Question: Will failing 1 or 2 AP exams affect admissions to top tier schools or Ivy League colleges?
WHAT DID “THE DEAN” SAY?
See http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/low-ap-scores-elite-college-deal-breaker/
I got three 5s, three 4s, but one 2 on AP Spanish. Since Spanish isn’t really a major subject (at least for what I’m majoring in[math/science major]) and since Spanish is kind of a subject where it is hard to master unless you are native, would colleges overlook the 2? Or can I just report all the other AP scores except spanish?
Colleges often give some wiggle room on foreign language AP and Subject Test scores because many admission officers recognize that some high schools (especially public ones) can have some pretty lousy language teachers. But, even so, I’d recommend not sending in the 2. I don’t view it as a deal-breaker but, if you were my child, I’d say to bury it. 
I’m applying for computer science but I got a 3 on AP CS. should I send it in? I’ve taken 5 exams total (a 5, two 4’s, and two 3’s.)
I’m applying to cornell, vandy, rice, etc.
An admissions officer from Vanderbilt directly told kids from our school who visited 2 years ago that they wanted to see 4’s and 5’s on APs FWIW.
Of course that’s what they want to see!! And I want to see two free round trip tickets to Paris on my kitchen counter But not every student who is otherwise well qualified for Vandy will earn top scores on all AP exams. So then the question comes up, as it has here, of what to do about it!
@XCjunior2016 -You’re kind of between a rock and a hard place on this as you’ve probably already surmised. I would say to send the 3’s since the colleges will know that you’ve taken the classes and you’re applying to the CS major. You might also want to think about putting a different major on your applications, at least for the schools where the major choice is not binding, because you’ll be “competing” with CS aspirants with stellar credentials in the field as well as top AP scores. However, if you, too, have a significant CS resume and the AP score is the only little blip on your record, then just apply to CS and emphasize what you’ve achieved beyond the exam on your applications.
Do you think it’d make sense to put a similar major like electrical engineering or something? I got a 5 on calc AB
@XCjunior2016- If you are sure that you really want CS, don’t commit to another major at any institution where you would have to apply to the CS major (and might not get in). But, at many colleges, the major you indicate on the application is just preliminary. However, an EE major is commonly in the School of Engineering which can be separate from the School of Arts and Science (or one with a similar name) which is commonly home to the CS major. So you have to look closely at every college on your list and see how choosing the EE major will affect your application process and also where you might end up.
Ok thanks
Note: I believe some colleges will require you to self-report all AP scores on the application. I wouldn’t advise anybody to fail to answer that question accurately.
True–if a college says that self-reporting is mandatory, then you should, of course, be honest. But mandatory AP exam reporting is not as common as many students may think that it is. It’s actually pretty rare.
I am shooting for top 20 schools and i have two 5s and a 3. Do you think I should submit the 3? My top choice is Upenn by the way. Thanks for the help!
I am in a similar position to @XCjunior2016 in that I want to do neuroscience and/or developmental psych and I earned a 3 on the AP Psych exam, but a 5 on Chem and a 4 on Bio, which are also applicaple to neuro. Bio and chem were taken in sophomore year when I was halfway through an upward trend and still had some bad habits from freshman year (when I earned a 2 on Human Geo for example (not submitting)). My experience in AP Psych helped me to see that you need to self-study to some degree. I assume that I should send the 3 then? I’m hoping that it will maybe underscore the upward trend that is apparent in my transcripts.
Thanks!
I do not think low scores matter as much as having some high scores.
But there is a thread about which schools consider AP scores - if a school does not consider them at all, how can a low score hurt? All it would do is not give you AP credit to miss a class or two.
Meant to write that bio and psych were taken sophomore year****
@camrun and @haytheir20 -I think it’s a slippery slope if I start advising students on this thread about which AP exams to submit without knowing A LOT about their backgrounds and goals. Over the years, I have usually counseled students to submit all scores of 3 or above. But lots of factors come into play when I dole out specific suggestions about AP score submission, including the student’s high school and curriculum, socioeconomic background, target colleges, prospective major, how many AP exams were taken overall, when they were taken, etc.
But the bottom line is this: There are lots of things to anguish over during the college process, but try not to make this one of them. AP scores can serve as “tie-breakers,” especially at the most hyper-competitive colleges, but there are plenty of other application components that admission officials will weigh more heavily.
Do taking AP exams increase your odds of getting into a college?
That’s great to hear. Thanks for the post. I’ve always thought that that AP scores didn’t mean anything for admissions but I have quite a few 4s and 5s and National AP Scholar so it’s nice to know that they can positively affect my application.
I have never heard of any college requiring AP scores to be sent or reported before the summer after high school. Could someone please post a list of schools or point me to a link that shows schools that actually require AP scores to be reported?