<p>How much of a factor are SAT scores? More important than GPA? Less? How important are they exactly?
And what about SAT II scores? Are they weighed more than SAT I scores, the same, or less? And are they more important than AP scores?
Also, I've been hearing that colleges don't even count AP scores in admissions, but is that true?</p>
<p>Thanks for explaining, I'm a bit confused about it.</p>
<p>I am pretty sure that AP Scores do not count in admissions because when you send in your application, you only write down what you got on each exam… it’s not really official because no score report is sent.</p>
<p>^so i could put down a 5,despite the fact that i only got a 3?(unless they check my score?)</p>
<p>Actually, if you’re referring to commonapp, you do have to send in an official score report from collegeboard (it’s stated at the top of the Standardized Test section). You can’t report that you got a 5 when you really got a 3. The school will know, and it’s really bad for your image.</p>
<p>That being said, most schools look at everything holistically, so it’s difficult to say what’s more or less important. I’d like to think GPA/class rank is of equal importance to the SAT, but that’s not always the case. Only the top schools really require SAT II’s, in which case those would be pretty important too. Otherwise, the SAT II’s aren’t required, but can help your chances.</p>
<p>AP scores, I think, are also pretty important overall for top universities (well any college for that matter) because they show that you made the effort to undertake the most rigorous academic path available to you. Schools definitely consider your course load in admissions (AP classes especially).</p>
<p>Each school values the measures differently. Go to the schools you are considering and check the Common Data Set. Section C will tell you what they use to evaluate students and what is most emphasized (GPA, SATs, ECs, etc).</p>
<p>Every school is different but SAT scores are almost always more important than SAT IIs and APs. It’s hard to say which of the latter two are more important, but both are.</p>
<p>So basically, SAT> SATII> AP? And the overall importance of test scores just depends on the school?</p>
<p>Do you actually send in your AP scores with your application, along with SAT I and SAT II scores?</p>
<p>^^^no, you self-report. You only send actual AP scores to the school where you matriculate so that they can give you credits if applicable.</p>
<p>but your guidance counselor sees your common app and will be able to tell that you are lying and likely make you change it.</p>
<p>Don’t lie. It’s stupid to lie. You might get caught and then it’s pretty much an automatic rejection, and maybe more than one if your GC catches wind of it.</p>
<p>Importance of SAT/ACT varies from school to school. Some rely on it a lot. Some say it’s equal to or less important than GPA & class rank. Others use it primarily to benchmark how challenging/rigorous your HS curriculum is. At dome level, though, all colleges and universities are concerned about it because it’s one of the larger factors determining their US News ranking, which they feel they can’t ignore. </p>
<p>SAT IIs matter at the elite schools that require them, but I think mainly to verify that you’re not only smart (as reflected in SAT I scores) and have taken a rigorous curriculum (as nominally reflected in your transcript), but that you’ve actually learned something. So it’s a cruder measure: high score v. middling score v. low score, the high score obviously being most helpful if you’ve also got stellar SAT Is and GPA/class rank. Beyond the handful of top schools (and the entire UC system), SAT IIs don’t matter at all, unless you want to throw them in as an additional credential to try to tip a borderline admissions case. </p>
<p>As for APs, I’ve never seen a college or university say they use AP scores as an admissions criterion. They want you to take as many AP courses are available, and of course they expect you to do well in those courses—which will be reflected in your HS transcript. But the AP test scores are mainly for placement once you’re admitted, not a factor in admissions per se.</p>
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<p>There doesn’t appear to be any requirement to officially report AP test scores. </p>
<p><a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/2009-10CommonApp_highlightedUpdates.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/2009-10CommonApp_highlightedUpdates.pdf</a> </p>
<p>That said, our plan here is to self-report all AP test scores, along with all SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Test, and ACT with writing scores. </p>
<p>Some colleges regard SAT Subject Test or AP test scores as MORE important than SAT Reasoning Test scores, but this varies from college to college.</p>
<p>NYU allows you to submit three AP tests instead of the SAT or ACT. I love that flexibility.</p>
<p>[NYU</a> > Undergraduate Admissions > Applying for Admission > Freshman Applicants > Standardized Tests](<a href=“http://admissions.nyu.edu/applying.for.admissions/freshman/standardized.tests.html]NYU”>How to Apply)</p>
<p>I think admission officers look at your SAT and SAT II more in a range then the actual score because it can fluctuate so often.</p>