AP Tests in Senior year

Applying to College
1

I’m a senior in high school and I wanted to know if you have to inform your colleges if you decide not to take an AP test. I had originally stated in my college application that I was planning on taking the AP Comp Sci test but I no longer think I am prepared to take this test in May. Do I have to let my colleges know that I am no longer planning on taking this test?

I’ve already been accepted to UCI Regents and UCD, do I have to let them know as well?

2

You don’t have to take the tests unless your high school requires you to do so. At my school it is required so if we decide not to take the exam, the class changes from AP to regular on our transcript, so it looks like we didn’t even take an AP class. That would be bad. If that’s not the case for you, there’s nothing binding you to take the exam, and it will not affect admissions decisions just like getting a 1 on an AP exam won’t get you rescinded, because they never have to know. It’s only relevant to them if you decide to use it for credit, but clearly you’re not so it doesn’t really matter.

3

You can see if the AP test in question could give you useful credit. For example:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/exam-credit/ap-credits/irvine/index.html
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/exam-credit/ap-credits/davis/index.html

4

I’m not really planning on using this specific AP test for credit since I’m not majoring in Comp Sci…

5

A comp sci credit could be useful for any number of majors.

6

@VickiSoCal The OP says they’re not prepared to take the test. You can’t get credit when you don’t do well on the exam.

7

Tough to get 2nd semester seniors to take the test. They have checked out. My kid procrastinated the registration until after it passed.

8

IMHO - No, you do not have to notify. Not taking the test only means you will not receive college credit - assuming a qualifying score of course. However, to really nail this down, why not go to the source? Call the school and ask them! You can always try the old “hypothetical case” or “helping out a friend” - but I would be up front with the admin staff. It’s your chance to test them - and find out how responsive they will be. It won’t be the only time you will need to interact with admin… Good Luck. Make the call!

9

I don’t think it is an issue at all.