i have taken 5 AP classes so far: Comp Sci A, US Govt, Physics B, Physics C: Mech, and Calc AB. I took 4 of the exams, all but comp sci. I received a 3 in US Govt, a 2 in Physics B, 4 in Physics C, and 5 in Calc AB. Thus, for competitive schools, I have 2 good scores (Calc and Physics) and 1 acceptable score (US Govt).
On both the Michigan and Cornell applications, they ask for AP scores. On Michigan’s application, it is clearly optional, but I don’t know about Cornell. Should i report any scores? If so, should I report the 4 and 5, or the 3 also?
<p>well, you can't really hide your AP scores because they're all on the same paper (unless you screw up the student info and get multiple reports). Still, it's better to show a bad score than no score at all. Colleges can see that you've taken AP Physics B exam, but if they see no score and no proof of score cancellation, they'll get suspicious. Report your scores, get some credit/higher placement.</p>
<p>Plus, a single 2 in physics B should not prevent you from reporting your 4 in physics C and 5 in Calc.</p>
<p>The only time I would not send scores would be if I only scored a combo of 1s, 2s or 3s only and nothing higher</p>
<p>I'm talking about self reporting, not actually sending the score report. Thus, I can report the 4 and 5 and not the 2 if i want, and they won't know for sure what i got on physics b.</p>
<p>I can't see how it would ever be better to report a bad score than not to report it at all. At any rate, the AP scores don't really count for that much in admissions. At most they count as a single grade in a single class, albeit a supposedly harder one. AP courses are being taught in the poorest public schools at this point, and they have lost a lot of their meaning. The principal at my public school recently got an award for increasing the number of exams taken. The school district considers this the mark of a superior high school, and Newsweek is using the measure to rank high schools. This is fine, but 56% of the exam scores at this hs were 1's and 2's. There are a lot of AP courses being taught that just don't cover the material.</p>
<p>No college requires that the score report be sent to them. Apps (including the common app) do not have spaces for the scores. Some colleges do request that the scores be self-reported on the app. Getting a 4 in Phys C and 5 in Calc is very good. Phys B is supposed to be an easier course than Phys C. You can report none of them, report only the 4 and 5, or report all of them. I suspect that the app form will have some language requesting that all scores be reported (if they ask for them at all). The CB allows you withhold exam grades for a fee provided you tell them in time, but you won't send the report anyway.</p>
<p>If you use the AP exam to get advanced placement, that is done much later after you are at the school.</p>
<p>I believe you will get the AP Scholars Award from the CB, and you can write this down in the awards section as evidence of taking the exams.</p>
<p>"I'm talking about self reporting, not actually sending the score report. Thus, I can report the 4 and 5 and not the 2 if i want, and they won't know for sure what i got on physics b."</p>
<p>Depends. On the Cornell supplement to the common application, they explicitly state that they need an official score report. But on their individual application, they don't state that. So you can basically selectively not list the 2. If they do wonder why you didn't list the Physics exam, they'lle probably either think you cancelled the score or you're not reporting it. Most of the time they'lle give you the benefit of the doubt. But I would just list it because the rest of your scores balance out the 2. Besides, I know atleast 4 Cornell aceptees from my school that received a two on one of their AP exams and listed it on the application. They were accepted nonetheless.</p>
<p>Bananas... are you sure they say that they need a score report. I cant find it, unless I am looking in the wrong place. All it says is "Please list scores for any College Board Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate Examinations you have taken."</p>
<p>All colleges will want the official score report eventually in order to grant you credit or placement, but none, as far as I know, require it for the application, though some ask for self-reported scores.</p>