I am applying to some of the top schools, and the three AP scores that I’ve gotten are not very high (two 3s and a 4). Would it look bad if I just didn’t write them on the applications? If not, would I just not write in the scores themselves or not write the names of the tests and the scores?
Thanks.
<p>That's a problem, but I think you should send them. Here's why: if you tell them the scores, they might not look too stellar and it hurts a little, but at least you tried. If you don't put down the scores, it looks like 1) you only took the classes to bump up GPA and were playing it too safe to follow through, or 2) are withholding information--either way, the adcomp's overall opinion of you as a person plunges.</p>
<p>If you have good SATs and grades, and write a killer essay (based on your post, you can), apply with everything you've got, APs included. Honesty is the best policy (sorry, it's late and I'm resorting to platitudes).</p>
<p>If you're applying to top schools, use the common app, which does not have a space for AP scores. That way, you can omit them.</p>
<p>A warning, though: the individual supplements to the Common App might ask for them (Harvard does), so you're not off the hook. But Hecatonchires is right, and a lot of them don't ask for AP scores until after you submit the main one and are on their "good" list (or until after you're accepted).</p>
<p>Will colleges think less of you if you send 3's on tests? Aren't 3's decent scores? I can see omitting 2's and 1's, but will 3's really hurt your chances?</p>
<p>I guess that depends on the college. Sane places will take 3 as passing. Places like Harvard only acknowledge 4s or 5s (according to their honors program).</p>
<p>tkn256: I see what you're saying, and I agree, but I think that my situation may be a little more complex.</p>
<p>Here is what my transcript looks like for my junior year:</p>
<p>IB English 11
IB Chemistry
IB Higher Level Mathematics 1 (equivalent to AP Calculus AB; we did cover some BC topics, but that was after I had taken the BC test)
IB History of the Americas
IB Art and Design 1
AP Spanish 4</p>
<p>So, even though I did take the AP tests for Spanish, Calculus BC and Chemistry, I think that colleges will only expect me to have taken the AP test for Spanish because it is the only "official" AP class that appears on my transcript. The IB tests are taken after two years of the courses, so the colleges cannot take them into consideration.</p>
<p>This seems to eliminate the two problems that you've mentioned except for the AP Spanish test (one of my 3s). That would seem to permit me to put only that one 3, but I'm not sure if that would be better than putting the two 3s and a 4, which I think does demonstrate more commitment because the other two are not AP classes (though they did have some AP students in them and provided some preparation for the AP tests).</p>
<p>I'm not sure if this makes a difference, but on one of the threes, Calculus BC, I received a 4 as a subscore. I will find out how I did on my IB Chemistry SL test in a few weeks.</p>
<p>Hecatonchires: I am using the Common Application for the majority of the schools to which I am applying, so this does work to my advantage. As tkm256 said, some of the supplements and some of the non-CA applications do ask for the scores. This is were I am stuck right now, particularly on the Harvard supplement and the Northwestern application.</p>
<p>I am leaning toward telling the colleges all of my scores, but I want to make sure that this will not hurt me significantly.</p>
<p>Thanks again. All of this has me a little confused.</p>
<p>Anything less than a 4 will not improve your chances. If you can reasonably leave them off, do so. AP scores are not a big factor, though. The most important thing is difficulty of curriculum, then gpa/rank, and then standardized test scores (SAT/ACT and SAT II's). After you qualify on academics, you want to use your EC's and essay to stand out from the crowd as someone unique. They want "passion" and long-term commitment to one/two areas of interest. At most, an AP score is one grade in one class, albeit a class that is supposed to be more rigorous.</p>
<p>If the 3s will hurt my chances, I guess the question is whether I can reasonably leave them off. Let's see...</p>
<p>AP Chemistry: I can leave this one off, because it does not appear on my transcript, but I think it would be good to include it because I received a 4.</p>
<p>AP Calculus BC: I can also leave this one off, and that's a good thing because a 3 won't help me.</p>
<p>AP Calculus AB: I received a 4, which would help me, but it was only a subscore. I assume that I would have to include the 3 for BC if I wanted to include the subscore, so I'm not sure if it would be worth it. I'm thinking that it wouldn't, but I'm not sure.</p>
