<p>I took AP Human Geography freshman year and AP World History sophomore year, and I got a B both semesters for both classes (although I was at an 89% two times :P). However, I got a 5 on both AP exams. I'm not making excuses for my grades, but I didn't have the best teacher either year :/. Will the high AP score make up for it, or show colleges that I do know the material? Has anyone else been in similar situations? Should I self report these scores when applying to colleges? Thanks</p>
<p>I’m in a similar situation. 88% first semester, 93% second semester in AP gov, but got a 5.</p>
<p>AP scores carry little to no weight in the admissions process. That said, a couple of B’s will bot torpedo your application. Where do you rank in the class?</p>
<p>@skieurope Aw ok thanks. Kind of disappointing 
But my school doesn’t rank. I’d estimate top 10% though. </p>
<p>If you’re in the top 10%, I would not even worry about it. Work on your EC’s, continue getting good grades, and when the time comes, write stellar essays.</p>
<p>@skieurope Ok thanks! I’m aiming for NYU. What would you say are good EC? I am involved with peer jury in my community, journalism, DECA, teen election advisory board (basically volunteering at elections), a good amount of community service, volunteering at the hospital and did gymnastics my fresh and soph years. I’m not planning on doing any sports this year, is that bad? </p>
<p>I think the EC’s are fine.</p>
<p>You’re fine. Just don’t get any C’s or else your ranking will be actually “bot torpedo’d” (@skieurope).</p>
<p>@skieurope Actually, APs do matter somewhat. I don’t know why you’re going around telling everyone that it doesn’t.</p>
<p>It shows that you fully understand the material (at a college level) and excelled (if you get a 5). It demonstrates that you are ready and capable enough to adjust to university. Of course, if you take 13 AP courses, it just seems as if you have nothing better to do with your life; however, if you are able to take AP courses in your potential field of study (eg. going into sciences and taking AP Physics, AP Chem etc), admission officers will see that you are genuinely interested in what you want to do and do exceptionally well in it as well. </p>
<p>APs won’t make or break an application, but they do carry some weight.</p>
<p>@HvePassion Rigor of coursework is one of the most important aspects of a college application. That being said, even if a particular AP course is not related to one’s prospective major, yet is offered at the school and seems to be manageable for the student, then they should by all means take it. Taking “13 AP courses” will NEVER look bad. </p>
<p>@crystal19 By all means, taking 13 APs by itself will not look bad. However, realistically, how much time would one have to dedicate to extracurriculars (especially ones with leadership positions) and volunteering if he/she were to be taking 8 or 9 AP courses?</p>
<p>I know people say that GPA, class rank, course rigor, stats are important – and they are. But at the end, it’s about YOU. Admission officers want to see potential in you – the potential to make it big and thus boost the university’s prestige. Therefore, I personally stand by the belief that a clearly demonstrated passion and leadership are the most important factors for admissions success. </p>
<p>@HvePassion I never said that AP’s do not matter. Having AP courses on your schedule will enhance the rigor of your schedule. You want to have the GC check off the most rigorous box on the Secondary School Report on the Common App. AP’s also allow the applicant to potentially earn college credit, and AP’s somewhat give the applicant a view into the pace of college-level coursework.</p>
<p>What I have said, and will continue to say, is that AP scores carry little to no weight in the admissions process. Not all HS’s offer AP’s. Those that do offer different selections. A college is going to view an applicant based upon what is available at the particular school. Additionally, few colleges require scores in advance of acceptance. The AP scores are self-reported; SAT/ACT scores need to be sent from the source.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, and I agree with you, it is all about you.</p>
<p>@skieurope For reference, I am an international student from Canada and attend an ordinary public high school that offers neither AP nor IB. However, our school, for the past few years, has been able to regularly send at least 3+ students to Ivies and Top 20 universities (mostly Berkeley). Not to mention, all of the Ivy aspirants in my grade (around 10?) have self studied 3-5 APs this year. Same goes students who go to other public schools. Perhaps this is where my notion of the importance of AP scores was conceived. </p>
<p>My friend who now attends the Jerome Fisher program at UPenn once told me that, “If you received a 4 in every AP (junior year) that you took, then you’re not going to an Ivy.” This sort of thinking is generally prevalent amongst my peers as well. The fact is, especially for international students, top tiered schools will still be comparing you with the general applicant pool (that probably will have taken an array of APs and achieved 5s in most of them) and you need to be competitive to stand a chance. </p>
<p>I do concede that my perspective may not be in line with American high school students, and again, this is just my candid opinion on AP scores. </p>
<p><a href=“2014 AP Exam Score Distributions”>2014 AP Exam Score Distributions;
<p>You do realize that AP HG is very easy and 11% of takers got a 5 which if putting it on a grading scale, it would be equal to all B+ students get 5. </p>
<p>@long2181998 So the people who got 3s are generally averaging out to 50/100 year grades in their APHG class, and people who get 4s are barely passing with a 69-70 average?</p>
<p>Do all students with a 52+ average in Calc BC get 5s?</p>
<p>No, just like how not all 93.5+ average kids get a 5 on AP Bio, but not all kids who get a 5 on AP Bio are 93.5+ average students.</p>