Do AP scores matter?

[halcyonheather]

<p>

Why don’t selective schools care about AP scores for admission? I thought that was the whole point?

AP tests are designed for getting college credit. They must matter a little or there wouldn’t be a section for them on the Common App, but their purpose isn’t really related to admissions and colleges don’t need to use them because they have plenty of other information to go by. Your high school transcript shows how you performed relative to other people at your school. Your SAT scores show how you performed relative to people from other schools. SAT Subject Tests demonstrate your knowledge (or lack thereof) in specific subjects. </p>

<p>I mean, an A in an AP class and a 2 on the test that would indicate grade inflation at your school, but colleges can’t punish you for that.</p>

<p>

They’re self-reported on the Common App (you don’t have AP scores sent from the College Board until after you’ve been admitted, and that’s if you want college credit) and you don’t have to self-report them if you don’t want to.

For the record, I’m only really talking about US colleges. Some colleges outside the United States require that US applicants take AP tests and submit their scores.</p>