Hey everyone,
So I have a grand total of 8 AP scores with 4 4’s and 4 5’s. I know getting a “4” on an AP test is fine, but I’m afraid that compared to my peers in my school with 5’s, the scores will make me look bad. I am especially talking about my 4 on AP Chem…I’m applying as a CS and/or Biology Major, but I’m also applying to a few BS/MD programs. I got a good grade in AP Chem, I just didn’t really do well on the AP test…
Should I report only my scores of 5? Should I just report nothing? I have “National AP Scholar” written in the additional information section (it’s not important enough to be in my 5 Honors slots), if I just leave that for colleges to see, will they “guess” that I had mostly 5’s or will they just never look at that award and think I failed a bunch of tests?
Please help!
They don’t care about AP scores. Really. They only matter when calculating how many units you will enter with and what classes you get to skip. Obviously if they’re 2s and 1s that’s a warning sign, but in general, it’s up to you really whether to report them or not.
If you report only some scores, there might be an assumption that you did not do well on the other tests (2s or 1s). Is that something you want to take a chance on?
Also, just for an extra opinion, I disagree with the above poster. I believe that AP scores are counted in admissions. The only people from whom I’ve heard otherwise are on College Confidential, and they have yet to convince me.
Many of the people on CC who say that have been through the process and are relying on what AO’s have told them. Of course, anyone can choose to believe their words or not. But if you want an example of a non-CC user:
http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/on_aps_1
Anyway, back to the OP - 4’s are still good scores; I would report them.
While a score of 4 looks worse than a score of 5, an unreported score is more likely to be assumed to be lower.
Skimmed the article. I have also relied on what AO’s have told me, including one of my school’s college counselors, but for the most part, I rely on my own logic. Some people say they don’t use them because many kids haven’t taken them yet, but if they have taken them, it makes sense to use them. Same way they shouldn’t discount the rigor of one’s schedule because another person didn’t have the same classes offered. I realize that many people will disagree. Just like to give my opinion, anyway, so that the posters here can see what different people are thinking.
In most cases a student’s range of AP scores is going to be consistent with all their other scores and grades.
Thank you all for your responses…I guess there’s no “good” way out of this situation. I just hope these scores don’t knock me out of the running for any scholarships//colleges simply because my peers have better scores…
The only benefits to reporting is that my 5 on AP Calc BC may help since I did get a B (89) in the course, the only B on my transcript. I did self-study 2 APs for interest since at the time my school didn’t offer the courses (they just offered them), maybe I shouldn’t report these? They were both 4s. Will that make colleges question the AP Scholar award things? Not like those really matter, but suspected lies do matter a lot (obviously they aren’t, but you know what I mean!)