Do colleges care about AP test scores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you save the PDF of the common app application, you can see the scores listed in there when you self-report.

How can an admissions officer not look at that?

DC reported 5 test scores -two 5s and three 4s.
He didn't list AP Scholar with Distinction on awards

...and even if they didn't care, DC worked really hard to get those scores, which will provide college credit.

Only state schools or low tier colleges will give you “college credit” for AP scores. And guarantee the college course in that subject your kid “worked so hard” for a test score in is much better actually taught at a college by a professor.

Already checked with the T50 school that he already committed to.

Just make sure it makes sense for the major, if it doesn’t you may be paying higher tuition for credits that aren’t applicable. I know people who have rescinded AP scores in college for this reason. DC’s college has rising tuition based on year.
Getting credit for 4 out of the 5 AP exams taken so far. That's 12 hours of course credit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IF you're applying to colleges outside of the US, including Canada, AP test scores can be significant in terms of admissions.

In the UK for instance, one requirement for Oxford or Cambridge universities is 5 x 5 scores. For other UK universities 3 x 5 scores or a combination of SAT / ACT and AP.

What is 5 X 5 and 3 x 5?

five scores of 5 or three scores of five (or one 5 plus four scores of 5). Sometimes it depends on the major. We did a lot of looking at University College London and the number of 4s and 5s offered by major. There is a lot of information on the website. There also are specfic course and scores required for some majors, these replace the Brith "A" levels, on which you may have to receive a certain score to be considered.

Thanks! We have a rising senior whose grades won't be great but has the opportunity to make things up with a strong showing in APs and SAT. This might be an option.

It's not all they look at. You can't send in AP scores in isolation without GPA.

Not true overseas. English schools only look at SATs and APs. St. Andrew’s in Scotland looks at grades also, but that’s it.

My kid just applied to schools in Scotland, Ireland and Canada.
Canada: No AP's needed for McGill or UBC (or Toronto). For McGill there are GPA and SAT cutoffs you need to hit.
Scotland: some schools required AP scores (Glasgow, Edinburgh) and they need to be 4s at least. St Andrews did not, but that is major dependent. I think STEM majors may need AP scores.
English schools: require AP scores and they need to be 5s for the most part.
Ireland: no APs needed. For all of those schools SAT was important and so was GPA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IF you're applying to colleges outside of the US, including Canada, AP test scores can be significant in terms of admissions.

In the UK for instance, one requirement for Oxford or Cambridge universities is 5 x 5 scores. For other UK universities 3 x 5 scores or a combination of SAT / ACT and AP.

What is 5 X 5 and 3 x 5?

five scores of 5 or three scores of five (or one 5 plus four scores of 5). Sometimes it depends on the major. We did a lot of looking at University College London and the number of 4s and 5s offered by major. There is a lot of information on the website. There also are specfic course and scores required for some majors, these replace the Brith "A" levels, on which you may have to receive a certain score to be considered.

Thanks! We have a rising senior whose grades won't be great but has the opportunity to make things up with a strong showing in APs and SAT. This might be an option.

It's not all they look at. You can't send in AP scores in isolation without GPA.

Not true overseas. English schools only look at SATs and APs. St. Andrew’s in Scotland looks at grades also, but that’s it.

My kid just applied to schools in Scotland, Ireland and Canada.
Canada: No AP's needed for McGill or UBC (or Toronto). For McGill there are GPA and SAT cutoffs you need to hit.
Scotland: some schools required AP scores (Glasgow, Edinburgh) and they need to be 4s at least. St Andrews did not, but that is major dependent. I think STEM majors may need AP scores.
English schools: require AP scores and they need to be 5s for the most part.
Ireland: no APs needed. For all of those schools SAT was important and so was GPA.

All depends on the school and the intended major. For both Waterloo and Toronto if you applied for CS you were expected to get a 5 on the Calc BC AP Test to be considered. This implies that they prefer kids who finish Calc BC by Junior year (I guess), since of course you would not yet have a score as a senior. Interestingly, neither indicated an SAT cutoff.

