<p>I know everyone has been asking this question, but I keep seeing mixed answers so I decided to post my specific situation...</p>
<p>Just checked my AP scores and was kinda shocked to see
AP Lang: 2
AP Studio Art: 3
AP US History: 2</p>
<p>For APUSH, I thought I would AT LEAST get a 3. My teacher tested us with actual released AP tests with a FRQ and DBQ like every other week (made up the majority of our grade) and graded it on the AP grading scale and I would constantly get 4's. As for AP Lang, I knew I would kinda struggle on that test but the MC wasn't too bad so I thought I would at least get away with a 3. I got a 3 on AP Euro last year and I pretty much BS'd the writing and didn't even get to finish the MC, so receiving such low scores this year is a surprise to me. </p>
<p>So my question is, would such low scores like these affect my admission chances? Should I even send the 2's in at all? I got A's both terms in APUSH and a B the first term, A the second term in AP Lang. I plan on applying to SDSU, CSULB, UCSB, UCR, UCI, UCD, Syracuse, FSU, Penn State, maybe some more. It's just so frustrating to know that I didn't master the content as well as I should've.</p>
<p>You can control which scores they see, so you don’t have to send in bad scores. HOWEVER colleges will probably take note of grade inflation and belittle the rigor of your ap class. But APs are usually just for credits and getting into classes, what matters more is your other academic stats (SAT, ACT, ECs, etc). SO don’t worry to much breathe</p>
<p>I’m not too concerned with receiving no college credit from these scores, more concerned about how it affects my admission chances, so it’s reassuring to know they don’t! So should I send the 3’s and not the 2’s, or none at all and hold off on sending them until after admissions, when I know exactly what school I’ll be attending?</p>
<p>For most schools, AP scores does not matter. For some top schools, they may treat them like additional SAT2. You only need to self report them. You don’t need to put them all on the app as you don’t submit your score until you are accepted. By the time you send score, you should have additional scores from senior year.</p>
<p>There are schools that explicitly said they will look at AP score at some degree. For instance, Harvard said they encourage students to provide additional SAT2 and AP scores. But I don’t think it would have any major impact in the decision.</p>
<p>AP scores are important admission factor at some top schools. The most candid statement regarding AP and other standardized tests is probably from Harvard admission dean Fitzsimmons via NYT in 2009:</p>
<p>"Our studies consistently demonstrate that standardized tests are helpful in predicting Harvard grades. Of course many other factors are important too, including high school grades, teacher and counselor recommendations, and intangible personal qualities that are reflected throughout the application.</p>
<p>We have found that the best predictors at Harvard are Advanced Placement tests and International Baccalaureate Exams, closely followed by the College Board subject tests. High school grades are next in predictive power, followed by the SAT and ACT. The writing tests of the SAT and ACT have predictive power similar to the subject tests."</p>
<p>“With the SAT, small differences of 50 or 100 points or more have no significant effect on admissions decisions. Standardized tests are most useful to us in the decision-making process when they are extremely high or low—and even then many other factors come into play.”</p>
<p>“At Harvard the more curriculum-based tests such as the AP, IB, and subject tests are the best predictors of college grades.”</p>
<p>“The NACAC Commission emphasized the large body of research indicating that students with socio-economic advantages and those who attend rigorous schools are generally much better prepared to do well on standardized tests. Admissions officers everywhere recognize this fact and work hard to assess the true academic potential of those without such advantages.”</p>
<p>^ I think there is no doubt that the AP and IB scores are better prediction of college success (than SAT1/ACT/HS GPA, etc) as those are testing at college level knowledge. However, unlike standardized test, the IB and even AP tests are not universal to all students. Most students do not have access to IB program and many schools have limited (or even not at all) AP classes. They would definitely look at the AP and IB scores, but they cannot put too much emphasis on it due to the narrow basis for comparison. Note that the article is talking about college success, not acceptance rate. So far, I have seen any admission stat with AP or IB, but SAT2 scores.</p>
<p>^ To add on, my highschool (with an enrollment of 400 grades 6-12) only offered 6 AP classes, and that was cut down to only 2 this year. They were replaced with CIHS courses for direct college credit. I have a graduating class of 65 :P</p>
<p>But essentially, the scores you get on the test isn’t going to make or break your offer of admission. If you do good, great, but it’s not the end of the world if you don’t do well. Colleges are going to look at whether or not you challenged yourself in highschool, and if you excelled in hard classes. I received a 2 on my AP Calc exam, but my grade for the year was an A. I won’t get credit for the course, but I will be more prepared when I have to take in it college.</p>
<p>So don’t fret, you’ll be okay! (p.s. PSU is my dream college… Go State! )</p>
<p>Thanks so much everyone for all your helpful input! I won’t be applying to Harvard or any Ivies. Mainly looking into UC’s, few CA state schools and OOS schools. I’ve decided I’ll just send in all my scores since, from what I am understanding, low scores won’t necessarily hurt me. If I didn’t send the 2’s, wouldn’t they assume the worst anyway?</p>
<p>Just make sure you know that you don’t need to submit official AP scores until after senior year to the school you have decided to go. Since by the time everything is settled, why would you care which score to send or omit? They just count which one you are eligible for credit.</p>
<p>@billscho Yeah that would be the sensible way to go about this. Is there an option on college apps to choose to not send AP scores until after senior year? Or would I just leave the AP score section empty? But if I do that, wouldn’t they assume I didn’t take the tests at all?</p>
<p>AP Scores do not matter unless you are looking to gain credit for the courses. Most colleges (especially the lowered-tier ones) won’t even look at your AP scores until you have already been accepted for credit reasons. You don’t even have to submit any of them if you don’t want to. Colleges want to see that you are taking challenging courses and are excelling at them in the classroom. Don’t worry about the scores.</p>
<p>Thanks billscho and well said, saraporcheddu! Not too frustrated over my AP scores anymore although hopefully senior year I’ll actually study and score higher to earn some kind of credit. However, still very relieved it doesn’t affect my admission chances!</p>
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