<p>Hi, I'm a junior who's about to take AP tests soon, as well as SAT, and SAT IIs. As you can see, I have my hands full already with SATs in May, and 3 SAT IIs in June to prepare for. I wanna know if the top colleges care about AP tests. I only have 2 AP classes this year. I know I'll be taking US History. But the other class, AP Stats, I'm not so sure about. I have a really bad teacher, and I might as well have learned the entire course myself. So I'm not really confident if I'll do well on it. And the tests are like $80, so I don't know if its worth my while to take one and get a 3 on it. Also, I just discovered that the tests will be right before SAT in May. US History is actually the day before. Anyway, my point is, do colleges factor in AP tests in the admission process? If they do, I guess I'll get started on 5 hours of every night.</p>
<p>njchino371 - At my son's high school if you don't take the AP test and have taken the AP course you fail the class. We are lucky though that they will pay for the test if you get a 4 or a 5. Maybe you ought to check with your teacher. It's amazing how many schools do everything so differenty. Good luck!</p>
<p>Also, forgot. Yes colleges look at the scores. Some will give you college credit for scores of 4 or 5's which is great. Every college does it differently, but I think that my son's college next year doesn't (school is in the top 50 universities).</p>
<p>Yes!</p>
<p>Many persons always complain about how the SAT is a poor indicator of intelligence, only tests a student's ability to take a test, and so forth.</p>
<p>Can't say that about AP exams.</p>
<p>mominsearch... that is illegal what your school is doing... Unless it is a private school of course. I would check into that. It is illegal for any school to put negative consequences unpon students who take tests unless they pay for the test no matter what.
Also, your son's college should take the credit for 4 or 5. I am going to a top 40 college and they take it (Already have credit for Government, Economics (I will have to talk to AA because AP Guide says both Micro and Macro), and Calc. They also use it for placement as well. Example in Calc in that I get placed in an honors sequence and get credit depending on grade
Also, some colleges ask you to put your scores on your app. They do put some consideration. For example if you got an A in the class and a 3 on the exam it will be reflected negatively. If you got a C in the class and a 5 on the exam it could either be taken that you are a slacker (will probably look at other grades) or that the class was very tough and give you positive credit.</p>
<p>They care for admissions purposes, but don't expect that they will all be transferred for college credits.</p>
<p>I'm going to Stanford next year and I give you this advice - up to senior year, take all of your exams because they look GOOD on college apps. You don't have to get a 5 on everything. Senior year, take AP classes because colleges want to see you challenged. However, after I was admitted, I discovered that Stanford doesn't take credit for 3/4 of the tests I was planning to take. So, I'm not taking them.</p>
<p>Two of my kids (so far) have gotten into a top ten college and a top ten U. WITHOUT sending AP scores. The scores were fine and they sent them later for placement.</p>
<p>i got into williams college without any ap score..</p>
<p>Many schools consider performance on APs to be the best indicator of performance in college. And, keep in mind that many applicants you'll be competing with next year will have already taken 3 or more AP test. What SAT IIs are you taking? If you're doing US History, then definitely take History AP, since they're nearly the same (i hear the multiple choice is easier on AP than SAT II as well). Also, you can always retake SAT I and/or IIs next year, whereas if you don't take the APs now, you're out of luck.
I didn't take AP US History test last year, after having taken the class, and i really wish I would've. I understand how you feel tho - i was in kinda a stressful, busy time, didn't think I'd be able to study enough (which i'm sure i wouldn't have been). I don't know, I just wish I would have tried.</p>
<p>I second jellybean's comment! I wish Stanford gave more IB / Ap credit though.</p>