<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I am new to this site. I will be a senior next year and i just got back my AP scores. Just wondering . . . how important are they for acceptance to Harvard? </p>
<p>Are 4's okay?</p>
<p>Opinions?</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Well, you dont have to actually send your scores to colleges but im sure top colleges like Harvard would want to see them. </p>
<p>4's are ok, they wont have any impact, positively or negatively, on your application.</p>
<p>A string of 5's would look good and would help your app. </p>
<p>I think in the next few years AP scores will be more influential in college admission since it is standardized and it can be a useful tool to assess the difficulty of a school when the AP score is compared to a student's grade in the AP class.</p>
<p>Gidean1: Actually, admissions officers are already using AP and SAT II scores to assess the difficulty of a school! A 4 does have an impact in that it shows a strong grasp of the material and also you can actually take a college-like final under time pressure. In terms of Advanced Standing, a 4 won't count, but for admissions purposes, which is what we are talking about, it is a stellar score. A string of 5's will help you, but if you don't have it (and I certainly didn't, considering my high school had very few APs), it is perfectly OK.</p>
<p>AP scores are the first thing they look at when they evaluate how well they think you'll perform in college with a college curriculum. 4 isn't bad, but 5 is better. good job on the 4's!!</p>
<p>I was accepted and I only had 4's...on only three tests...don't stress the AP tests so much, especially if your high school isn't amazing and there aren't other people pulling like six 5's a year or something =D</p>
<p>I wonder what colleges would think if you got a 4 on the AP Test but got a C+ in the AP class. </p>
<p>Or if you got a 5 on the test but a B in the AP Class.</p>
<p>hey, thanks guys for your replies. They have been very helpful and encouraging.</p>
<p>Hahaha J Li Is Talkin About Me :)</p>
<p>"AP scores are the first thing they look at when they evaluate how well they think you'll perform in college with a college curriculum"</p>
<p>this is wrong</p>
<p>I believe they help.</p>
<p>How about a 3? I took regular USH (the only USH course the school offers - small school) but self-studied for the AP. My time periods were really off that day when I took the test. The thing is, I am considering taking it again next year (maybe). But should I put down the 3 on my application?</p>
<p>imfromiowa, i only said that because i heard Fitzsimmons say it; that they look at AP, SAT II, SAT I, and GPA, in that order, to judge how well they think you'd do. maybe i heard it wrong but that's the way i interpreted it.</p>
<p>Uh, I don't think they would view GPA last. (Although I wish they did, I have all 5's but lots of B's in my AP classes. STUPID GRADE DEFLATION)</p>
<p>that's just what i heard him say, and that GPA was last because different schools have such different levels of difficulty and ways of grading; it is less standardized. it is still, of course, extremely important though.</p>
<p>Boston, I hope you're right about them looking at SAT II's and AP's first. My school has grade deflation as well</p>
<p>i've always heard that like "the transcript is the most important part of the application", so im guessing GPA is extremely important</p>
<p>AP scores really don't matter, unless they are really inconsistent with class grades (like an A or B with a 1 or 2).</p>
<p>Why do you argue about Harvard admissions policy with [Harvard] students who have heard the policy itself from Harvard's [former] Dean of Admissions? Upon what do you stand?</p>
<p>Umm sonar, regardless of what <em>some</em> Harvard students <em>heard</em> from Harvard's <em>former</em> Dean of Admissions, IT'S COMMON KNOWLEDGE that AP scores only matter for placement and not for admissions. However, if you have like a string of 4's and 5's, AP scores do help you SOMEWHAT for admissions, but they still NEVER hurt you. What people on this thread are implying is that if you haven't taken any AP exams, then you have no chance to get admitted to Harvard, which is entirely false because AP tests are clearly stated as being OPTIONAL on all college applications. AP scores aren't even listed as a mere FACTOR anywhere on lists of characteristics considered for various colleges in different guides. Please don't feed CC posters with false information.</p>
<p>If you don't have evidence to back up your claim, then you're better of not making it.;)</p>
<p>
[quote]
What people on this thread are implying is that if you haven't taken any AP exams, then you have no chance to get admitted to Harvard
[/quote]
Where are this implications?
[quote]
AP tests are clearly stated as being OPTIONAL on all college applications
[/quote]
I have neither seen "optional" or "required."
[quote]
AP scores do help you SOMEWHAT for admissions, but they still NEVER hurt you
[/quote]
5 1s won't hurt someone?
[quote]
IT'S COMMON KNOWLEDGE
[/quote]
Among whom? Over-anxious teenagers? I'd take my chances with those who make the decisions.
[quote]
If you don't have evidence to back up your claim, then you're better of not making it.
[/quote]
I couldn't have said it better!</p>
<p>The problem is that you make a great fallacy. It's silly to list AP averages in guides, because AP is not standard in schools. The number of AP classes available and even if AP is offered varies from school to school. However, everyone is required to take the SAT/ACT. Everyone is required to take three SAT IIs.</p>
<p>The fact is this: you don't know. Listen to those who make the decisions!</p>