<p>Hey everyone,
I'm currently a junior and by the time I apply I will have taken 7 APs. The 3 that I've taken so far weren't impressive (I got 3's on them). If I don't do well on the 4 APs I'm taking this May(really hoping I do) would it be smart to report it?</p>
<p>For Harvard, 3’s on AP’s will not impress – neither will 4’s. See: [Advanced</a> Standing Advising Programs Office](<a href=“http://apo.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k73580&pageid=icb.page388448]Advanced”>http://apo.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k73580&pageid=icb.page388448)</p>
<p>"Credit toward graduation is granted for Advanced Placement examinations only if the student activates Advanced Standing, but advanced placement work is acknowledged in a variety of other ways. For example, a score of 5 on an AP exam often satisfies the prerequisite for middle- or upper-level departmental courses, permitting a student to begin advanced work early in his or her college career. Whether or not a student accepts Advanced Standing, a score of 5 on the German, French (language or literature), Italian, Spanish (language or literature), or Latin (either Latin Literature or Latin: Vergil) Advanced Placement tests may be used to fulfill the language requirement. A score of 7 on a higher-level International Baccalaureate exam in certain languages may also be used to fulfill the language requirement. Most medical schools accept a score of 4 or 5 on the Calculus BC exam as fulfillment of their math requirement, but only the score of 5 will count towards Advanced Standing eligibility at Harvard College.</p>
<p>I don’t want to use it for Advanced Standing or credit, just for show. Does the same still apply? That if I don’t have 5s galore I shouldn’t report the scores? Oh and I do excellent in the classes, lowest in an AP class was a 93 in AP Calc BC so does that speak greatly about me as a student?</p>
<p>When you apply to college, your guidance counselor must fill out the Common Application’s Secondary School Report (SSR): <a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/commonapp/docs/downloadforms/SSR_School_Form.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/commonapp/docs/downloadforms/SSR_School_Form.pdf</a>.
The report asks your GC to rate the rigor of your academic program compared to other students at your school, AND rate your academic achievement against other students at your school. If other students at your school have scored 4 or 5’s on their AP tests, while you have scored 3’s, that fact will be noted in the report – whether or not you self-report the scores. Bottom line: Unless you are an uber athlete, if you don’t have 5’s galore (or at least 4’s with a smattering of 5’s) your chances of admission are slimmer than most – even if you decide not to report your scores.</p>
<p>I go to a school dominated by Black students. Even though it shouldn’t mean anything most students get 2s, some 3s and 4s in my school are impressive.</p>