I just got my scores, and it’s catastrophic. I took 9 exams this year and was expected to get all 5s. But it turned out that I only get 4 on Calculus BC, and 3 on Biology, Chemistry and Statistics.
It’s just too low for me, and I had absolutely no idea why my scores are this low. My GPA is nearly perfect. Even though my Biology and Statistics are self-taught, the mock exams’ results were always 5.
I feel too ashamed that I’m even afraid to tell my friends or my parents my scores. I aimed at a top 10 university but I’m not sure now. Can I cancel the low socres now, or can I choose to not submit them in college application? Should I submit them? To what extent would it hurt my profile???
I think you should ask your teachers about a regrade for your aps. Tell them that you think there might be an error on the grades. It is possible to ask for a regrade, but idk if they have a system for this year regrade yet as it used to have a regrade system for MC questions. If it is not possible then you should cancel your score, but this will be your last option. The same issue happens to me. I had all 5s for my previous aps, but this year I get only 3s and 4s while I was expecting to have straight 5s.
Just don’t send scores that you don’t want schools to see. For very top schools, send 5s, don’t send 3s, and while 4s are often a discussion topic, I’d send them.
And fwiw, several top schools don’t look at APs at all in admissions, and no one puts significant weight on them. What you did over a year-long course (i.e. the grade on your transcript) is much more important than a single 2-3 hour test.
This is just another data point supporting the “self-studying for AP exams is a bad idea” advice regularly given here.
If the scores really bother you, you can take them again next year. One of our S’s friends did this for a 4! Crazy, I think, but it’s an option. (Though maybe not so crazy if you’re looking at schools that require a 5 for credit).