<p>i've heard from some people that they aren't part of the admissions process.</p>
<p>MIT says they look at the whole application. They also like to see you taking the most challenging coursework that’s available to you. </p>
<p>[MIT</a> Admissions: Recommended High School Preparation](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/recommended_high_school_preparation/index.shtml]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/recommended_high_school_preparation/index.shtml)</p>
<p>They probably pay attention to the scores too, since they ask for them on the application.</p>
<p>There are a few tricks though with evaluating AP exams. </p>
<p>Firstly, at most schools, a student takes most (or at least many) of their AP courses in their last year. Since the exams are not taken until the end of the year, that means that for most students, the AP exam scores are not available until after the admissions decision has already been made. MIT can of course look at tests that you have taken earlier, but whether these have been taken at all is usually much more a reflection of the school rather than of the student, and is therefore much less useful in evaluating the student’s accomplishments. </p>
<p>So while MIT will be able to see that a student in their last year of secondary school is enrolled in a large number of AP courses (and indeed whether these courses are offered at all is again largely out of the control of the student), and that can help in showing a commitment to taking the most challenging course load possible, the scores are less important.</p>
<p>So as I understand it, the short answer to your question is that MIT will certainly look at them, but they are much less relevant than other parts of the application. As with any question on weighting, all of this is informed speculation for anyone not actually in the MIT selection committee.</p>
<p>I have been a heavy proponent of self-studying APs and just taking the exams if your high school doesn’t have that many AP courses (mine had five). I ended up taking 14 AP exams by the time of graduation (8 by the time of application) and I think it probably had a big significance since academically it was hard for us to distinguish ourselves (we don’t have academic competitions…etc. in the international school circuit and otherwise I would only be applying to MIT with only 2 AP fives, rather than 8).</p>
<p>I would say they definitely look at it, but how much of a difference it makes depends on your school background as well.</p>
<p>Awesome. I’m self-studying AP Physics C and Calculus BC. Hoping for a 5. :D</p>