<p>If you have solid SATs, grades, class rank, etc. but don't do so hot on an AP exam (like a 3) can that hurt your admission chances? If so how much? Is it a big factor?</p>
<p>You don't have to send AP scores to colleges, so AP exam scores have no effect on your admissions chances. They are only used for placement.</p>
<p>A 3 isn't a bad score--it's an average, passing score on a tough test. Won't hurt your chances anywhere--is just kind of a neutral score. In my opinion, AP test scores affect admissions like this: </p>
<p>all/many 5's--moderately important plus
all/many 4's--small plus
mostly 3's/maybe some 4's--tiny plus/neutral
mostly 3's, a few lower scores--small minus/neutral
mostly lower scores/maybe some 3's--small minus
all 1's and 2's--moderately important minus</p>
<p>So, AP scores certainly won't make/break your app, but they will either have little effect, or will confirm your application. A kid with 15 5's is probably looking strong overall academically, and a kid with all 1's probably isn't looking like the college's next Valedictorian.</p>
<p>I don't think they will hurt you unless you are applying to some of the top schools where they may use it as another means of evaluating you... if it comes down to it, like they said, just don't send them. If you have mostly 4's and 3's that is GOOD!!</p>
<p>I don't know about a 3, but for the top schools, I believe that 1s and 2s are looked down upon. And if you don't send it will they assume the worst?</p>
<p>By the time I applied to colleges, I had taken the only AP test I could have, seeing as my school only had 1 AP class junior year. It was APUSH, and I got a 5. But it's only ONE 5. Will this help at all, seeing as my school has a small amount of AP's (I also got the only 5, but I don't think they'll know that?)</p>
<p>^^Sure, that will be a small push factor in your favor...you are always evaluated according to what your high school has to offer you. You have done the best that you could with what your HS had to offer you, and that's all that colleges can/will ask. They would only know that you were the only 5 if one of your recommenders mentioned it (which they could have, of course--if they themselves knew. One of my recommenders mentioned that I was one of only 4 NMSFs at our large HS (800/class)). </p>
<p>DirectorsCut, 1's and 2's certainly aren't impressive...will it seriously damage you? Probably not, although it may cause some concern over your knowledge of X subject or at least the level of your HS preparation. There is an argument of sorts on the board over this subject, but personally, I believe and have read that not sending in an AP score does raise questions. Either you didn't take the test (presumedly because you felt unprepared) or you took it and got a bad score (also not great). People constantly drop in and say that AP scores don't matter at all, but I just don't believe that that is true. It doesn't make sense to me--why wouldn't they matter? Of course your amount of AP's and the scores that you got will be evaluated according to your school and background, but if your school offers 20 AP's, you only take one, and you get a 2, that is pretty unimpressive.</p>
<p>doesn't matter at all.</p>
<p>by the way, if you guys post an opinion, can you state where you got that information?</p>
<p>I got my post info from my college guidance counselor</p>
<p>Keep in mind that AP scores are self-reported unless it's on you transcript. You can mention only the ones you did well in. You have to send in an official report only after you matriculate.</p>
<p>I hv two 4's n one 5 in my AP's. How do the 4s reflect overall, tht my AP results are average? please advice?</p>
<p>I have gotten my info from a host of sources--USNWR magazine, a bunch of college admissions books, etc. If you really really want me to specifically cite my sources, I'll do it, but it would be easier on me if you take my assurances that I didn't just make it up :). </p>
<p>Skygirl, I outlined what <em>I</em> believe the importance of AP scores to be upthread. I would put 2 4's and a 5 in the "small/moderate push" category--not going to bowl the adcoms over with your greatness, but good and will work in your favor. </p>
<p>Again, I want to reiterate...no, you do not have to send in a bad AP score, but if you don't have a score for an AP class that you took, adcoms might wonder if you got a bad score/were unprepared for that test. The adcom from Rice says this in the latest USNWR (again, I swear I'm not just making stuff up!).</p>
<p>Thnks. I am kicking myself for getting the 4 in psychology. I didnt take the course n I registered n self-studied for the exam at the last minute.</p>
<p>So would it be better to leave them wondering or just report the bad score...</p>
<p>It seems to me, then, that you should report 3-5's because adcoms will wonder if you didn't take the AP for a given course or how badly you did. The disutility of getting of 1-2 outweighs the potential harm from not reporting it. Eh? And we're all talking about self-reporting, not official reporting. College apps group AP scores with all your other additional testing too.</p>
<p>The question now is, what about non-5's for exams you self-studied?</p>
<p>Well, that is the proverbial $64,000 question, calgar. I don't know that it matters...I guess I would say leave them wondering. After all, there is that saying (paraphrase!): "Better to keep your mouth shut and have people assume that you are an idiot than to open it and make them sure."</p>