APs and SATs, which is better?

<p>Hey guys.</p>

<p>So I'm looking to apply for top engineering/computer science school, such as stanford, mit, caltech, etc.</p>

<p>My question is, do SATs weigh more than APs?</p>

<p>Most people admit that APs are really good for anything except just to show college you passed the course, got "credit" and challenged yourself.</p>

<p>The reason being:</p>

<p>This year I got:</p>

<p>APCS -5
AP Calculus BC & AB (took last year) - 5
AP Physics B - 5
AP Lang - 3
AP Gov - 3
AP Music Theory - 3</p>

<p>As you can see, I got 5's in the STEM subjects, but I didn't do so well on the other subjects.</p>

<p>Does this affect my chances into MIT. Like say a person who get 5 or 4 on lang or gov has a better chance?</p>

<p>Also, I assumed that SATs weigh more. Even though I did so bad on my APs, I think that SATs has a higher importance and its more of a weight-age. Meaning, I have to get like 2200+ if I want to stand a chance now.</p>

<p>From what I’ve seen, SAT’s (assuming you’re talking about SAT subject tests?) seem to hold more weight than AP’s. It looks like you don’t send in official AP score reports until you’ve already been admitted. However, you may self-report AP scores on the common application if you would like to do so. I believe there are a total of 8 blanks in which you can fill in SAT II and/or AP scores.</p>

<p>As for affecting your chances into MIT, you could just choose not to self report the lower AP scores on the common application. Hopefully this helped.</p>

<p>@toonotey I’m actually referring to the actual SAT. On the SAT II I got:</p>

<p>800 on Math 2
800 on Physics</p>

<p>The general SAT is better (score reports have to be sent). AP scores may help, but they will carry less weight given that they are self-reported.</p>

<p>@toonotey does it matter which APs I self-report? Do certain ones matter more to top colleges?</p>

<p>SAT’s weigh more because they are required. AP scores carry little to no weight in admissions. Self-report whichever AP scores you like. </p>

<p>SAT (or ACT) is essential, while AP score is not. Enough said.</p>

<p>AP scores are more used once you begin college to get credit/place out of classes. </p>

<p>SATs weigh more than APs, in general. (In UK-based colleges, APs count for much more because they are sort of a substitue for A Levels.) As for SATIIs, they can help because (again, in general) the top colleges require them while other universities state that they will not even consider them. Find out if your AP scores are on your official HS transcript.</p>