How is it generally perceived at selective schools if I choose not to self-report SAT & AP scores, and instead merely send official reports? Does doing so incur a negative outlook on my application? I’m currently planning on applying to Harvard REA.
many colleges require the official reports and pay no attention to what is self reported.
you’ll be fine not self reporting your scores, as long as you make SURE the colleges HAVE recieved the official reports.
AFAIK, no college requires official reports for AP scores with the application. Harvard for sure does not. That said, if an AP course appears on your transcript and no AP score is reported, an AO may wonder why, and a phone call/email to the GC is not unheard of.
As mentioned above, SAT scores can be self reported if you wish, but AO’s will really only look at the official score report.
On a related note, I’m genuinely confused as to the role AP scores play in admissions. For example, to what extent will reporting a 3 on an exam freshman year and another from this year affect my admissions chances? If I do report, and it seems like that would be ideal, I’d report both - just curious as to their influence.
Colleges, like H, DO like to see that you have taken rigorous classes and AP classes, if offered, can serve that purpose. Reporting your AP test scores can help confirm your understanding [ or lack thereof] of the course material that was taught.
Since there is a wide range in how HS students are graded- some schools are tough, others easy-, an standardized AP test score can be a double check when admissions officers are evaluating how well you actually did in a class, compared to other students from other HS’s.
But since they are not required they do not carry nearly as much weight as your HS transcript, standardized tests scores, teacher evaluations and what you did or accomplished outside of the classroom.
Of the thousands who make it past first cut, most will have top stats and rigor, 4 and 5 on AP exams, top SAT/ACT. As ski said, they can wonder why you didn’t report, especially for courses related to your major.
Of course adcoms can want to see your scores. Why wouldn’t they? There’s such fierce competition at tippy tops that every piece has to meet expectations.
It’s fine to self-report AP scores, but you will have to send the official reports once accepted. If you say you got 4 and 5 on everything and then send a 3, that is grounds for rescindance. My kid had eight AP scores. She self-reported the three 5’s she got as a junior. The others couldn’t be reported, of course, so once she had all of her scores back, she sent them on to the college she enrolled at. Did they check her app to ensure that the self reported scores were as she claimed? I don’t know, but why take that chance? If you self-report, just be sure you are being honest about it.
What matters more is the grade you get in the class, especially for APs taken in senior year.
I’ve heard exactly the opposite of what’s being said here. APs in no way affect an application. They are for placement only and, if you look at what’s required for applications, no school asks for AP test scores. If you report them, you may be forced to use them to skip classes and especially in the math and sciences, this could be a bad move. I’ve seen a number of kids get a 4 or 5 on BC Calc and then be told they have to skip the first two quarters of Calc in the college…and many of those kids do very poorly.
If, on the other hand, a given score will place a student completely out of a requirement (like maybe a 5 on a foreign language AP), then reporting the score makes sense.
I’m not sure yet if we will report AP test scores for S19. I’m sure we will have different decisions for each college depending on how they use the scores.
You are not forced to use AP scores you self reported on an application. That goes to Admissions.
The official score report goes to the registrar.
There is NO reason to send an official AP score report to any school prior to SIR.
@VickiSoCal Thanks, I understand that now. Originally I meant more in regards to not self-reporting at all, or selectively self-reporting, of which I’m still wondering what the consequences are. @Lindagaf, are you referring to choosing not to report a three, or misreporting a three as a higher score? Do you mean, by it being ‘fine’, that not reporting at all wouldn’t be detrimental?
The advice we were given by our CC was only to self report 4 and 5 scores. These are generally seen as a net positive on the application.
Personally, I don’t know anyone who was forced into a higher level class as a result of disclosing a good AP score although I know lots of kids who repeated classes, particularly in their major, if they had 5s to be sure they had the foundation their school expected. I wouldn’t let the fear of being forced into a higher level class make me hide this accomplishment unless i were a shoo in for admission and merit at a particular school.
I guess in this regard everyone is divided. @gardenstategal 4 and 5 scores may be net positives, but is choosing not to report certain scores seen as a negative?
Sorry for all my questions, I have neither a CC nor a counselor who provides college advice.
It’s not detrimental to self report, but do you self report a three to Harvard? I wouldn’t. But if you self report the fours and fives in all the other AP classes you took in other high school years, yes, they might wonder you didn’t report the three. You can’t falsely report. It’s fine to self report, but you need to consider what I just said when choosing to self-report.
