Is it worth it to report 4's?

Applying to College
1

Hi!

So I’m a rising senior who is beginning the college application process. I’m wondering what I should do for AP score reporting.

I attend an IB school with no AP classes offered. I have three 5’s in a foreign language as well as the two English tests, and three 4’s in Calculus BC, Stats, and a science. I’m planning on applying as an English major.

My college advisor as well as my parents have told me not to report the 4’s, since there are tons of kids who have eight or ten 5’s on their AP exams. However, I do want to mention my AP Scholar with Distinction award on my application, so in that case I would have to report the scores.

I’m applying to top schools like Stanford, MIT, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

I don’t mean to come off as pretentious at all, I’d just really like more opinions on what I should do.

Thanks!

2

A 4 is a great score and well above the average. I’d say to report them, especially as you’re saying you are an AP Scholar with Distinction.

3

Did you take the tests after a course in school or self-study?

4

@CHD2013 I self-studied but also took the IB equivalents at school (but the curriculums are a bit different).

5

Absolutely report them. Your advisor is wrong. 4’s are excellent scores. AP scores carry little to no weight in college admissions. Top schools will not care that you got a 4 instead of a 5 for admissions. That only affects whether or not you get college credit from the exam, which a lot of those schools don’t even grant for 5s.

6

I would report them for sure; 4s are great!! I even sent my 3s (although I was applying to schools a notch or two below yours, such as UVA, W&M, Richmond, Kenyon, etc.). If you don’t send an AP score, an admissions officer might think that you did poorly.

7

I sent in fours but not threes because you can still get credit for fours

8

And some schools will give credit for 3s after you’ve been admitted.

9

4’s are great! Report them. I can’t believe your advisor would say not to.

10

Report all your schools so that you can receive credit. 4’s and 5’s are great scores.

11

Thanks for all the help, everyone!