The Truth: How Much Do Ap Scores Really Matter In Admission

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
1

<p>I am constantly hearing different things on the matter of whether ap scores matter for solely admission purposes. I know we have had a million threads on this, but i think a lot of people are confused. I want someone to plz. set it straight. </p>

<p>Do most colleges view your AP scores??
Do they actually consider them in admission??
How highly are they considered, meaning can it make or break you??
Which major colleges in specific view or don't view your AP scores??
How bad does it look not to reveal your AP scores on your transcript??
How much can it hurt to fail AP exams or getting a 3's on AP exams??</p>

<p>If anyone has any other questions plz. add on... the other thread is becoming way too confusing.</p>

2

<p>AP scores are not as important as your grades or SAT IIs. However, a good AP score in a subject can offset a bad grade or SAT II for the same subject. However, in most cases, I doubt that can make or break you, especially since they are not even required by most colleges. How bad it looks and how much it can hurt really depends on the colleges your are applying to. Some schools give credit for 3's, while others only give credit for 5's.</p>

3

<p>Alright look, I know you may be a bright kid but have you not noticed at least 2 other threads with the exact same question as the topic? Why can't this be set straight in one of the other threads?</p>

4

<p>ryan2288, if you actually read the top of this thread, you would understand. i already acknowledged that there are several threads on this, but they are confusing and people are saying different things. it has been off set by other conversation, if you have a prolem than don't read this thread.</p>

5

<p>FOR THE 19TH TIME:</p>

<p>1) Do most colleges view your AP scores??
Yes, you self-report them. You can sometimes leave out the ones you don't like depending on the college - read the writing on the application carefully, and contact the college if you have questions. You're college will find out of all your scores after you matriculate, and may revoke your admission if they believe you unethically falsified or omitted these scores.</p>

<p>2) Do they actually consider them in admission??
Yes. They are not college-admissions exams, and will therefore have little weight, but yes, they are considered. Good scores on self-studied exams, for example, can be very helpful. Bad exam scores can hurt you - particularly in very elite schools - but are generally not catastrophic.</p>

<p>3) How highly are they considered, meaning can it make or break you??
They are MUCH less important than grades, SAT scores, ECs, and sports, but they do have some weight. If grades correspond to exam scores, the scores don't matter very much; if grades contradict exam scores, the scores will have a little more weight. The only time exam scores can "make or break" you though, is if you're home-schooled or are self-studying an important class, like calculus.</p>

<p>4) Which major colleges in specific view or don't view your AP scores??
Virtually all view them - they're self-reported, after all. I don't know of any major or prestigious universities that don't view them.</p>

<p>5) How bad does it look not to reveal your AP scores on your transcript??
The exams are not required, so if you take AP chem and don't report your ap exam score, the college won't even know for sure that you took the exam. Thus, it doesn't look bad at all. Just make sure you don't do anything unethical, as they may revoke your acceptance - contact the college if you have questions. They will find out after you send them your scores (after matriculation)</p>

<p>6) How much can it hurt to fail AP exams or getting a 3's on AP exams??
As said before, failing AP exams is only catastrophic if you're self-studying an important subject, like calculus, or home-schooled. If you're failing APs though, your grades are probably bad, which will be a huge problem at elite schools. Threes aren't bad, and will be considered "neutral" at even the most elite schools - I'm more concerned about the grade.</p>

6

<p>really now, it's not like everyone is going to stop lying about ap score importance...what do i know, maybe 104325425th time is the charm.</p>

7

<p>"Thus, it doesn't look bad at all."</p>

<p>Not true. Or at least not necessarily true. US News has this thing where a bunch of made up students were shown to a bunch of real admissions officers from Allegheny, Pomona, Rice, St. Anselms, and University of Iowa.
<a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/articles/brief/06scenarios_brief_3.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/articles/brief/06scenarios_brief_3.php&lt;/a>
Sarah has great stats, and took a lot of AP classes, but failed to take the exams for about half of her AP classes. All of the admissions officers think she is pretty great, but the one negative comment is that "her failure to take the math and science AP tests would definitely be up for discussion."</p>

8

<p>I agree with Alexandre.</p>

9

<p>Hmmm...I have a question on this matter then, as I thought until now that AP scores were of no importance.</p>

<p>I got a C+ first semester and a B- second semester in an AP class this year, but also got a 3 on the exam. Since 3 does say that I'm "qualified", would that perhaps give a better light on the grade I received in the class? Or will it more likely worsen my chances? Or, will it make no difference whatsoever in whatever decision is made?</p>

10

<p>Personally, I think that 3 accurately corresponds to a B or C, depending on the AP class you are talking about...if do well in an AP class, you should be able to get a 4 or 5 on an AP test</p>

11

<p>Contrary to what all the previous threads have mentioned, I believe that AP scores weigh heavier than your grades and SAT IIs. </p>

<p>Why? </p>

<p>My simple reasoning: Its standard of difficulty is much higher than that of both your SATs and your grades. It makes more sense for a college to choose a person who has excelled in all their AP subjects than a person who has excelled in normal classes.</p>

<p>But again, nobody will believe me. XD</p>

12

<p>I believe you. Let them keep thinking that AP scores don't count, it's better for the rest of us. Better yet, don't even take any AP classes next year. Only losers get good AP scores, and colleges know that.</p>