Anonymous wrote:Some colleges give college credit for the 4 and 5 scores on the AP tests. So, I wouldn't submit the 3 score. The AP class still is noticed on your child's transcript and GPA. Keep in mind that all schools have different policies on the AP credit. With highs schooler's taking SO many AP classes these days, colleges don't want to credit all the high scores-less revenue.
To clarify, the AP classes will be noted on the transcript (as "AP World History") , but the AP test scores won't appear on the transcript. Similarly, your kid's grade in the AP classes will figure into the GPA, but again the AP test scores themselves won't figure into the GPA. If you don't send the test scores in, the colleges will never know about them.
At the most competitive colleges (USNWR top 10 or top 20), many kids do send in their AP scores. This may be because the applicants to the most competitive colleges usually have mostly 5s anyway. In fact, I don't know for sure, but it's possible the admissions offices at the most competitive colleges would wonder why they haven't seen the AP scores. (My kid sent in AP scores of 7 5s and one 4 and got into a top USNWR college.)
Moreover, at the very top colleges, sending in scores of 3s could hurt you, especially if you got an A in the AP class itself, because it sends a signal that your teacher was just an easy grader. I would worry less about this at the less selective colleges - but then these less selective colleges aren't necessarily expecting to see your AP scores anyway.
So, if your kid isn't competing for the most selective colleges, I wouldn't worry about AP scores for admissions purposes. Just don't send the scores in during the admissions cycle. Later on, after your kid has been accepted, he may or may not get credit for a class with AP scores of 3s -- but it had no impact on admissions.