<p>AP Spanish: As tkn256 said, it will look bad if I do not report this one--although it is a 3--because the class does appear on my transcript. Therefore, I think I have to include it.</p>
<p>IB Chemistry SL: I think that I have to include this score because it is on my transcript. Colleges should know that I was expected to take the test last year because I am not continuing the class in my senior year. I am expecting a score of at least 4, so I don't think this will be too much of a problem.</p>
<p>Based on this, it seems that my best option is to include all my scores except those from Calculus. So I would have a 4 for Chemistry, a 3 for Spanish and a score for IB Chemistry SL.</p>
<p>How would this look to colleges? Is this the best way to do it?</p>
<p>On the other hand, it does seem a little dishonest to not include all of my scores. The Harvard supplement asks students to "please list them" and the Northwestern application tells students to "list the scores".</p>
<p>Besides, how much could it hurt me if I included the 3 for BC and the 4 for the AB subscore? After all, these are the same two numbers that I was going to include anyway. By including more scores, wouldn't this show more commitment?</p>
<p>Also, if I don't report the other scores, wouldn't it prevent me from including the AP Scholar award on the applications in which I am excluding scores?</p>
<p>In the end, it seems that the option that I choose doesn't really matter. My AP scores are going to hurt me either way, whether the colleges see a 3 and 4 or two 3s and two 4s. The only consolation is that, as dufus3709 said, AP scores are not too important. Therefore, it seems that I should just report all my scores and stop worrying about it. Instead, I should be focusing on the elements of the application that I can control, namely the essays.</p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>I agree AP Scores are not going to be a huge factor in the admissions process. To be honest, however, I think there's every reason to submit the 3's and no good reasons why not to submit the 3's. If you're willing to show the adcoms a 4, they will probably make an assumption that you're willingly going to show your other scores 4 or 5. So they assume based on that likely deduction that you can't have anything higher than a 3, and might even consider the possibility that you're hiding a 1 or 2. While a 3 isn't impressive to the ultra-competetive schools (as others already mentioned), it proves that it wasn't a 1 or 2 you got on Calc BC and any others. I hope that helps alot.</p>
<p>Alright, that settles it. I'm going to include all of my AP scores.</p>
<p>Thanks for everyone's help.</p>
<p>Ok, sorry to barge in, but I have a question.</p>
<p>I took AP Computer Science A Sophomore year with a teacher who had no idea how to teach, and of course, it was the first year with Java, after learning C++ in Programming I. Needless to say, I achieved a "1" on the exam. Now, I'm using the Common App, so that's not the problem, but so far, I know BC's supplement asks for scores. </p>
<p>I got a "4" on Psych and US History this year, and a "3" on AP Eng Lang. Should I submit all of these and my "1" or just not include the "1" and have them see it later, my only problem is, Comp Sci is on my transcript, so they will be suspicious I presume. Any ideas? :</p>
<p>i think you could leave it out, and most of the colleges give you the benefit of the doubt so they will think you were sick or something</p>
<p>...but if it is on your transcript, your better off not hiding it cause they will see it anyway, and if they dont see it on the app and they Do see it on your transcript, they wont like that you were trying to hide it.</p>
<p>^ So, I might as well include the "1"? Will it hurt me?</p>
<p>yea, you might as well because they will find out esp that its on your transcript. Will it hurt you? I dont know. It might, It might not. </p>
<p>I am in the same boat you're in. I got a 1 in US history. I was terribly sick this year during my APs. I screwed up on chem too (i got a 3). Luckily I performed very well in both classes and ended up witth a 98 and 99 in the classes. Plus I got a 750 on my SAT II chem so at least they know that I know my stuff. My school, however, doesnt put the ap scores on my transcript. So I will probably hide the 1 and 3. But I am still kind of confused so we will see. Best of Luck.</p>
<p>^ Well, that's the thing, I don't think my school puts the scores on my transcripts, but they might. I guess I will just go ahead and put it down, I got B's in the class, so they'll know something weird happened.</p>
<p>I'm just not going to attach my AP Scores..b/c yes, I did them to boost my GPA and stuff...dude, seriously, I didn't study or care less if I passed, I didn't even shoe up to one of them</p>