Hello. I am currently a Junior at my high school. I took AP European History last year as a Sophomore but I failed the AP Test and got a 2 on it (which is very embarrassing for me and I am very mad at myself for that). However, I got an A in that class so I was wondering how that will affect me when I am applying for college (I plan on applying for UC Berkeley).
My mom wants me to take 10 APs by the end of my high school career. But I don’t know if AP Euro would be included in those 10 APs if that makes sense. Would AP Euro be able to be included as one of those 10 APs that I plan on taking by the end of my high school career?
Sorry if the question doesn’t make too much sense or isn’t that clear. I am not sure how to word it any other way.
A 2 on the AP exam is not a failure. It is just a score that isn’t likely to get you college credit anywhere. A 0 would be a failure.
When you apply to college, if you feel like it you can self-report some, all or none of the AP scores you already have. After you are accepted, and decide where you want to study, if the scores you have will earn you credit or advanced placement, or get you a specific course waiver, then you have those specific scores sent to the place you are going to attend.
You took the AP Euro class. You got an A in it. That is what appears on your HS transcript and is what will matter for college admissions.
Sit down with your mom, and look at the list of exams and scores that will qualify you for credit or advanced placement or a course waiver at UC Berkeley. Check that information for other places you might apply. Then plan your exams accordingly. If the exam score you expect to get won’t give you any credit/placement/waiver, and the exam isn’t specifically required by your high school as part of that class’s requirements, then you can focus on the class itself, and skip taking the exam.
UCs only count eight semesters or four full year classes for honors/AP when they calculate their GPA for admission (and only 10th and 11th). AP Euro in 10th is totally fine, and you can take 10 or even 20 APs but again only four count for the UCs. And the other selective schools really only look for 6-7.
AP Scores are not used in the admissions decisions for the UC’s. They are only used to determine if you will receive college course credit. That said, @theloniusmonk is correct that the UC’s calculate their UC GPA based on 10-11th grades and will cap the extra honors points in the calculation to 8 semesters of UC approved Honors and AP courses, however, UCLA and UCB also state they will use the uncapped weighted UC GPA so this means an unlimited # of semesters of AP credit for 10-11th grades.
There is no magic # of AP’s to take to get into the top UC’s. Much will depend upon how many AP courses are offered at your HS and what is considered a rigorous course schedule at your HS.
My suggestion is to take the AP classes that you think you will do well in and that you will enjoy.
Here is the AP credit list for UCB: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/exam-credit/ap-credits/
Does that mean that only AP classes that you take I’m 10th and 11th grade count? Or does AP classes that I take in 12th grade count as well?
By the time of application, you would not have the final grades from senior AP classes except for some semester courses and if you apply in the second semester. AP score has little weight in admission as official score report is not required. Nevertheless, having a score 2 but with an A in class may suggest grade inflation.
Pretty sure that you could sign up and retake the AP Euro exam this May if you want - just another option. May be worth seeing which colleges on your target list would give you credit for a 3 which is doable with some study - 4 could be a challenge given your previous 2.
Only AP classes taken 10-11th grades count for the UC GPA calculation but you will list your Senior courses in the UC application so the schools will see your HS course rigor. AP scores will not be used in your admission decision and you only send your score report to the school you plan to attend. You self-report AP scores on the UC application so anything below a 3 does not have to be reported.
- Dont’ take AP courses you are not ready for
- Getting an A in the class is more important than the AP score
- Colleges don’t really use AP results for admissions…they use it for credits
- AP classes are rigorous and it is good to take them, but concentrate on taking as many as you can do well in.
If you aren’t happy with your score and are willing to try. You can retake AP tests.