[Anonymous]

We were told at GA TECH that they do consider these scores and can be a deciding factor when the applicant pool all has high SAT scores. No idea how often that happens or whether it was just a standard answer they give.

Schools usually provide a list/chart of what classes they are willing to give credit and what scores you need. We have one at a SLAC and one at state school and both received credits for test scores. State school was more generous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were told at GA TECH that they do consider these scores and can be a deciding factor when the applicant pool all has high SAT scores. No idea how often that happens or whether it was just a standard answer they give.

Schools usually provide a list/chart of what classes they are willing to give credit and what scores you need. We have one at a SLAC and one at state school and both received credits for test scores. State school was more generous.

Here’s what Georgia Tech’s official position is. It sure sounds like they don’t mean that much.

AP, IB, and AS & A Level exams are optional for admission, though they may provide college credit for students who enroll at Georgia Tech. If you have taken any of these tests before you apply and you believe they support your application, you are welcome to report them as described above.

[Anonymous]

It’s a shame that they consider the scores. There are some kids at my DDs school that can’t afford the test and are too embarrassed to ask the counselor for a fee waiver. I think equity issues can be blown out of proportion but paying for application, sat and AP fees makes it harder for poor kids who now have to jump through hoops and ask for financial help. Should be automatically free for FARMS kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a shame that they consider the scores. There are some kids at my DDs school that can’t afford the test and are too embarrassed to ask the counselor for a fee waiver. I think equity issues can be blown out of proportion but paying for application, sat and AP fees makes it harder for poor kids who now have to jump through hoops and ask for financial help. Should be automatically free for FARMS kids.

AP tests are given in school and free for all DCPS students. That is the best way to handle it and makes it a no issue

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a shame that they consider the scores. There are some kids at my DDs school that can’t afford the test and are too embarrassed to ask the counselor for a fee waiver. I think equity issues can be blown out of proportion but paying for application, sat and AP fees makes it harder for poor kids who now have to jump through hoops and ask for financial help. Should be automatically free for FARMS kids.

AP tests are given in school and free for all DCPS students. That is the best way to handle it and makes it a no issue

Same at ACPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IF you're applying to colleges outside of the US, including Canada, AP test scores can be significant in terms of admissions.

In the UK for instance, one requirement for Oxford or Cambridge universities is 5 x 5 scores. For other UK universities 3 x 5 scores or a combination of SAT / ACT and AP.

What is 5 X 5 and 3 x 5?

25 and 15 😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a shame that they consider the scores. There are some kids at my DDs school that can’t afford the test and are too embarrassed to ask the counselor for a fee waiver. I think equity issues can be blown out of proportion but paying for application, sat and AP fees makes it harder for poor kids who now have to jump through hoops and ask for financial help. Should be automatically free for FARMS kids.

AP tests are given in school and free for all DCPS students. That is the best way to handle it and makes it a no issue

Same at ACPS.

Same at FCPS.. upto 6 tests. Not sure why there's any embarrassment. If you get 5s on 6 tests, you are golden and not many kids would have hit that by junior year anyways.. Bottomline - made up equity issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IF you're applying to colleges outside of the US, including Canada, AP test scores can be significant in terms of admissions.

In the UK for instance, one requirement for Oxford or Cambridge universities is 5 x 5 scores. For other UK universities 3 x 5 scores or a combination of SAT / ACT and AP.

What is 5 X 5 and 3 x 5?

five scores of 5 or three scores of five (or one 5 plus four scores of 5). Sometimes it depends on the major. We did a lot of looking at University College London and the number of 4s and 5s offered by major. There is a lot of information on the website. There also are specfic course and scores required for some majors, these replace the Brith "A" levels, on which you may have to receive a certain score to be considered.

Thanks! We have a rising senior whose grades won't be great but has the opportunity to make things up with a strong showing in APs and SAT. This might be an option.

It's not all they look at. You can't send in AP scores in isolation without GPA.

