How bad is a 3?

<p>Not sure if I'm posting this in the right forum, but how bad is a 3 on an AP test, anyway? Someone on another board said it would be enough to automatically disqualify you from the upper Ivies, which sounds way harsh to me. What are your thoughts on this?</p>

<p>don't worry about it</p>

<p>I feel like a jackass</p>

<p>A three means you know enough stuff to be competent in a first year college level course in the subject. You're fine.</p>

<p>Even a 1 or a 2 will not have an effect on your college admissions decision. The admin folks understand a lot better that one test is not indicative of you than the folks on these boards.</p>

<p>a "3" might not get you credit at most ivies (i.e. in most cases you won't place out of a class w/ that score), but it shouldn't hinder your acceptance chances...</p>

<p>^ what she (he?) said...</p>

<p>I was really worried about this too. I have 2300 SAT, 780 and 760 SATIIs, but out of four AP tests I have two 4's and two 3's. I was worried that this alone would be enough to DQ me from my top schools, since everyone on here basically has like, fifteen 5's and maybe one or two 4's. I would be much relieved if what arachnophobia12 and BigIs said is true.</p>

<p>What they said.</p>

<p>A 3 is fine. Even UCLA, accepts 3s for credit.</p>

<p>They won't see it, unless the school asks for it.</p>

<p>I know Princeton asks for your scores in its supplement... possible Harvard, etc...</p>

<p>a 3 is not bad, but several 3's aren't.</p>

<p>The score distributions are available on the CB site for the tests taken in 2007. In general, approximately 50% received a score of 3 or higher in most subjects. A score of 5 is "extremely well qualified, 4 is "well qualified", 3 is "qualified", 2 is "possibly qualified" and 1 is "no recommendation." Remember, these are not equivalent to a grading scale of A, B, C, D, and F as students taking AP courses are self selecting.</p>

<p>One exception was Calc BC in which more than 40% received 5's. and 80% received a score of 3 or better.</p>

<p>dude a 3 is fine -- quit worrying and get out</p>

<p>a 3 is pretty much like a 0</p>

<p>Depends on which subject, i dont think if your major is science the colleges will care if you get a 3 on social science exam, or at LEAST that is my opinion</p>

<p>3 is like Average</p>

<p>You can just omit it on you commonapp because AP results are self-reported. Only after you're accepted do unis ask for an official score report from CB. Remember though, if you take 5 AP classes, put results for 4 APs, unis will wonder why there is no fifth result. Keep that in mind.</p>