I took AP Calculus AB last year, and let’s just say I didn’t do too well. I ended up failing the exam with a 2. Math is my worst subject, and it was the first year my teacher had ever taught calculus. I think only a couple of people from the two classes passed. This isn’t an excuse, I should have done better, just how the situation panned out.
I got an 87 in the class (B) overall.
Will this destroy my chances for college applications? I’ve take four other AP classes, and I got 4’s on AP Biology, AP Human Geography, and AP Environmental Science, and an easy 5 on AP Language. Overall, not particularly impressive.
I’m applying to Cornell early decsision, and I would say that AP scores is probably the weakest area of my application. I come from a small rural town with low emphasis on higher-level classes and that only offers a third of the total AP classes. I’ll graduate with 8 of the 12 my school offers.
I’ve done well on SAT and ACT math, and am taking a dual enrollment college math class this year, but I still have that 2.
Do my AP scores basically sign my death certificate for the Ivy League?
It seems unlikely given what info I see in your post unless you have a high rank, near perfect SAT, high GPA and have an awesome hook like living on an Indian Reservation or playing on an Olympic team.
Good news is that there are lots of other good school that would love to have you and offer a great education. However, if you really want to apply then do it, people do hit jackpots.
Thanks for your honesty @WorryHurry411 . I’m 4th in my class, and got a 2290 superscored on the SAT (690 math (ugh), 800 Reading, 800 Writing). I’m taking it again before I apply as well. Yes, I’m financially disadvantaged, but not extremely so-- money is always tight, but my needs are taken care of. I actually live on a barrier island, and I’m planning to write my essay about the unique community here and how it’s given me a very differnt lifestyle from what most people experience.
Not a hook at all.
Why must the OP attend an Ivy or bust? Sounds like a student who is taking a very uncreative, uninformed, and unrealistic approach to college selection.
The good news is, AP scores probably are the least important part of your application, if they are even considered at all. AP scores are self reported on the application; just don’t report the 2. Hey, problem solved.
So, if you get rejected by Cornell or any school, it will not be because of a 2 on an AP test. Having said that, your “woe is me” attitude will do you absolutely no favors if that comes across in your essays or your recs. Good luck.
Nobody here can tell you for sure. You said you applied to Cornell ED so you will find out in December. In the meantime cast a wide net and apply to reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable when you run the net price calculator.
How the math AP and SAT are viewed depends on the role of math in your potential major. English, maybe ok, maybe don’t report the 2. Neuro? Depends on how that major is served up, what adcoms expect to see.
This thread again raises the belief stats are all that matters. Not. If you know Cornell well enough, you understand that and have matched yourself on the rest of what they look for.
Ivy competition is nutso. Lots of kids will have top gpa, the right rigor, and scores. Be sure you know enough about Cornell to a) choose it for early app and 2) decently reflect your match in your whole app/supps.
Are you an “Ivy or bust” type person? I hope not. There are a myriad of colleges that are happy to have you as a student. Why would you want to limit yourself to 8 colleges in a particular athletic conference? Widen your horizons.
^We don’t have enough information to know that. If the teacher was new to the subject and only a few people from two classes did well, I wouldn’t be so quick to make assumptions about the student. Also note this is a small rural town with limited AP offerings, and OP appears to be taking advantage of what the school offers. OP, don’t report it, focus on the rest of you app, apply to a range of schools. If Cornell accepts you, then they believe you can succeed there.
The trouble is Collegeboard doesn’t let you pick which ones to send - they send all. You can have your score cancelled however. From their site, "If you wish to cancel your score, you must send a signed, written request to AP Services by mail or fax. Your request to cancel a score from the 2016 exam administration must be received by June 15, 2016 to ensure that the score does not appear in the score report sent to the college you designated on your registration answer sheet. Please note that once a score is canceled it cannot be reinstated. For complete details and the form, visit "
@snarlatron@skieurope@moscott@Proudpatriot thank you for your input. I am definitely not an “ivy or bust” person"; this is the only Ivy I am even considering applying to. I don’t agree with that metality, and I’m also applying to multiple state and local schools.
You can also withhold the score – “You can withhold one or more scores from the college specified on your registration answer sheet (the first answer sheet you filled out) or from any other college to which you want to send a score report. The score will be withheld from any future score reports sent to that particular college. A request to withhold a score does not permanently delete your score.” Costs extra.
Regardless, for the application, official AP score reports are not needed. One can self report any/all/none on the application. Personally, I think withholding screws is a waste of money. The are sent after you decide on a college. Admissions will likely not even see them as they go to the registrar’s office for credit/placement, and the clerical processing will certainly not care if someone got a 2.
You can self-report AP scores. You do not usually have to submit official AP score reports for applications, so OP can decide which to self-report. The official reports are usually submitted/used after acceptance for class placement/credit depending on the school.