Over the last week, I’ve been accepted to the University of Virginia and the College of William & Mary.
I have a dilemma, though. I indicated on my applications that I was taking four AP tests this year, and now I simply can’t. Before, my school paid for half of it and now they’re paying for none of it. I simply can’t afford to take all of them. I know that some colleges revoke acceptances in the summer for grade drops–can (or would) they revoke my acceptance if I elect to now not take those tests?
I urge you to think this through…don’t be penny wise and pound foolish.
Look at your colleges and see what AP credits they take.
See if you could possibly get 12 credits for the classes.
How are you paying for college? How much does your family have to pay?
Because if you could save thousands of dollars by graduating a semester early by paying for 4 AP tests, it might be worth it in the long run.
However, if you have need based financial aid and won’t be paying out of pocket then it may not matter.
You need to find out whether or not any of those AP exams would be useful at either of these institutions. Then, speak with your teachers, and get an assessment as to whether or not you are likely to score in the range that would get you those benefits. Use that information to determine which (if any) of the exams are worth taking.
Lots of students don’t take some (or all) of the AP exams that they had originally expected to for any number of reasons. Don’t worry about this.
I’m receiving Dual Enrollment credit for all of these classes, and I know they’ll transfer as I know several students in grades above me that graduated from the same program as I am going to. My school heavily encourages taking AP but it’s not going to benefit me in the situation I’m in. Economically speaking, it may be a waste. I already am going to have to forfeit 3 credits (I will be graduating from my community college with 63).
Skip the exams then. There wasn’t any reason for you to consider taking them in the first place since these are Dual Enrollment courses that already will give you the full transfer credit. When your transfer credits are evaluated, ask if those 3 credits can be used for anything at all. Sometimes even though they can’t be included as transferred credits, they can still count as a pre-requisite for placing you into a higher level class.
The reason why your high school wants you to take the AP exams is because it is playing a game of “we’re better than you are” with other high schools around the country that is based on the number of AP exams per graduating senior. Look up the formula for the “Newsweek Top 100 High Schools” to see why they have their shorts all in a bunch about this. You do not have to spend your own money just so that they can play this game.
The exams are only $100 each. I would see if parents or relatives would pay. It isn’t much compared to tuition. Not sure if your acceptances were contingent on taking the exams. Might be better not to tell the schools if you are not going to take them.
Either way they will find out at the end of the year when they receive your transcript or any AP Score reports. It’s a courtesy though to let them know now. It’s a situation out of your control so it’s not like you will be punished or rescinded for it. You still took the classes so you’re not losing out on rigor. You just will not be receiving any credit.
Colleges will not find out you didn’t take them. You would have to send them your AP score report in july. So unless you deliberately do this, you’ll be fine. Even then I dont think it will make a large impact.