Never took AP Exams in High School. Should I take them for better chances of transfer to UC Berkley?

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

I will be a CCC student Fall 2019 and I am aiming for a transfer to UC Berkley. I studied internationally for high school where there weren’t AP or IB classes available, so I have never taken AP Exams. Should I take them while I’m in community college in my preparation to transferring to UC Berkley/other UCs?

2

It’s debatable whether 1) you can find a place ie a HS where you can take the test(s) and 2) whether universities will accept AP exams for credit after HS. I suspect the answer to both of these are no, but I’m not sure.

3

I agree with plum

4

Here is an old CC thread on the subject: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/ap-tests-preparation/764071-ap-exams-during-college.html
I think you should probably try to take any AP exams this May. Afterwards may be too late to be awarded credit.

5

@damon30 Thanks. Though, in my case, I am not really in it for the credit. I am willing to take all pre-major requirements and IGETC courses in CC. I am only considering taking AP exams for the purpose of strengthening my application. I might have to contact Berkley on this.

6

I am worried about this because from the downloadable documents of UCB, there was a step-by-step guide for the UC application process for transfers. I saw the section where you declare “Examination Scores”. Options were AP/IB or TOEFL/IELTS. None of it applies to me. My high school used English as its primary medium of instruction.

7

If you do not care about the credit because you will take the corresponding college courses anyway, then it is unlikely that having AP scores will be of any use.

If you want advanced placement in something, then it may be worth taking that AP test while still in high school.

8

I agree with @ProfessorPlum168. Not sure you can take AP after high school. That said, the UCs always prefer actual courses over AP. It might shave a few units off, if doable, but I don’t see it having any impact at all in terms of strength of application. Some of those hs students with 8-10 AP scores applying as freshmen might send a message, but that’s about it.

9

I would not bother to take AP tests after HS. APs are not the be all and end all of college admission. In fact a number of top high schools in the US do not offer AP or IB curriculums.