study for what you can, but be an overachiever elsewhere.
Hope this helps, it sure helped me!</p>
