Hello! I am hoping to major in Biochemistry or Computational Chemistry in college. However, I only scored a 3 in AP Chemistry. I am taking an equivalent chemistry course at the local college to make up for it. I am also doing an independent research project that centers around applied chemistry.
Will taking the community college class make up for not reporting my AP Score? Should I report my low score and give an explanation for it? (My chemistry class didn’t get to the last two units and we didn’t have any lab time due to COVID)
BTW I am applying to quite a few T20 schools. Thanks a bunch!
This is the advice that was given to my HS kids: The AP exam is recognized nationwide - the rigor of the exam is the same regardless of where it is taken. On the other hand, a college course may be “easy” by comparison. In addition, not all community college courses will be recognized by all universities - especially out of state institutions.
I would also say that it varies so much from college to college. As far as APs go, some colleges only give credit for 4s & 5s, some only use test scores for placement and not actually for credit, some only let you get credit if the test is outside of your major. As for college classes, if it was taught on a college campus (as opposed to in your HS by a HS teacher), the odds of it mattering are better but still may not be great. If it is at a 4-year college, that is better than CC. Most top schools may not very much regardless. My D attends a T20 LAC and got credit for virtually nothing regarding APs and college classes.
If you are asking purely about which is better from an admissions standpoint, I might say it doesn’t matter all that much. Many students do not report AP scores on their app at all and scores are submitted once with an official report at the school where you enroll.
Trying to explain why you got a 3 vs a 4 or 5 will likely go terribly wrong.
Taking the class again when it likely will not count if you get into a t20 is a waist of time. You would likely end out taking a similar Chem class 3 times in your life.
Don’t try to “explain” something you are not happy with unless there is a true, unique to you, medical/family/etc emergency. “I got a 3 because of a COVID” would not come across positively. If the schools to which you are applying don’t give credit for a 3, don’t submit it.
Grades are more important than an AP score, so as long as you got a B or better, the same CC course won’t do much. In fact, taking the same course over would look a bit odd, IMO.
There are very few schools that even consider AP exam scores in their admission decisions. Taking a CC class that covers the same material is a waste of time. You have been given good advice in the above posts so hopefully you follow it.
Move on. You will have to take General Chemistry again in freshman year. Last time that I said this, someone got the post deleted, but the truth is that many community college classes are at a non-competitive level, and the colleges know that. If your school has dual enrollment classes with a local community college, then it’s not your choice, it’s the school’s standard.
If you haven’t yet begun the community college chemistry, don’t do it. It’s not worth the trouble of attending, and it will not help with admission to highly competitive schools. Instead, take the most rigorous courses that your high school has available for you, and do your best in them. The only reason for a student shooting for top colleges to take a class at the local community college is if you don’t have access to a better college, your high school’s offerings are deficient, and there is a class offered at the community college in which you are extremely interested.