I took AP Environmental Science and AP Language & Composition during my junior year, but my scores aren’t as great as I hoped them to be. I’m honestly really disappointed with how they turned out, and I’d just like to know if you HAVE to submit your AP scores if you took the class at school. Will a lack of AP scores (some, not all) negatively affect your application?
If it helps, I’m taking AP Lit, AP Stats, and AP Psychology this year.
(I’m okay with my AP Lang score, but the AP Enviro one makes me want to scream and cry at the same time…if you know what I mean.)
I’d like to know the same thing as well. I asked my school counselor, and she said that it wouldn’t because you’ve still taken the AP class. However you might not have that extra advantage over someone that has taken the same class and reported a passing score.
On the Common App, reporting AP scores is voluntary; you can report all/some/none. AP scores carry little to no weight in the admissions process; they are mainly used for credit and/or placement. If your class appears on your transcript as AP, I’d recommend reporting your score, particularly if you scored a 3+. Withholding scores may cause the AO to assume that:
• Financial hardship prevented you from taking the exam
• You were not motivated enough to take the exam
• You took the exam and performed poorly (1 or 2)
The first one will not affect your application; the last 2 may raise an eyebrow. AO’s can, and have, contacted GC’s to explain why there are no AP scores reported on the application.
@skieurope - I passed the AP Lang exam, but I received a 1 for AP Enviro. I have reasons for scoring so poorly, but I know colleges won’t look at excuses so I suppose this doesn’t matter.
Would it be better for me to report my 1 for AP Enviro or ignore that and only submit my AP Lang score?