Do AP scores matter?

[Anonymous]

Public colleges (U of MI, U of WI, UMD, Pitt, that I know of) accept 4s and 5s as college credit (maybe even 3s). This means a lot:
- frequently have sophomore status as a freshman (can pick courses earlier and not get shut out)
-can graduate in 3 years (save tons of $$ or do a 4th year masters)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is applying this year. She had more than one college say that in the age of test optional, they are looking more at APs because they provide objective standards. So submit strong scores (“scores that you believe reflect your achievement,” so something similar)

Of course, you don’t have to turn in AP Scores either. But an unhooked UMC kid with a high GPA and a bunch of APs, and no SAT/ACT or AP scores may have problems.

Name the schools, please. There's simply no reason to hide their names in anonymity. You wouldn't be outing yourself in any way, shape or form.

It is just so unhelpful for posters to say stuff like this without backing it up.

This is unnecessarily aggressive. I found the post helpful. I’d welcome the names of the school but the takeaway is still there. And I think it’s a point you’ll be hearing a lot more this year from more schools, though they may be reluctant to say it.

How is the takeaway there, exactly? Why is it so difficult to name the school on an anonymous forum? It's so interesting: on this thread we have posters who refuse to believe what colleges actually put on their websites about AP exams schools, yet when an anonymous poster says anonymous colleges are saying something different "the takeaway is still there." What is this, a QAnon thread? If you're going to offer as fact something that doesn't square with what's being publicly said, just back it up already. It's not that difficult.

It's not necessarily difficult, and I agree with you in wanting the info, but your post is aggressive with a demanding attitude that the PP give you what you want. Wouldn't it be better to ask nicely? Also, it's a voluntary forum. People can offer up whatever degree of detail they wish.

[Anonymous]

They can save $$ on college credits, that's the main advantage.

[Anonymous]

In our experience, the exam myth that they will rule out college credits isn't entirely true. Most universities will want you to retake the class anyway and you probably will want to in the sciences if you decide to go that route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is applying this year. She had more than one college say that in the age of test optional, they are looking more at APs because they provide objective standards. So submit strong scores (“scores that you believe reflect your achievement,” so something similar)

Of course, you don’t have to turn in AP Scores either. But an unhooked UMC kid with a high GPA and a bunch of APs, and no SAT/ACT or AP scores may have problems.

Name the schools, please. There's simply no reason to hide their names in anonymity. You wouldn't be outing yourself in any way, shape or form.

It is just so unhelpful for posters to say stuff like this without backing it up.

Agree. My DS applied to schools this year and we never heard this. Attended a lot of info sessions. I reviewed his common app and didn’t even see a place to enter scores (unlike SAT and ACT).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is applying this year. She had more than one college say that in the age of test optional, they are looking more at APs because they provide objective standards. So submit strong scores (“scores that you believe reflect your achievement,” so something similar)

Of course, you don’t have to turn in AP Scores either. But an unhooked UMC kid with a high GPA and a bunch of APs, and no SAT/ACT or AP scores may have problems.

Name the schools, please. There's simply no reason to hide their names in anonymity. You wouldn't be outing yourself in any way, shape or form.

It is just so unhelpful for posters to say stuff like this without backing it up.

Agree. My DS applied to schools this year and we never heard this. Attended a lot of info sessions. I reviewed his common app and didn’t even see a place to enter scores (unlike SAT and ACT).

Then you didn’t review the common app well. There is a place for them.

[Anonymous]

Our DS did not report the individual scores on the application, but did indicate which AP Scholar level attained to date. Will pay to report the actual score if he choses a school that gives credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DS did not report the individual scores on the application, but did indicate which AP Scholar level attained to date. Will pay to report the actual score if he choses a school that gives credit.

You don’t have to send a score report. You can self report on the common app.

As one example, Hopkins says they consider APs that students submit— right on their standardized testing web page.

I went to a Vasser session with DC and they said they consider any objective scores students submit—and specifically said strong APs should be reported.

