<p>I'll be applying to Duke, UChicago, Northwestern, and Vanderbilt and think I have a fairly solid application. I'm in the top 3% of my class, have a 4.000 GPA (UW), a 34 on the ACT, 780 on Math 2 Subject Test, 730 on Chem Subject Test, 730 on Lit Subject Test, excellent EC's, recommendations and essays. My problem is that I took AP Chem last year and my teacher accepted a job at a different school system, only to be kept at mine by a contract for another year (the year I took her class). Therefore she didn't put much effort into her teaching and didn't even cover electric or nuclear chemistry at all (which collectively made up half of the essay and free response sectionsof the AP exam). I earned a 3. I'm not trying to make excuses, as I could have learned the material on my own. I'm just trying to explain the circumstances, and that I could have done better.</p>
<p>My question is: how much weight do colleges place on AP exam scores in the evaluation process?</p>
<p>I ask because I plan to attend medical school and would like to major in biochemistry, and am not sure whether or not stating this intended major on my application would be a good idea, seeing as how the college board labeled me as just "proficient" in this area, and these schools look for those who are more than just "proficient."</p>
<p>Thank you very much for reading and (hopefully :)) replying!</p>