Hi,
I just got some not-so-great scores in some major AP’s, but I did alright in the classes. I know that for most colleges AP scores are a supplement, but for more selective colleges does it put you in a bad light to not submit your AP scores?
Bump!!!
same situation, bump
If an AP class appears on your transcript, you are best served reporting the score, IMO. Otherwise, you risk the AO thinking you got a 1, or were too unmotivated to take the exam. I would only not report a score if it were a 1 or a 2.
No, that is inaccurate. It is not common to report AP scores until AFTER admission. Some students intentionally include high scores in their applications in order to demonstrate mastery of a topic. But there is no ‘assuming a 1’.
@ProfessorD This may be true for some schools, but when you get into top 20 schools they DO consider them. I actually contacted Cornell about his because I had the same question. This is what an admission director told me:
Admittedly, it is a little ambiguous, and I’m sure it varies depending on the school/adcom you end up with, but the consensus seems to be that AP scores do play a role, albeit a small one, in admissions. While they may not necessarily assume a 1, it might raise some eyebrows if you did well in a class and chose not to report an AP score along with it. Realistically though, there are much more important parts of your application, and a low AP score isn’t something you should spend your time worrying about.
For what it’s worth, I have a read application packets and worked in freshman placement ( among other academic duties) for the University of California for more than 12 years. Few applicants mentioned their AP scores other then to “demonstrate mastery.” Frankly, it’s generally too busy reading what IS in application packets to speculate about what is not mentioned. We do, like many universities, consider AP scores for credit and placement, but that is well after an offer has been made and accepted.
I had read a book by a person who served as Duke admission officer for 3 years (Rachel Toor?). The book clearly mentions that Duke considered these ``wanted to see 5s, but a couple of 4s was not a problem’.
Probably the story is different outside of top 15-18 schools. Just guessing, but I suppose one needs to establish what high grades in advanced classes in your high school means for top universities. If the high school is highly rated and a feeder to top colleges, it is probably not an issue. But otherwise, some combination of AP exam scores and Sat subject test scores is important for showing that one will be ready for intense coursework of top universities (and an A in many high schools is not necessarily a positive indicative).
@CacaoNut13 hang onto that quote, you’ll likely need to re-post it a few dozen times.
I’m also involved, elite, and darned tootin’ we look for them. As said, it’s space on the CA and a factor in competition. You can’t ask for credit until you’re admitted. Two separate uses.
ProfessorD, if you’re saying UC doesn’t care, or didn’t, in your experience, that’s one thing. Agree adcoms don’t “guess.” But for a highly competitive private, when a kid wants a major, took the AP class, and doesn’t report the AP score, adcoms can wonder why. In some cases, you can lose to the equivalent kid who did report a good score.
This is an OP who was disappointed in a 760. So, how bad are these AP scores? 4’s?
Not all AP classes at our school have the word AP in the title so not reporting would not be suspicious
“for a highly competitive private, when a kid wants a major, took the AP class, and doesn’t report the AP score, adcoms can wonder why”
Theoretically. I’ve just never encountered one, in person, at a conference, or online, who could be bothered to go into that degree of speculation.
Sorry, it’s my experience that they look for and at the scores, then consider them.
And if we’re to advise a kid re: tippy tops, why not err on the cautious side, not all this CC insisting that AP scores are only for later credit? Why wouldn’t a kid report, unless the scores are low or he’s mis-advised by folks who heard something from someone? Why be cavalier? Especially when speaking of highly competitive colleges.
And to be clear, we’re talking about scores received before the app is submitted.
@lookingforward if you are willing what tippy top school are you experienced with?
I don’t think advising kids to relax and to emphasize their actual strengths and interests, rather than looking like yet one more desperate cookie-cutter would-be overachiever, is “cavalier.”
And I say that as an ex-Cavalier. 
Well, I had many fine times among the Wahoos. But I don’t think even top hs performers understand what it means to enter the fierce competition for a tippy top. Any rest of this, ProfessorD, we should do via pm.
UC is not using CommonApp. CommonApp does ask student to self report AP scores. Other top schools using CommonApp may use self reported scores to cross reference the grading scale of the high school. Anyway, AP scores bare little weight in admission as AP courses are not universally available and some high schools even limit them to senior only.
There is no reason to report your AP scores unless: (1) you want to get college credit or (2) you think the scores are high enough to give you an admissions boost.
@glido or, (3) if a college asks that you report them, as many selective schools do