I got a 1590 on my SAT (790 reading and writing, 800 math) but I only got a 15 (6,4,5) on the essay. I also took it back in January and got a 1510 and 12. I know I would be crazy to take it again but how bad does the essay score affect me? My grades for my English classes are all A’s and I took AP Lit and got a 5. Is that enough to signal to colleges that I’m not a bad writer or do I need to do something else?
I don’t think it will affect you much because your reading and writing score is very high. That being said, your essay score is a little low, but your composite is very high and you seem to have a strong academic background. What grade are you in? I suggest taking a SAT Subject test in Literature if you have time. The AP Exam will have little to no weight.
Most schools don’t even require the essay anymore, so if you don’t want to send it, don’t send it. That being said, if one or more of your schools do require the essay, I wouldn’t stress about it too much. Your reading and writing score as well as your AP score (I disagree with student0517, I think the AP score does count for something in the eyes of the admission offices!) are high enough that the committees might be able to see past your essay score. That is especially true if your Common App and supplemental essays are stellar. I wouldn’t worry about it 
@elena83 I don’t think it works that way. You can’t just not send your essay scores. When you send a score, you send the whole score from that sitting date. Even if you do score choice, the school gets all three scores. They just consider the highest of each section.
That being said, so many schools don’t want the essay. Each school will state its policy on its website. Just check. Send the 1590 and don’t worry about them seeing the essay score (even in the unlikely chance that they even require the essay score.)