<p>Alright, so here's the deal: I'm taking three AP classes and my teachers recommend taking the exam in May. But by then, I will have already sent in my letter of intent to one lucky university, so its not like its going to help in gaining admission. So is there even a point in taking them if I'm not looking to replace college credit, for colleges like Ivy League, which don't accept AP credit? Also, will the score that I receive affect my admissions four years from now when I apply to med school or grad school? (Like will those med or grad school adcoms have access to my low AP scores?) Thanks for all of your input! And if you are a senior in hs, state whether or not you're taking AP exams and why?</p>
<p>Bumpity bump bump</p>
<p>I'm a senior and I'm taking AP tests this May. Most of my schools give placement for good scores rather than credit, but I think they're worth taking to get some flexibility and avoid some of the larger intro courses.</p>
<p>Check out what your colleges' policies are for AP tests. If they offer credit, definitely take the tests. If they offer placement, I would personally still take them for the flexibility and to get out of the biggest classes. Of course, if they only offer placement for very high scores, ask your teacher how he/she predicts you will score. It may not be worth the money.</p>
<p>I have no idea if grad schools look at AP scores, but I doubt it. They would likely care much more about how you did in your advanced college classes in that field. Plus, I don't think a med school will care if you got a 2 in AP Music Theory, for example.</p>
<p>Why do you think the Ivies do not give credit? Yale gives some, not alot, but some. Are your AP scores that bad? I will be taking 6 AP tests this spring and took 5 last spring. At some of the schools I applied to I can get as many as 24 semester hours in credit. The other reason I am taking the exams is that at my HS most teachers have a policy that if you do not take the AP Exam then you must take a final exam for the class. If you take the AP you are exempt from the final. I would much rather take the AP exam then the final even thought this is really just a way for the school to get their stats up. Also, as a senior we get out 8 days before the underclassmen and if I had to take the finals I would have to attend some of those 8 days. Now I can hang out by the pool with my friends and just wait for graduation.</p>
<p>bumpity bump bump</p>
<p><a href="Like%20will%20those%20med%20or%20grad%20school%20adcoms%20have%20access%20to%20my%20low%20AP%20scores?">quote</a>
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My college lists IB/AP credit on transcripts, although the actual scores are not listed.</p>
<p>I was required to take IB/AP exams in high school. If you didn't, your final grade was dropped a letter grade. Besides, we got out of school for them and were exempt from finals. :)</p>
<p>bumpity bump bump is my word
:P</p>
<p>It's not like taking the tests will hurt you.</p>
<p>My teacher let me know that they are a money waste and it's better for your GPA and for your knowledge reinforcement to just take the classes in college...don't take any AP exams</p>
<p>Your AP teacher said it's a waste of money? Geez!</p>
<p>I disagree 100%. My singular regret as a HS senior accepted to all colleges I applied was the laziness that hit me come AP test time. I was enrolle in 5 AP classes in 12th grade. I took none of the exams b/c I thought I had worked my tail off for over 3.5 years in a rigorous HS pgm -- I'm going to my 1st choice Ivy school -- doggone it! I deserve a break!</p>
<p>Well whether I deserved one or not, I regretted not taking them. Here's why:</p>
<p>1) between now and May, you will be the MOST qualified to take these exams in your whole life probably. For instance, preparing for your AP Econ or AP Bio, you're about at full as capacity for that information come May than you'll be at the end of your 1st semester at college when you're staring at that Econ 115 Final or Bio 110 Final exam. Believe me, you'll forget a LOT this summer.</p>
<p>2) If you don't take the APs, you might be offered placement exams at college to place you in advanced or intermediate classes. You're sharper in May than you'll be in late August. I finished my 4th year in French at HS. In August as a pre-frosh, I had to don a headset and speak into a mic as part of my placement -- I'm just LUCKY I didn't get sent back down to a more beginning level French class. Cranking out the APs now will alleviate you of having to prove yourself in placement classes in college, for themost part.</p>
<p>3) With accepted AP credits under your belt, you'll have MANY more options to alter your study course. If you want to take a semester in London, Rome, Hong Kong or Rio or Jakarta, you won't have to worry about taking a full courseload and get to enjoy your abroad study more. I would have loved to have been overseas one summer or one semester. By not having AP credits, I wouldn't have graduated with my friends -- I wasn't going to let that happen so I omitted a valuable semester elsewhere.</p>
<p>Logisiticslord: It's a sad message that your teacher tells you to focus on GPA rather than challenging yourself with the most vigorous and interesting classes available at school. Sure take Algebra! Very poor advice. Ignore him/her.</p>
<p>bump .</p>