Hello. Finally, after waiting a near three months for my AP exam score for the AP US History test, my long awaited test score was finally visible online; I was unpleasantly surprised with the 4 I received. Now, let me be the first (or not the first) to say that I found the class curriculum surprisingly easy. Throughout the year, I breezed through the class simply taking notes on each section, quizzing myself on major events and terms, making a timeline, and even hiring a tutor. Unfortunately, I think the laid back approach I took was ultimately what whacked me in the face. I easily got a 98 in the class because I was able to prepare for my tests on specific sections and my ability to reason and argue an answer makes the writing sections undeniably easy for me. Before anyone says, “A 4 is one below a 5 be happy with it” I want to make it evident that up until I saw my score on the test, my ideal plan was to major (or minor - essentially study something involving it) in political science. Heres the thing, I spoke to a couple of my friends who severely struggled with the class finishing with B’s and B-'s, but 2 of the 8 I talked to told me they got 5s. Yes, they might have done well, but heres my question and my concerns primarily for myself and others who attained 4s. A 4 seems average when applying to top colleges in the US, and you need a 5 to “distinguish” yourself, even though that just groups you with the other 15,000 kids that got 5s. So what worries me is that getting a 5, though difficult, does not really pull you ahead of the pack because there are thousands of other kids who have managed the same; its bad enough that I got a 4, but the fact that I didn’t get a 5, when I could have easily done so irks me. What is the difference between getting a 4 and a 5 when applying to a top level college? Does the fact that I got an A in the class demonstrate anything, or is the AP score way more important? Have you even seen a Columbia University (or any other elite university) student with a 4 on their transcript?
A little bit of back story (if you care to read before responding):
I go to an elite private school in California, Silicon Valley just a couple miles away from Stanford - In the past 6 years our small school has achieved an average of 25%+ student being accepted into Stanford each year (this year was 13/44 - do not want to go there though). I am taking all honors classes this year with AP US History being the only AP offered to sophomores. My cumulative GPA this year was a 4.07 weighted and a 3.93 unweighted. Combined with freshman year my GPA was 4.03 weighted and 3.97 unweighted (strange system). Anyways, this is my first AP and I am really disappointed that I wasn’t able to get a 5 despite my efforts.
I haven’t taken the real ACT yet but I took the official practice ACT and got a 34.
btw if you forgot I am going into my junior year
ECs:
11 years of karate - 1st degree black belt
3 years of soccer - Varsity 2 years - (Started in 8th grade)
2 years of varsity cross country
I run a website where I basically write articles with some of my friends from the school newspaper about things that we find interesting around the world
I was head writer for the News section of the school paper freshman year
I am now head writer for the OP Ed section
I’ve been president of a club I started two years ago - the stock exchange club (has a catchier name but I don’t want to put it out here) - I teach the new members about recognizing stock fluctuation trends and making short and long term investments before organizing a simulation game and giving the members a fake budget to use. Its a long term competition.
APs: (this is hilarious)
APUSH - 4
Class load sophomore year -
Chemistry Honors
Personal Morality and World Religions and Ancient Scriptures
Mandarin 2 Honors
APUSH
Advanced Symphonic Band
Algebra 2 Trig Honors
English Honors
Class load junior year - (I am taking the most rigorous classes offered to Juniors at my school)
AP Physics 1
World Religions and Social Ethics
Mandarin 3 Honors
AP Economy
Independent Study
Preparatory Calculus BC Honors
AP English - Philosophy in Literature
If you don’t care to read everything above heres my simple question:
How does a 4 on the APUSH exam affect my chances of getting into an elite college?
thanks and I can fill you guy in on anything you need to know.
also how do the other people who got 4s feel about the test? I thought it was super easy but still some how got a 4. The essay questions took me by surprise.
good luck to everyone else