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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DS has a 3.98, 1540 and a 3 on APUSH exam[/quote]

Affinity for a subject is going to matter.

Some are strictly left or right brain people and no matter how much they study will only raise a score to a certain degree.

My son will not be taking AP Physics or AP Chem.  He does fantastic in History, English, Bio, and math (up to a point it's come easily--not sure about Calc yet).[/quote]

My DD, a junior, got a 2 on AP Calc AB and AP Physics. Wants to go into public policy. All other AP test scores (6 others to date) are 5s. I hope her future schools will consider the fact that she pushed herself very hard to take rigorous math and science classes as a junior with a non-stem focus. We will see. [/quote]

My junior (officially “rising senior” now!) is in a similar boat - is social sciences and humanities oriented but took AP calculus BC and AP physics this past year and scored 3s on the tests. All other AP scores have been 5s. I agree with your take, that it is better to stretch and challenge oneself. unfortunately we essentially heard otherwise from two separate T20 admissions officers. In response to questions as to whether it is better to stretch for the harder AP class and wind up with a B or take the honors class and get an A, that they prefer the stretch with an A (a rather useless and stressful non-answer in my opinion, but I digress). There are always easier and harder options within the AP tests, too, but they all check the rigor box for colleges so I doubt they care if you took BC calculus as a junior or AB calculus as a senior, they just want to see the A / 5 score. In hindsight, I suspect it would have been better for DD to take AB calculus and AP environ science and get 5s per the admin officers answers. [/quote]

My kid somewhat similar: likely political science major who took BC Calc as a junior (private school).  Got 5 on exam but a B+ in class.  I agree with the assessment that this will hurt him for college admissions.  Should have taken AB Calc and gotten the A.  But having watched him, it is a shame bc that class was a lot harder and kids need practice doing things where they may not meet goals.  I wish kids were rewarded for this rather than playing it safe.  Certainly many bigger injustices in the world but I think we are setting up kids for failure later down the road if they only stick with the safer choices in fields that they excel.  [/quote]

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