I am guessing you got a three in something. You have to make a judgement call. Did you get several others that are fours and fives? In your shoes, I would want Harvard to know about those. I would report them. I wouldn’t report a three. But unless you cancel a particular AP, you will have to send all the scores to Harvard. Even if you cancel it, you will still have, I assume, a good grade in the class. If you are accepted, you don’t have to send scores until you matriculate. They wouldn’t rescind you for a three, but yes, they might wonder during the admissions process why you didn’t submit it. But you don’t ever have to send them if you don’t want credit or placement, unless Harvard says you must send all scores you self report. It’s your decision.
There is no harm in reporting 4s and 5s and not 3s. This was what our CC advised all students.
Some students don’t take the exams.
Colleges might guess that you didn’t do as well in that exam but they might guess you didn’t take it. This is why you should report the good news.
I also concur with reporting a 4 or 5, but not a 3. Not all kids end up taking all of the AP exams - my D skipped one, but reported the ones she did take. Did not seem to harm her in admissions.
“I’ve heard exactly the opposite of what’s being said here. APs in no way affect an application. They are for placement only and, if you look at what’s required for applications, no school asks for AP test scores. If you report them, you may be forced to use them to skip classes and especially in the math and sciences, this could be a bad move. I’ve seen a number of kids get a 4 or 5 on BC Calc and then be told they have to skip the first two quarters of Calc in the college…and many of those kids do very poorly.”
I have never heard of this. I don’t see how a school can “force” someone to take a higher level class. As mentioned above, even someone who scores a 5 may want to retake the course in college to make sure the foundation is very solid. I think colleges would be just fine with that.
@gardenstategal I think that’s probably true. Our S19 didn’t take his AP Computer Science test. He got an A in the class but absolutely hated it and we knew he wouldn’t use the credit for anything. Add that to the fact that he was borderline A-/B+ before finals in most of his classes and his GC help him decide to focus on studying for finals and not spending time on that AP test. S19 was so stressed out by the end of the year and really needed to do well on his finals so it was better to focus on those. The look on his face when the GC told him to bag that test was telling. He was so relieved. And was able to buckle down for the next three weeks and pull all As in his classes.
Next year, almost all of his AP classes (with the exception of BC Calc) have projects or papers for finals. Kids take the AP test in May and then turn those projects in as a “final”. So much less stressful than taking a final test. He will take all of his AP tests. We will figure out what to self report later.
Difference is OP has asked about Ivies, in the past. I work for a school that looks for them.
It’s entirely different to say official reports are only sent in for clsss credit vs that adcoms want to see how well you actually did in the standardized AP exam.
It’s one thing to not report that exam that bears little on your possible major. Sure, eg, some stem kids may not report that FL number. But not reporting for a stem subject ypu took would only raise questions.
No, a tippy top doesn’t just assume you didn’t know to include it (oopsie) or didn’t take it. After all, this is high stakes. 10 other kids (or 100 or 1000) are showing their 4s and 5s.
Yes, a 3 can be an issue, for a tippy top. This isn’t your hs, it’s for college admissions. Your hs may be satisfied with your grade; the TT is trying to predict strengths going forward, for their 4 years. Again, in a fiercely competitive context.
See how this thread is advising/opining , without even knowing OP’s plans, targets, the possible major and what classes this question relates to?
Tell us more, OP.
@suzy100 Maybe I’ve just come across families who didn’t know any better…and didn’t consider starting the calculus sequence from the start. Their children got high scores on the AP and the colleges told them they placed out of two quarters of calc and the student just went with that. I don’t think they had any warning from the colleges that this might not be the best idea. Whether they were forced or not counseled correctly, I’m not sure. Either way, it’s best to be informed on what it would be like to pass out of classes and what the consequences could be. And I hear a lot of talk on CC about passing out of classes and being excited to get the credit…maybe even to use that to graduate early. Not always the best move. But I digress…
Certainly if the OP has good AP scores and is shooting high, he should report the best scores.
Mostly I just know kids who weren’t required to take anymore math. Many, many majors require no more math after one or two semesters of Calc.
Can’t “pass out” of a class til admitted. Only after the admit can the issue of credit or not take place. Separate.
Of course, there can be situations where a kid is so advanced that repeating an intro course makes no sense. If you’re in college math, why repeat calc 1? But that’s individual.
Again, it’s not just omitting 3 scores, when they relate to the hoped-for major. Sorry but yes, that 3 in a subject related to your major may mean finding a different tier than Harvard.