Not true overseas. English schools only look at SATs and APs. St. Andrew’s in Scotland looks at grades also, but that’s it.

My kid just applied to schools in Scotland, Ireland and Canada.
Canada: No AP's needed for McGill or UBC (or Toronto). For McGill there are GPA and SAT cutoffs you need to hit.
Scotland: some schools required AP scores (Glasgow, Edinburgh) and they need to be 4s at least. St Andrews did not, but that is major dependent. I think STEM majors may need AP scores.
English schools: require AP scores and they need to be 5s for the most part.
Ireland: no APs needed. For all of those schools SAT was important and so was GPA.

Does McGill really expect a 4.0 unweighted?!?!

From their website "MINIMUM A, 4.00 GPA, or equivalent unweighted average over last two years of full-time studies, and a minimum score of 730 in each SAT test or a minimum composite score of 33 in the ACT test and/or rank in top 1% of class."

https://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/scholarships-aid/future-undergrads/entrance-scholarships/criteria

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a shame that they consider the scores. There are some kids at my DDs school that can’t afford the test and are too embarrassed to ask the counselor for a fee waiver. I think equity issues can be blown out of proportion but paying for application, sat and AP fees makes it harder for poor kids who now have to jump through hoops and ask for financial help. Should be automatically free for FARMS kids.

AP tests are given in school and free for all DCPS students. That is the best way to handle it and makes it a no issue

Same at ACPS.

Same at FCPS.. upto 6 tests. Not sure why there's any embarrassment. If you get 5s on 6 tests, you are golden and not many kids would have hit that by junior year anyways.. Bottomline - made up equity issue.

Not MCPS. Even farms kids have to pay a minimal amount. We opted out even though we can afford. $100-$150 per exam. Total money grab.

[Anonymous]

At my kid's HS (not dmv) students are required to take the AP test if they take the class. Free/reduced lunch kids pay $15 and everyone else pays the full amount, nearly $100/class.

Absolutely this is an equity issue. While I have no problem with low income kids getting a break, this is another example of donut hole families getting the shaft, especially at a time when you are saving every penny for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a shame that they consider the scores. There are some kids at my DDs school that can’t afford the test and are too embarrassed to ask the counselor for a fee waiver. I think equity issues can be blown out of proportion but paying for application, sat and AP fees makes it harder for poor kids who now have to jump through hoops and ask for financial help. Should be automatically free for FARMS kids.

AP tests are given in school and free for all DCPS students. That is the best way to handle it and makes it a no issue

Same at ACPS.

Same at FCPS.. upto 6 tests. Not sure why there's any embarrassment. If you get 5s on 6 tests, you are golden and not many kids would have hit that by junior year anyways.. Bottomline - made up equity issue.

Not MCPS. Even farms kids have to pay a minimal amount. We opted out even though we can afford. $100-$150 per exam. Total money grab.

+1 my kid is in MCPS and I think paying $500+ per year for AP exams is not equitable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My kid just applied to schools in Scotland, Ireland and Canada.
Canada: No AP's needed for McGill or UBC (or Toronto). For McGill there are GPA and SAT cutoffs you need to hit.
Scotland: some schools required AP scores (Glasgow, Edinburgh) and they need to be 4s at least. St Andrews did not, but that is major dependent. I think STEM majors may need AP scores.
English schools: require AP scores and they need to be 5s for the most part.
Ireland: no APs needed. For all of those schools SAT was important and so was GPA.

Does McGill really expect a 4.0 unweighted?!?!

From their website "MINIMUM A, 4.00 GPA, or equivalent unweighted average over last two years of full-time studies, and a minimum score of 730 in each SAT test or a minimum composite score of 33 in the ACT test and/or rank in top 1% of class."

https://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/scholarships-aid/future-undergrads/entrance-scholarships/criteria


That's for an entrance scholarship not admission. For admission cut offs look here, they differ depending on the Faculty (Arts, STEM, etc.) you apply to. They update them every fall based on the class they admitted the year prior. https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/apply/requirements/us