<p>Don't get me wrong, I'm taking 4 AP classes and I love all of the knowledge I'm gaining from them, but I simply won't need some of the college credit for my major ( or even GE requirements ). For example, I am an A student in AP physics 1 and AP computer science, but I'd rather not pay $150 just to put a good score on my application. Are colleges understanding if you don't want to take the exams? Or do I have to waste space in my essays explaining why my only AP tests are humanities-related (major) ?</p>
<p>No you don’t have to. There are programs (at least I know my school has them) that help students pay for their examinations.</p>
<p>The only way to prove to colleges that you have mastered the “college level” curriculum is with an AP exam. I have to pay for 7 this year! The cost has risen from 51$ a few years ago to 92$ Thats crazy></p>
<p>Of course, it just occured to me, what my son has done every year, is take the Subject tests($17) for each subject, and many schools give credit for those if you have high scores. It’s a good, cheaper way to take the tests. For less than the price of one test you can take 3.</p>
<p>I don’t think this needs to be explained at all, but it (almost certainly) doesn’t belong in your essays. If you want to mention it somewhere, use the Additional Information section on the Common App.</p>
<p>@zbd5421 great idea! I had no idea subject tests were so cheap. Thanks.</p>
<p>Have you tried requesting a fee waiver for these tests if it’s such a financial burden on you and your family?</p>
<p>Additionally AP scores are not a big part(and probably not even a small part) of the admissions process, however it does effect your HS’s ranking(part of how its rank is calculated is a combination of the #of students who take AP test and #of students who pass). Otherwise if it’s really such a big deal to you then you can just not take them as you originally planned. </p>