Poli sci or business? A few months ago, you said CS. Big difference in what is expected.
He’s currently on a gap year (per other thread) and he only just got back scores? What’s he doing on the gap and is there someting else we need to know?
The competitive schools on that list like to see a pattern of strengths (hence, the usual advice to submit AP scores, especially cores and those classes related to the major.) . The gpa (3.7 or 3.8?) will matter, again, esp related to the major.
You need to be sure you know what it takes to get into those. AP scores are just one part. ECs related to the major (and the skills expected) matter.
@lookingforward I have two sons, one who is a rising senior and one on a gap year…
My son who is on a gap year did perfectly fine on ap tests, the person in my other two threads I made was about my other son, not the son I am talking about in this thread.
@Gumbymom I really think it was due to a lack of studying for ap tests and just focusing on the SAT. I know he knows the material, I just think he wasn’t caring enough about studying and too focused on getting a 1530 (which is the goal we set for him). Although I wish he at least passed all his AP tests, I am glad he didn’t act in the same relaxed way for his subject tests or SAT, being that those tests are the ones that really matter.
@momofsenior1 Yeah, I knew the one Ivy he was applying to he needed to send them in, and now UCB, but after going through and doing research for a few hours now, it appears to be the only two schools that actually use the scores for admission decisons are UCB and Cornell, I am thinking he would just be better off not sending anything in.
But these schools, UCB and Cornell, will question since he took the classes, why were the scores not submitted?
Unfortunately not a good situation either way.
The AP classes and grades will be on the student’s transcript for purposes of admission. You can choose to report the scores or not to most schools. Rice does not require the scores to be submitted unless the student is trying to get AP credit. Rice only accepts 4s and 5s for credit. Send his SAT and the 2 good subject tests. For more info on AP credit at Rice
https://registrar.rice.edu/students/ap_credit
I am not in OP’s shoes (though who knows what future brings us, right), so asking the experts just so I can share with my friends:
for tippy-top schools where so many other applicants have all 5’s and just a few 4’s, is it better to list a couple of classes with 3s or just leave the AP scores section blank alogether, leaving AO wondering whether the student missed it or simply chose not to take ANY APs - there must be kids out there who see no point in exams if they don’t expect to get college credit for them, or their parents simply don’t want to spend the money?
I don’t think he should report any of them. It is an optional component of the CA and I think they will damage his application. S3 made that choice was admitted to Ivy League schools/Stanford/MIT, etc.
I’m sure others will chime in and say that if he doesn’t report them AOs will assume he did poorly…I think for your S it would be preferable to let them speculate. If they want to know badly enough they will call the GC or email your S–there have been a couple of reports of that happening, but it is highly unusual and did not happen with my S.
I would check the AP credit list for each school and decide individually, if the school gives credit for 3s, I’d send them.
I don’t agree that the subject tests are more important, Rice doesn’t require them, and they can be retaken. The AP exams can mean some class choice freedom, priority registration, and some nice money if you can shorten your time to graduate. You get one shot at an AP, you can always swing at the SAT again too.
I’m with the folks who suggest doing a little more analysis of the AP experience. I’d be concerned that he is not learning in a way that the information is accessible longer term and that could present some ongoing issues. Great job on the SAT! But I see that as a different set of skills/abilities than acquiring and manipulating large volumes of subject specific knowledge and information as you do in courses.
If he doesn’t have a nice hook or two then I would have a good number of safeties on his list. While the competitive schools may not require APs, it is hard to believe that when breaking a tie between all the qualified kids, the ones with a list of reported strong scores won’t get some kind of nudge.
Be aware that some private high schools do have a note on their school profile (which is sent with the transcript) that students who enroll in AP courses are expected to take the AP exams for those classes, so it will raise a red flag if your DS doesn’t report them.
@noready, I thought a student could submit AP results after not reporting them in the application, just to get credit? Thanks
Yes. The score report sent after admissions can have all of them. You are admitted at that point, it doesn’t matter.
Not quite the shade of red that reporting 3 "2"s and 3 "3"s will…
Optional sometimes really means optional. If colleges cared about AP reporting they would request the scores in their college specific questions. None do.
I’m sure they can submit later. It is a judgement call. If they deem a 3 worthy of credit, seems like it should be worthy of reporting. Is it better they assume all were bombs or only some of them? I don’t know the right answer, but I’d probably go with some of them.
Nothing to report after admit, no credit, if you don’t get in
College credit is a separate issue.
OP, I’d go with what Planner03 wrote, above. But not knowing anything more about this ‘second’ son, we have no idea what realistic is.
So be it.
Ap bio is considered one of the most difficult ap tests up with ap chem and physics
^ not true, but that’s not the point because we’re talking about multiple tests. 
There are three things
- listing AP classes taken : always
- listing AP scores: optional.
But if you list them they better be 4s and 5s.
- submitting AP scores after enrollment.
You’ve been admitted at that point, so submit what you can get credit for.
“Ap bio is considered one of the most difficult ap tests up with ap chem and physics”
Haven’t heard that. But even if it is considered one of the most difficult APs, again the issue is the huge disparity between the SAT subject test in Bio and the AP test. They’re not exactly the same thing but cover essentially similar material. Any AO who reads those different scores is going to wonder how the heck an applicant pulls off a 750 score on the SAT II Bio subject test yet a 2 on the Bio AP.
Lesson for readers: do not plan to take more than 3-4 AP exams the same year.
You’re better off taking fewer and doing well on each.
Milee is right about the reaction. And I agreed with what planner03 wrote in post 27, not 32. In fact, the Common App does have a section for reporting test scores. And when a college downloads the CA and other docs into their own review format, they absolutely can see if one isnt reporting AP scores.
Optional, as we often say, doesn’t mean not important. But equally important here is the rest of the picture. We outside observers don’t have that view.
Lots of hs don’t include scores on the transcript.