Should I send a new AP score report to each school when I apply, or should I hold off until I am admitted to certain schools and have accepted the invitation to do so? I’ve already reported my scores using the Common App and other application systems, so do colleges need to see the CollegeBoard’s record of these scores, or will they take my word for them until I wish to receive college credit for the classes? Thanks in advance!
Send the official score report after you’ve accepted admission if the college gives credit for AP classes.
You only need to report your AP scores on your application. No college expects an official AP score report with the application. Sending an official score report is just a waste of money. Once you know where you will be attending, you send them an official score report for credit/placement evaluation.
Well, you can’t report a score you did not achieve, of course. Misrepresentation allows the college to simply rescind an acceptance. You can refrain from reporting any/all scores, but the ones you do report need to be accurate.
AP scores can be self-reported when applying and you do not need official reports until after being admitted and you want credit for the courses. The exception is that there are a small number colleges, like NYU, that will accept AP scores in lieu of your providing SAT or ACT scores for determining admission. For those colleges, if you choose the alternative to provide AP scores rather than SAT or ACT, you will need to send official scores.
Thanks everyone for these useful responses!