Do AP scores matter?

How much do AP scores really matter when applying to colleges? I know you get college credit for good scores, but in an admissions standpoint does it really matter if someone doesn’t submit their scores? For instance, this year I’m taking 3 AP classes (art history, latin, and apush). if I end up not submitting any of these scores, what would happen? (im looking to apply at fairly competitive schools like uva, wake forest, w&l, davidson, etc.) Thanks!

Not particularly but if they are all 4 and 5 doesn’t hurt to report. Only matters for schools that only accept a certain score to allow for credit and or waive taking a class/ requirement

I think scores could matter if they are very low, particularly if you have a high GPA in the class. For example, if you have a 4.0 in APUSH and get a 1 or 2 on the exam, that would probably raise some red flags with the admissions folks regarding grade inflation. If you have a high GPA in a class and don’t report your AP score, that could raise some red flags too.

Fret not…colleges are much more concerned about your grades in those classes as opposed to the AP tests.

Why is that?

  1. Doing well in a class shows you can learn over the year and work hard over a period of time. That is what they want in college.
  2. Not all HS have many APs.
  3. Many people take AP tests senior year which is too late for admissions

For example, Stanford says:
Students currently enrolled in AP courses are not required to submit AP scores as part of our admission process. AP scores that are reported are acknowledged but rarely play a significant role in the evaluation of an application. Grades earned over the course of a term, or a year, and evaluations from instructors who can comment on classroom engagement provide us with the most detailed insight into a student’s readiness for the academic rigors of Stanford.
http://admission.stanford.edu/basics/selection/prepare.html