[Anonymous]

NYU considers under a wierd chose your own adventure in test scores program:
https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/how-to-apply/standardized-tests.html

Princeton recommends submitting all AP scores
https://admission.princeton.edu/how-apply/standardized-testing


For Boston College, AP scores “further quantify academic success”

https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/admission/apply/test-optional.html

AP scores now have greater weight:
https://ectutoring.com/how-covid-affects-the-sat-and-act

Enough cites, or do you need more (Google is your friend)

[Anonymous]

None of those indicates extra emphasis on AP scores in light of test optional approach

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NYU considers under a wierd chose your own adventure in test scores program:
https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/how-to-apply/standardized-tests.html

Princeton recommends submitting all AP scores
https://admission.princeton.edu/how-apply/standardized-testing


For Boston College, AP scores “further quantify academic success”

https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/admission/apply/test-optional.html

AP scores now have greater weight:
https://ectutoring.com/how-covid-affects-the-sat-and-act

Enough cites, or do you need more (Google is your friend)

Princeton has always recommended that all AP scores be submitted. BC's website doesn't say how much weight they're afforded.
And some site named "etutors" that says, at the very end of a long list and without any back-up, that AP scores "may" now be more important isn't much different than anything already being anonymously offered here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of those indicates extra emphasis on AP scores in light of test optional approach

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges really want you to take AP classes if they're offered at your school and get good grades in them. And it certainly doesn't hurt if you also do really well on the AP exams themselves and let colleges know your scores.

The overwhelming majority of colleges will tell you, though, the scores themselves have little or no impact on college admissions. And how could they, anyway? Most students will have taken half or more of their AP classes in the senior year, and won't have scores on any of those exams until well after they've already been admitted to college.

No true. Colleges want you to take the highest level courses you're capable of being successful in (A or B grade usually), and would wonder why you're taking AP classes if you're getting a C or below a 3 on the exam. And in some high schools, the most advanced kids have already taken 5-10 AP classes by the end of 11th grade. Colleges will absolutely be interested in how well students do on those exams.

What's your source?

15 years of college counseling in a high school with many very high-achieving students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges really want you to take AP classes if they're offered at your school and get good grades in them. And it certainly doesn't hurt if you also do really well on the AP exams themselves and let colleges know your scores.

The overwhelming majority of colleges will tell you, though, the scores themselves have little or no impact on college admissions. And how could they, anyway? Most students will have taken half or more of their AP classes in the senior year, and won't have scores on any of those exams until well after they've already been admitted to college.

No true. Colleges want you to take the highest level courses you're capable of being successful in (A or B grade usually), and would wonder why you're taking AP classes if you're getting a C or below a 3 on the exam. And in some high schools, the most advanced kids have already taken 5-10 AP classes by the end of 11th grade. Colleges will absolutely be interested in how well students do on those exams.

What's your source?

15 years of college counseling in a high school with many very high-achieving students.

Ok, great, so you can name specific colleges and what their policies were/are and give us real, helpful and concrete examples. Go for it. We're all ears.

Oh, and while you're at it, where are these high school where kids have 10 AP classes under their belt before their senior year? Can you rattle of a few? That would be great, too.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

My DC is a senior and some schools ask for AP scores (self-reported) and some don't. I have asked this question several times to different schools (top 1-50) and surprisingly not one of them have said to not self-report. NOT. ONE. If you dig at it, the ad-comm says "We take wholistic view - we would like to see the student challenge themselves in a rigorous curriculum and get good grades". They are extremely cagey about saying what makes a good grade.

A number of private college counselors encouraged him to get good grades and scores in AP courses. My kid is Asian-American male wanting to do CS/Engineering, so what may be "prescribed" and "expected" from him is not necessarily true for everyone else. Take it with a spoon of salt as this is anecdata.

- Take majority of your AP courses before 12th grade so that you can share the scores during applications
- AP courses are weighted so you will benefit your wGPA
- AP courses can be taken from 9th grade
- Some colleges give credits for AP courses. You can check out their website to learn which particular APs and what scores they accept. This allows you to be able to do double majors or graduate early or even lower the cost of college.
- You can self-study and take AP courses, especially if they are not offered at your school
- Certain AP courses are easy and can be paired with other courses. So, if you are taking AP Bio in school, you can self study for AP Envio along with it.
- Take at least one AP from each of the 5 core areas - English, Foreign Language, Social Science, Science, Math - before 12th grade

My kid took the following number of APs in each grade 9th (1), 10th (3), 11th (4) and 12th (4). There are kids in his class that have taken up to 15 and it is entirely doable if you have planned for it from earlier classes and have a strategy of hard work and time management (and of course, knowing the timelines for it).

My kids used Barrons for most of the AP studies.