<p>My junior son's AP History teacher just emailed me re: son taking the AP US History test (he'll also take the SAT II US History this spring). Teacher said that son should not have scores mailed to schools until <em>after</em> admission to the school since "the AP test is not an admission tool, it's just for college credit." </p>
<p>I seem to remember on CC lots of kids posting their 'what are my chances' stats, etc. and all mentioned several AP tests and their scores. So..not sure what history teacher is saying is accurate?</p>
<p>Son plans to major in comp sci (not history) & I hear the AP US history test is mucho tough. The thought was, however, since son tests v. well (but 9/10th grade gpa was somewhat lower) that anything that could be done to enhance his 'package' to the school would be a benefit (son has adamantly refused to participate in more than one school extra-curricular). Trying to show that -- while he hasn't always put forth 100% effort--he does have the capabilities.</p>
<p>Now I hear it's all worthless re: admission??</p>
<p>Some schools will ask students to self-report any AP test scores on their applications, but few if any ask that the scores be mailed from CB to schools until after admission, when they’re used as placement tools and occasionally for credit.</p>
<p>Usually the presence of AP classes in a transcript, and a self-report of decent scores on the tests, is thought to establish the toughness of the student’s schedule, and in context of the high school profile, demonstrate the rigor and challenge the student has opted for in constructing that schedule. (If a high school offers many AP classes and the student hasn’t taken any, many schools may see that as an indicator that the student did not elect to challenge him/herself.)</p>
<p>We never mailed any AP score reports to any schools other than the 2 my sons eventually matriculated at.</p>
<p>You don’t need to send an official report to any schools except the one where he is going to matriculate (and that can be done for free when he fills out his AP form his senior year - all scores will be sent to his school of choice (and by that time he’ll know which school he’s going to))</p>
<p>However, if the score is good, he should self-report it to the schools he will be applying to. Some schools ask for those on their supplements, for others you can put it on the “extra info” page on the common app.</p>
No-- sorry, but you don’t have to report AP scores to any school, unless you want advanced placement or credit for the course(s). They are used for assessment of rigor. Many students never report their AP scores and the scores are not used for admission. Taking the course is what is considered important, and the HS grades for the course.</p>
<p>Of course you don’t HAVE to - but at that point the scores can only help you - the admissions decision has already been made. No reason not to report them (unless they are ALL to low to give you any credits).</p>
<p>What should I do since my school does not offer AP classes? I have taken AP tests and I want to show that I have initiative, intelligence, and whatnot.</p>
<p>If your AP scores are high [4,5] then it can’t help but send them to the colleges you are applying to. It helps to validate the “rigor” of your HS courses.</p>
<p>I am sure that getting good AP scores helps. But there is no reason to pay for the “official reports” to be sent - you can self-report the scores on the application.</p>
<p>The only students for whom it might be advisable to send an official report are the homeschoolers, since they probably should submit all the documentation they have potentially available.</p>
<p>My son applied to 10 schools. I decided to call each admissions office on this and 4 or 5 really wanted to know his AP scores and wanted official scores so we had them sent to all 10 schools.</p>
<p>“But there is no reason to pay for the “official reports” to be sent - you can self-report the scores on the application.”
Since colleges require that official SAT scores be sent directly from the collegeboard, sending an official AP report may also be a good idea. In addition, if a student has reached one of the AP scholar levels, that would be included in the report.</p>
<p>it depends on the school, some ask for them to be self reported meaning they consider them in admission, others do not ask for them at all, like Stanford. Depends on the school I think.</p>
<p>It doesn’t hurt send the “official” report if the scores are good, but it is quite expensive, and almost always unnecessary. And if some of the scores are not that good, it will cost you extra to remove them from the report.</p>
<p>"and almost always unnecessary. "
I think you are making an assumption here, and I’m not sure what is is based on besides the cost of sending AP scores. However, for a top student with great AP scores who is applying to very selective universities, it is probably a good idea to send AP scores, in order to help prove they are as strong candidate as those they are competing against.</p>
<p>Menloparkmom: My kids did apply to selective universities and had no problem with not sending scores beforehand. All of their friends also self-reported. Of course the courses were on their transcripts.</p>
<p>In my son’s case, the courses and grades were on the transcript–the scores were not. I think I’ve heard VT schools are not allowed to put SAT scores etc. on a transcript. Some of his colleges, including some very selective ones–wanted the official scores sent.</p>
<p>This is just a question of strategy and personal choice, not of the “right” or “wrong” way to notify colleges of AP scores. As Bethievt said in her post
“My son applied to 10 schools. I decided to call each admissions office on this and 4 or 5 really wanted to know his AP scores and wanted official scores so we had them sent to all 10 schools.”
That was her experience, and that was ours as well.
The OP asked a question and I responded with my own personal opinion, based on my son’s experience.
We decided to error on the side of caution, and to make sure his application was as strong as possible. Did it make a difference? Who knows? He was accepted at all but 1 of the 15 selective colleges he applied to.</p>