A 40% admission rate to a t10 school? |
I am not an AO, so take this input with that in mind. This process has become a bit of an unintended hobby because I find it rather interesting as well as wanting to help my DC navigate admissions. I have listened to many interviews with AOs and Deans and have attended many info session on campuses. The common thread with all of them is 'Holistic Admissions'. These schools take the students they want - for whatever reason and it doest boil down to test scores. They are a piece of a much bigger puzzle. If scores were the most important factor, they would rank apps by scores and admit. All the 1600/36, all 5s first and go down the list. But they don't do that. They care about context. They care about the rigor classes. Did the student challenge themselves? Have they reflected on their lives up to this point and shown how they have grown? Are they intellectually curious? How will they make use of the resources at the college? How have they spent their time thus far and what kind of member of the school community will they be? Do they get the school and demonstrate that? Are they a fit for the school in the eyes of the committee? Do they seem to be a good person? Will they make a good roommate? With respect to test scores, they want to know can a student handle the rigor of the school. With SAT/ACT there is added nuance in that they care about their middle 50% as these scores are reported and many prospective families read into this as a signal of school quality - plus the schools have a brand to maintain. 'Hiding' lower scores plays a tactical roll at the test optional schools. AP scores aren't reported so they have no reason to care beyond can the student handle the rigor, IMO In your case, with all 4s, your kid did very well. Full stop. We dont know all the other data points for them, but I firmly believe that 4s will not keep them out - presuming the above questions are satisfactorily answered. Naviance at my DCs school does not have AP scores of course, but I can look at HYPSM and see acceptances at lower test scores and GPAs than perfect (not dramatically, but notable). At one in particular, most of the acceptances are not the 'perfect' (highest GPAs/Test Score). You have to be in range, but after that, clearly the other stuff matters more. My 1.5 cents |
AOs have neither the time nor the inclination to look at a AP class score and compare to the AP test score. And there is no data that would suggest that getting a 4 means that someone will perform lower in Organic Chemistry. In other words no data to suggest that a 5 is any better than a 4 or a 3 frankly. That is a point you are making up. It is a test on one day. My DD had a stomach bug before the Chem AP test. She got a 5 but expected a 3 or a 4. Even for top 10 you are reading too much into the value of the scores. If there are 8 APs and there are 5 or 6 5s and the rest 4s -- submit. |
Right, but you have six 5s and two 4s. This is really different from six 4s and two 5s. Right or is it the same? Would you still submit if it is mostly 4s? |
She has only taken 3 APs. The other two are 5 in Lang and 4 in Calc. She will send all of them. My older son only had 4s, sent them, and was admitted everywhere. |
I didn’t say t10. Read again. |
I'd pay 1 cent, not 1.5. You're just as clueless as anybody else. |
I agree. If they were that concerned, any AP taken senior year would be a question mark versus a plus. They have no idea what the test scores will be. Calc BC, Chem, Physics C senior year would all be wildcards. There are so many reasons for a poor one and done test showing for an otherwise good student, let alone a 4, when 3 is designed to be 'passing' for credit according to College Board. Many of the schools take 4s for some credit or advance placement. For those that don't, they have their entry level classes. Why even have these classes if the assumption is that all the students should test out? These schools don't dismiss less than perceived perfection. In fact, they may even be wary of it. On so many tours, I hear about mental health and wellness services. 1580+ SAT, 10 APs all 5s, etc may actually drive a closer look to make sure they seem like balanced individual. They may even look to avoid too many with this profile when shaping a class. |
Well, sounds like you still find value. Thank you! |
You seem bothered. Did this strike a nerve or something? Curious that you feel compelled to resort to insulting someone in a conversation. A bit childish. |
this is wrong. AOs often compare AP grades with test scores. They'll also notice if you take 10 AP classes and report 5 scores. Omitted a couple is fine |
DC, a rising senior, has taken 7 AP exams. They got 5's on all except BC Calc - a 4. Their HS transcript has no grades below A. SAT just a tad below 1600.
Is he doomed? |
you quoted and directly replied (and refuting!) a person who WAS saying talking about t10s. we all agree - send your self-studied 4s to schools outside t20s. |
the OP was asking about top 20 schools. Yes, you need the total package for those. Top scores, top grades and something else compelling about the kid - could be top athlete, could be a passion for low-light mushroom farming after a nuclear or climate event (ask me how I know) |
Hello did you read?? I said t20. Are you reading disabled? |