AP Scores

[Coolkid97]

<p>Alright, so I am applying SCEA for Harvard this year and was wondering how my AP scores, which are not ideal, will affect my chances? I have a 4 in AP Lang and APUSH, and 3's in AP Euro, Comp. Sci, and Chem. Even with these scores though, I have a 4.0 GPA, so I have never gotten anything below an A in my classes. Thanks for any help!</p>

[gibby]

<p>Usually students that get A’s in their AP classes get 4’s or 5’s on their AP tests. Getting A’s in your AP classes, but 3’s on your tests, would seem to indicate there is grade inflation at your high school. That’s something that Admissions might look into further by examining other applicant’s AP tests from your high school or contacting your guidance counselor for more details.</p>

<p>Harvard is unique in that it seems to place more importance on AP’s tests than ACT/SAT scores: <a href=“Guidance Office: Answers From Harvard's Dean, Part 2 - The New York Times”>http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/11/harvarddean-part2/&lt;/a&gt;

We have found that the best predictors at Harvard are Advanced Placement tests and International Baccalaureate Exams, closely followed by the College Board subject tests. High school grades are next in predictive power, followed by the SAT and ACT. The writing tests of the SAT and ACT have predictive power similar to the subject tests.

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<p>That said, testing is only one part of the applications process and it seems to play less of a part when Admissions is trying to figure out who to accept. Here’s another quote from William Fitzsimmons: <a href=“'The Ideal High School Graduate' - The New York Times”>http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/ideal-grad/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

Mr. Fitzsimmons called successful applicants to Harvard “good all-arounders – academically, extracurricularly and personally,” and he stressed the importance of demonstrating humanity and three-dimensionality in one’s college application. “I want to know, what is it this person does beside chew gum and produce good grades or scores?”

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<p>Best of luck to you!</p>

<p>“Waiting is the hardest part” – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers</p>

[Coolkid97]

<p>Thanks for the response @gibby‌ That’s interesting that they place that much emphasis on AP’s. I like your Tom Petty quote haha! Waiting is definitely the hardest part, and I feel confident in my application; I just have to wait one more month :)</p>

[Calvin689111]

<p>@gibby what if it was the other way around? High B -> Low A range GPA, but 5’s/4’s on AP testing</p>

[gibby]

<p>^^ I guess Admissions might look at your transcript, and the transcripts of other students from your high school, to determine how your high B’s stack up. If a high B is the highest grade given by your high school, that would be a sign of a very tough grading policy. On the other hand, if other students from your school who applied to Harvard had high A’s in the same courses, that would indicate that they are better scholars than you. Like it or not, multiple applicants applying from the same high school are compared to each other, both in terms of GPA, AP scores, course rigor, and teacher recommendations.</p>

[mybichon]

<p>Just to update Gibby’s quotes from the 2011 NY Times article, it’s worth noting that Harvard does not require that you send AP scores. Yes, the Common App allows you to self-report, but as a Harvard admissions officer told me a few weeks ago, they usually request the official scores once an applicant is admitted – if the scores are not already listed on their official high school transcript.</p>

[gibby]

<p>^^ And just to update @mybichon: ALL colleges (not just Harvard) accept self-reported AP scores. That’s because the College Board automatically sends “Official AP Score Reports” to a college’s registrar’s office. The registrar’s office DOES NOT forward “Official AP Score Reports” to Admissions, but holds them waiting for your file upon matriculation. So, it’s a complete waste of money to request an “Official AP Report” to be sent to a college until matriculate.</p>