I am taking AP Physics I this year, but my teacher will only get through about 3/5 of the curriculum (we will not get through about 6 chapters). At this rate if we get every question that we have been taught correct, the maximum we can get would be a 3.
I have been trying to learn the material on my own, but Physics is cumulative so I have to learn everything in order. It is very difficult to get ahead!
So I’m wondering just how much AP test scores matter in the admissions process… I am very worried.
Little to none for the vast majority of colleges; they are mainly used for credit and/or placement.
@skieurope Even in very selective colleges such as Duke or Tufts?
@onceinagreenmoon Yup. Even for uber-selective colleges like Yale and Stanford.
Yeah so you don’t really need to worry. Selective colleges tend to use their own placement exams. Caltech literally told us that we don’t have to send the AP scores.
Colleges are not aware of your AP scores until you’ve been accepted, selected a college, and send the score yourself (when you get the score in july). Therefore, it will not affect your college admissions decisions.
Shouldn’t worry about it, most of the time (even if it is an issue) you can mark on a transcript what happened (i.e the teacher didn’t get through the curriculum, and while you tried to teach yourself you didn’t get through the material)
There is almost never a time when this is a good strategy; despite your best efforts, you will come off as whiny. If, and that’s a big if, there is ever an academic issue that needs further explanation, it is far better to have the GC address it in his/her recommendation.
Sorry there’s drama, OP.
my daughter is on her 4th teacher for her AP Physics class this year. There’s been “drama” over teachers and about what’s been covered. She is NOT taking the AP test as it is not required. We are just counting this class as a high school science credit. dont have an answer for you, but can empathize.
What will have an impact is the grade you get in the course and the fact that it is the most rigorous physics course at your HS. You could choose not to take the test and it would not impact admissions decisions.
Transcripts usually go directly from high your school to the college so you don’t get to “mark” the transcript. (It may be different for internationals?). I agree with skieurope, you will come off as whiny and making excuses if you complain about this to the college. Ask your GC to address the issue if you feel it needs to be explained. But I don’t think it’s that important. I’d focus more on having strong scores on your SAT subject tests, which most highly selective schools do look at.
We’re on the same boat. I’ve legit had 3 panic attacks in this one week.
I have friends in the same boat for APUSH- they have the bad teacher and only are in WWI.
um, this thread title was not as advertized.
I’ll admit, I was expecting an adulterous affair between the APUSH instructor and the guidance counselor, or at least a sword fight in the middle of a burning cafeteria. ‘Drama’? Please.
If AP scores don’t matter to colleges, then why do we bother to self-report them? Especially, when we have to send them in later via Collegeboard.
They don’t matter to be honest. I got into several Ivys and top tier schools like Duke without reporting AP scores, even if I took a lot of AP courses. Don’t sweat too much on it.
Admission Office may use your AP score to evaluate your GPA. Also, they may treat it as additional SAT2 scores (e.g. Harvard). Otherwise, it carries little weight in admission. Many schools do not even offer AP classes while many only offer to senior students that the score would not be available before college application. While taking the AP classes shows the course rigor which is much more important in admission.
You report your AP scores, if you’re looking to place out of a course. Like they said above, scores don’t matter in terms of admission. AP and IB classes are almost a joke for top tier schools (besides for rigor), as they don’t accept AP/IB credits. The only thing they would possible take is a 5 on AP Calc and AP Physics. Even then, you’d have to take another test to test out of that class.
So you don’t have to send in AP scores? What if I took an AP Class but didn’t take the test?
I took AP Compsci at school, but my teacher is horrible and I did not self study for it and decided not to take it this year. I decided to take it junior year, but that year is the most stressful.
So what should I do? If you don’t send AP scores to colleges and it doesnt count for admissions, then it doesn’t matter to me, because i am going to take that course in college anyways.