Question about APs

<p>Hey I had a question about the AP exams. I am an international, and I took 4 of them. But my scores weren't great. Do you think it'll still be a good idea to send the scores to Caltech?
My school doesn't offer AP classes( though some of the material may be simillar in Chem and Phy)
Calculus BC-3(3)
Chemistry-3
Physics C(Mech)-4
Eng Lang and composition-3</p>

<p>In the first place, Caltech doesn’t grant credits for AP tests.
Secondly, sending non-5 scores may harm your app rather than boost it. Indeed, homeschooling AP tests might imply that you like take up challenges, but not so decent scores will give admission officers some doubt as to whether you could face the challenges ahead in Caltech, if they admit you, and especially in math&science courses. </p>

<p>In a word, I think you should not send your AP scores. You’d better pay attention to demonstrating your passions in STEM(science/technology/engineering/mathematics) than show how much you *have *accomplished(taking APs and stellar scores etc)</p>

<p>Should we send in our non-5 scores if they are in history or english</p>

<p>Send in all of your scores. I say this for a few reasons:

  1. They are a part of your high school career and they help admins to see if you are a fit for Caltech. If you aren’t a fit, then you shouldn’t go there and its best that you don’t get in.
  2. AP score will probably not make or break your admission. Honestly, they aren’t that big of a deal anyways, they just help to reinforce the grades on your transcript. You should have other things on your record other than AP scores to show your passion and competence in STEM.
  3. There is no way to prove you self-studied other than sending scores. It goes to waste (for admission purposes, not philosophical) to not send them. I am sure they understand the difference of a 4 from a 5 if you self-study.</p>

<p>That being said, I go back to point 1 and say that if you can’t make 4’s and 5’s on AP tests (these are quite a joke in terms of difficulty for STEM subjects) then Caltech may not be the place for you. (Although these tests aren’t a good indicator for that, this is said with the assumption the reader believes such.)</p>

<p>I would list them, don’t bother with a score report. Make sure you mention somewhere (additional information, or wherever it fits) that you self-studied and that your school does not offer AP classes.</p>

<p>Are you taking Calculus this (senior) year? The only score that’s worrisome is the Calc BC. You will need a strong calculus background for Caltech’s Core. A 3 on the Calc BC suggests that you don’t have this background. But if you’re taking Calculus your senior year then I wouldn’t worry about it, just make sure you get an A in the class.</p>

<p>Definitely send all your scores, it looks bad if you don’t send them because they may doubt that you even took the challenge (unless you have corresponding IBs)</p>

<p>Well, I’m taking Calculus now. I self studied most of what we are being taught in school now.
Honestly I would’ve done much better on the tests, but I’m not the best test taker around.
Thanks for the replies!</p>