APs and SAT IIs, redundant?

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering why some colleges want 2-3 SAT II subject tests in cases where the kids also have AP results in the same subjects. For example, this spring DD is taking four AP tests, including AP World History and AP Calculus. DD will get a 1 or a 5, or more likely somewhere in between, on the AP tests, so wouldn't this be enough to convince colleges that DD does, or does not, know the subject? Yet certain colleges also want to see DD's results in the SAT II subject tests in World History and Math II.

I'm not questioning the SAT IIs for kids who are in IB or who aren't taking AP classes. For these kids, the SAT IIs give an opportunity to show proficiency. But given the limited but weird range of SAT II subject tests, in order to fulfill the 2 SAT subject test requirements, DD is going to have to forego demonstrating her non-existent proficiency in Korean with Listening and just take SAT subject tests in the same courses she's already doing the AP test.

So can somebody convince me this isn't a racket cooked up by the College Board folks in collusion with certain colleges, and give me the good explanation I seem to be missing? Because it seems like an unnecessary source of even more stress.

[Anonymous]

College Board is a racket. Period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College Board is a racket. Period.

This. I mean College Board does have some good things, but the tests are just redicules.

[Anonymous]

I am bumping this thread. Is it advantageous to take AP tests even if you're taking SAT II tests? I understand that AP is college level and subject tests show subject knowledge.

Harder level science and math (other than AB/BC calc) are called accelerated at our private school.

And I agree that the College Board is a racket.

[Anonymous]

A complete racket. The theory is that AP is for credit and were not designed for admissions purposes, but kids now report them. SAT Subjects are for admissions purposes. The College Board needs to be reined in big time.

[Anonymous]

Anything AP you take your senior year (which is the majority of APs for most kids) will not be completed in time for admissions decisions.

But yes, in general I would think it would be logical that if you have taken an AP class your sophomore/junior year in that SAT II subject, you should be able to submit those scores instead.

[Anonymous]

Colleges don't get AP results as part of the application.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges don't get AP results as part of the application.

Oh, you must be new to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges don't get AP results as part of the application.

Oh, you must be new to this.

Some schools, for example NYU, accept APs completely in lieu of the SAT on the application.

[Anonymous]

It is a money making marketing scheme! Our students have to jump through many hoops to pay for overpriced colleges. Consumers need to figure out how to bring the power back to them. We have a generation of stressed out students and parents thanks to never ending testing and rising costs of housing and education. Supply and demand. All of this marketing creates a perception that there are only 20 decent colleges out there that are "the best". Not true. How many SATs, ACTs, APs, SAT II do are students need to take. If they come up with 5 more tests to add to the mix, do we just keeping saying yes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a money making marketing scheme! Our students have to jump through many hoops to pay for overpriced colleges. Consumers need to figure out how to bring the power back to them. We have a generation of stressed out students and parents thanks to never ending testing and rising costs of housing and education. Supply and demand. All of this marketing creates a perception that there are only 20 decent colleges out there that are "the best". Not true. How many SATs, ACTs, APs, SAT II do are students need to take. If they come up with 5 more tests to add to the mix, do we just keeping saying yes?

Totally agree. College Board is making big bank off of parents and students who will spare no expense to get into one of those 20 dream schools.

[Anonymous]

OP- Do you know any specific colleges that have stated they need both tests? This is the first time I have seen this particular question. I'd love to hear what admission officers say.

[Anonymous]

Well, Georgetown "strongly recommends" three SAT Ii subject tests, and a student has to take the AP tests to place out of introductory courses. I don't think that is uncommon. I feel so sorry for my kids doing all that test prep.

[Anonymous]

I would really love for schools to fight back against the college board and stop offering AP classes. They can develop their own advanced classes that go into more depth rather than plow through a lot of materials. And the interesting thing is that colleges don't penalize an applicant of their school doesn't offer AP classes and if they therefore don't take the exams. The problem is that if the school does offer APs a lot of colleges do expect it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP- Do you know any specific colleges that have stated they need both tests? This is the first time I have seen this particular question. I'd love to hear what admission officers say.

19:42 here. I am not the original poster of this thread but was searching different DCUM forums about AP test and decided to revive it to get new information. I will encourage DC to take the SAT subject tests and an AP language test but that's about it.