SATII scores > AP scores — should I still submit both?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I will be applying to HYPSM, as well as some other private schools through the Common Application.</p>

<p>I recently received the following test scores:</p>

<p>SATII US History — 780
SATII World History — 760
AP US History — 4
AP World History — 4</p>

<p>Should I submit both AP and SATII scores? Clearly my subject tests are much better than the AP exam, but will colleges notice that "[applicant] did not take the AP exam for these courses"? Is one test valued over another (especially for HYPSM)?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>It is not clear whether the SAT subject scores are “better”, since the SAT subject tests are supposed to cover normal high school level material, while the AP tests are supposed to cover more advanced material (that may be college frosh level in some cases).</p>

<p>I.e. you may know US and world history at the highest level by high school standards, but not by more advanced (AP level) standards.</p>

3

<p>Would not submitting the AP scores for US/World History strengthen my application?</p>

<p>I’m under the impression that with such highly qualified applicants to HYPSM, it would be better to have “consistently excellent” test scores rather than “quantity > quality”.</p>

4

<p>A 4 is stil excellent. I applied as Biological basis of behavior major with a 4 on AP Bio and get into UPenn. it isn’t indicative</p>

5

<p>If you were talking about 2s or 3s I’d recommend withholding the AP scores. However a 4 is a perfectly respectable score, especially since AP classes are technically supposed to be college level courses. Like you said, not submitting them might raise some red flags -why didn’t you take the test? are you not motivated, lazy?- which is not something you want your HYPS admissions officers to be thinking about. </p>

6

<p>

No red flags will be raised. Most students don’t send AP scores until they have accepted admission to a college that accepted them. You can send the scores if you want, but since it will neither help nor hurt you in the admissions process, it is a waste of money.</p>

7

<p>Sure, the official score reports are not sent — but the self-reported AP scores will still be considered by the Admissions Committee.</p>

8

<p>@skieurope‌ I was talking about self reported scores, not actual score reports. </p>

9

<p>I would send both…I don’t think AP scores can hurt you and should only help you.</p>

10

<p>Unless perhaps if you got a 1 or a 2</p>

11

<p>Send the scores (4s are good). And again, if your transcript states that you took APUSH and APWH in school, and you don’t have test scores to match, it 'll raise some red flags.</p>

12

<p>Alright, thanks for the insight!</p>

<p>A quick other question — even though HPYSM acceptance rates are ridiculously low, approximately how many of these applicants are unqualified? I remember some Ivy admissions officer saying that ~80% of applicants are “desirable,” but for some reason I doubt this statistic…</p>