I keep hearing on this site that AP scores don’t matter at all for admissions. However, there’s still a section on the common app for them.
Since you can only list 5 awards/honors on the common app, I don’t wanna waste a slot listing AP scholar w/distinction, but I also want colleges to know that I didn’t completely bomb my exams (got a 5 on all). Is it okay to just list my scores under AP scores or must I list the AP scholar award to get that recognition?
You can just list your scores. Most likely they’ll get looked at but not weighted very heavily, as they are self-reported. AP scores matter most once you’re admitted to the school and you send official scores - then they may help you place out of classes.
You can list your scores if you want to. They will look at them but it does not weigh into admissions unless you get 1 or 2 on everything. It’s only for college credit.
To the OP, helpful question for others (like my family) too, so thanks.
From your post:
"I keep hearing on this site that AP scores don’t matter at all for admissions. However, there’s still a section on the common app for them.
Since you can only list 5 awards/honors on the common app, I don’t wanna waste a slot listing AP scholar w/distinction, but I also want colleges to know that I didn’t completely bomb my exams (got a 5 on all)."
I have not looked at the common app, but from your post it looks like you will list the AP scores whether or not also list AP scholar w/distinction (congrats!!!). If so, won’t they know the scores and that you didn’t bomb whether you add the AP scholar note in the awards/honors? My D has not begun this process yet so I’m not of particular help, so just reading and considering your post.
I’m not sure what category your high school would fall in, but I’ve wondered if AP scores “matter more” if the applicant goes to a public high school without a track record of sending kids to selective colleges (my D goes to a public high school like that - one without a track record). I’ve wondered whether AP scores might be used by colleges as a kind of back-check on grades in a school like that. If an applicant’s transcript has an A or B grade on it in a class at a well-known (in admissions circles) public or private high school that sends lots of kids to selective schools, maybe they have more confidence in the “A” or “B” grade than the same grade in the same class from a school without a college preparatory track record. Then maybe it helps to list a 4 or 5 AP score to help the college know that the AP class at the unknown high school did indeed prepare the student well in the subject matter…
Just conjecture and no big admissions factor I’m sure, but your post brought it to the surface FWIW. Thanks again and congrats again on your AP achievements!
@JMS111 Thank you for your comment. My high school is exactly like that so I shared the same fears, and I was hoping that my 5s could corroborate my As in the AP classes.
Yeah, I guess they will know that I didn’t bomb them, I was just scared they didn’t pay ANY attention to the AP scores under the Testing section of the common app, so I thought in that case I’d have to let them know I did well through the AP scholar award (which I don’t want to waste an award slot on). But, as @InigoMontoya and @FiddleMySticks said, it looks like they will at least look at the scores and see my 5s, which sounds good.
Thanks everyone!