<p>Hey guys..</p>
<p>Am taking AP Computer Science A course in school and am not sure if I am ready to take the AP exam... Took a few practice tests and doesnt look like I'm going to get a decent score ( am probably looking at a 2/3 ). I have the following questions:</p>
<p>1) Does not taking the AP exam look bad for colleges?
2) A) Do I have to send my AP Computer Science score to the colleges?
B) If I want to send my AP Physics score to the college, will the collegeboard send the scores of all my AP's to the college or only the physics one?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>bump..................</p>
<p>my ap history teacher was just giving us a speech that if you won't take an ap test for an ap class it does not look bad with colleges IF you have a good grade in that class...all it means that you did well on a subject but you are not interested in pursuing it as a career..also means you like a challenge</p>
<p>Cool. THanks much.. Does anyone have an opposing viewpoint in this matter?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Depending on where you apply, it's almost not worth taking an AP if you're not at least reasonably sure that you'll get a 4 or 5. However, you don't have to report all of your AP scores.</p>
<p>I asked a few of my senior friends and apparently, they told me that the official score report that the collegeboard sends to the college counsellor contains all the AP scores. Hence, when the time comes to send 1 Ap score, the other AP scores will also be sent since its on the same page.. doh... not sure! :(</p>
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Depending on where you apply, it's almost not worth taking an AP if you're not at least reasonably sure that you'll get a 4 or 5. However, you don't have to report all of your AP scores.
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<p>How would one justify ( to colleges ) not taking the AP exam though, since the AP course is geared towards the AP exam whose purpose is to test the students knowledge in the subject matter and not only for college credit? They'd probably assume that you are not good enough in the subject and hence are avoiding the test.....</p>
<p>From what I've heard colleges will frown upon not taking the exam after taking the class. However, I don't see why you couldn't just cancel the scores after taking the test?</p>
<p>Even if you do take it, and end up getting a bad score, it shouldn't make a difference in admissions. It doesn't matter that you'll be sending all the scores to colleges--you'll be sending them after you're admitted anyway.</p>
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It doesn't matter that you'll be sending all the scores to colleges--you'll be sending them after you're admitted anyway.
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<p>What do you mean? I'm a junior so my results will probably be out well in time for application deadlines. </p>
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However, I don't see why you couldn't just cancel the scores after taking the test?
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<p>I guess thats what I'll probably have to do...</p>
<p>College Board normally sends all your AP scores to any college where you request they do that. But, you may pay them an extra $10 per score per college if you write to them before June 15th and ask them to withhold a grade from a mailing to a particular college. It's called "Grade Withholding". They don't delete the grade, so it could later be sent to another school if you want them to send it. This might be an option instead of cancelling your score right after the test.</p>
<p>See:
<a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd_rep.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd_rep.html</a></p>
<p>Many schools don't ask for AP score reports to be sent to them for application decisions anyway. They might ask you to write down your score on the app, and then if you are going there, you can have a score report sent for placement credit.</p>
<p>1) Does not taking the AP exam look bad for colleges?</p>
<p>So-so. If it isn't something you're particularly interested in and you're doing well in the class, I'd say no. </p>
<p>2) A) Do I have to send my AP Computer Science score to the colleges?
Yes.</p>
<p>B) If I want to send my AP Physics score to the college, will the collegeboard send the scores of all my AP's to the college or only the physics one?
All of them. </p>
<p>If you're not prepared, just don't take it. It's not worth it, especially if you just get a 2/3.</p>
<p>At my school, they put our AP grades on our transcripts, so even if you withhold your scores, the colleges will still see the (unofficial) scores on your hs transcript. Don't know if that's how things work at your school...you might wanna ask the counseling/career services department.</p>
<p>You do NOT have to send official scores when you apply for college. That is why CB provides only one free score report: its for use in your senior year after you accept a college offer. Therefore, do NOT waste your money to send scores during the app process. Instead, just self-report good scores (3 or better for public schools, 4-5 for selective schools, 5 for HYPSM) in the "Other" section of hte college app. Don't self-report scores that won't help your app.</p>
<p>bluebayou is right, schools don't ask for your official ap scores when you apply so you don't have to list any bad scores, also i'm assuming you'll be taking more ap classes next year, so although some schools do ask whether you plan on taking the ap exams, you can decide not to take them in may because you will be admitted/denied by then an ap scores are the least of their worries; also ap tests are just another way for collegboard to make money, because most selective schools wont give you credit for a class, but rather just allow you to place in a harder class earlier, which could negatively affect your gpa; in addition, since some schools require sat subject tests you'll have to pay more money to show mastery of a subject, which often times you have already taken as an ap class</p>