Anonymous
09/15/2025 11:08
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is one area where conventional wisdom seems all over the place and it's hard to get helpful advice. I wish more AOs would weigh in.
Except they DO weigh in. The large majority of AOs will tell you that while AP
classes carry great weight in college admissions the scores on the exams don’t. They generally matter very little. They’re all about college credit or getting waived from intro courses once you’re enrolled.
But that does not stop posters on this website from obsessing over the scores and wasting their time. There is just no reasoning with them. They will continue to think they matter no matter how many times you try to tell them that they don’t.
Except colleges DO ask for AP scores as part of the application. Self reporting is fine, but they will be checked upon enrollment.
That's the thing. If they didn't care, they wouldn't ask the question. AOs are happy to say nonsensical things like 'reporting your AP scores can help you but won't hurt you.' Like what does that even mean? If the people from my school who reported high scores were helped then pretty much by definition I, who didn't report scores, am hurt because the pie stays the same size and those others now have an edge.
i think they mean that if you've taken the course, but have not reported the score, they will assume the score is not a great one.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 11:08
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
Anonymous wrote:Yes. I would.
My DD had 5 x 5's, 1 4 and 2 x 3's she submitted them all - got into the top 10 college for her major
What school? My friend says things like this and it is a low ranked school. The real answer is whether the school accepts a 3 for credit. If not or if it doesn’t accept any APs, then likely do not submit it.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 11:04
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is one area where conventional wisdom seems all over the place and it's hard to get helpful advice. I wish more AOs would weigh in.
Except they DO weigh in. The large majority of AOs will tell you that while AP
classes carry great weight in college admissions the scores on the exams don’t. They generally matter very little. They’re all about college credit or getting waived from intro courses once you’re enrolled.
But that does not stop posters on this website from obsessing over the scores and wasting their time. There is just no reasoning with them. They will continue to think they matter no matter how many times you try to tell them that they don’t.
Except colleges DO ask for AP scores as part of the application. Self reporting is fine, but they will be checked upon enrollment.
No, they don't "ask" that at all.
Depends on what the definition of 'ask' is. It's an optional field on the common app and there's no reason to think that they don't use information that they welcome you to provide.
+1
Of course the field is optional, because not everyone takes APs.
APs are used in the admission process. From Berkeley common data set:
“Other academic indicators will continue to be assessed in the review process, including grades, the rigor of a student's courses, other non-required tests (SAT subject test, AP tests, IB test, etc.), and a student’s individual academic context.”
It’s clear AP scores matter for admissions. Clueless people posting that they don’t won’t change that.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 09:15
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
My concern is that if you don't submit the assumption might be that the kid didn't pass. Also, what about exams like BC cal where you also get a second score for the AB exam. You can't place out of calc I without submitting the AB part, correct?
Anonymous
09/15/2025 09:13
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
Anonymous wrote:Any advice on just reporting that you are an AP Scholar and not reporting scores?
That would make it seem like you had all 3s.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 09:11
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
Any advice on just reporting that you are an AP Scholar and not reporting scores?
Anonymous
09/15/2025 08:52
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
Anonymous wrote:A lot of private counselors say don’t ever report 4s if they relate to your major choice, and only report 4s if you have a lot more 5s than 4s to report. Never report a 3.
That must be for top colleges.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 08:12
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is one area where conventional wisdom seems all over the place and it's hard to get helpful advice. I wish more AOs would weigh in.
Except they DO weigh in. The large majority of AOs will tell you that while AP
classes carry great weight in college admissions the scores on the exams don’t. They generally matter very little. They’re all about college credit or getting waived from intro courses once you’re enrolled.
But that does not stop posters on this website from obsessing over the scores and wasting their time. There is just no reasoning with them. They will continue to think they matter no matter how many times you try to tell them that they don’t.
Except colleges DO ask for AP scores as part of the application. Self reporting is fine, but they will be checked upon enrollment.
No, they don't "ask" that at all.
Depends on what the definition of 'ask' is. It's an optional field on the common app and there's no reason to think that they don't use information that they welcome you to provide.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 08:07
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is one area where conventional wisdom seems all over the place and it's hard to get helpful advice. I wish more AOs would weigh in.
Except they DO weigh in. The large majority of AOs will tell you that while AP
classes carry great weight in college admissions the scores on the exams don’t. They generally matter very little. They’re all about college credit or getting waived from intro courses once you’re enrolled.
But that does not stop posters on this website from obsessing over the scores and wasting their time. There is just no reasoning with them. They will continue to think they matter no matter how many times you try to tell them that they don’t.
Except colleges DO ask for AP scores as part of the application. Self reporting is fine, but they will be checked upon enrollment.
No, they don't "ask" that at all.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 06:59
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
A lot of private counselors say don’t ever report 4s if they relate to your major choice, and only report 4s if you have a lot more 5s than 4s to report. Never report a 3.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 06:07
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
Our private counselor says only to report 4s and 5s.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 00:32
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
Anonymous wrote:My kid with 1520 SAT and only 3s and 4s reported- he had a total of 14 including senior year.
Substantial merit from Pitt plus Honors, UMD Scholarship. I have no idea if it helped or hurt but I figured better to be straightforward.
What major?
DC with higher scores and only got a small scholarship from Pitt
Anonymous
09/14/2025 20:25
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
Anonymous wrote:Hi- we're in the midst of applications on the common app right now and were wondering if my DD should submit AP score results that are 3? We're looking at schools like Penn State, VT, Pitt, Ohio State, Wisconsin, UMD, Delaware, etc. I keep hearing to only submit 4s and 5s but was wondering if that's really the case. Will she look bad submitting a 3? thanks
Depends on the selectivity of the school. For a school with acceptance rates below 30% for that specific major (if you have that info), I would not recommend submitting a 3.
So Penn State, Pitt, Ohio and Delaware, I would submit, but even if you did not it is no big deal. Assuming your GPA and scores are in the high end (75th percentile) of their acceptance.
Wisconsin and VT are debatable. UMD depending on major can go either way.
Anonymous
09/14/2025 20:16
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is one area where conventional wisdom seems all over the place and it's hard to get helpful advice. I wish more AOs would weigh in.
Except they DO weigh in. The large majority of AOs will tell you that while AP
classes carry great weight in college admissions the scores on the exams don’t. They generally matter very little. They’re all about college credit or getting waived from intro courses once you’re enrolled.
But that does not stop posters on this website from obsessing over the scores and wasting their time. There is just no reasoning with them. They will continue to think they matter no matter how many times you try to tell them that they don’t.
Except colleges DO ask for AP scores as part of the application. Self reporting is fine, but they will be checked upon enrollment.
That's the thing. If they didn't care, they wouldn't ask the question. AOs are happy to say nonsensical things like 'reporting your AP scores can help you but won't hurt you.' Like what does that even mean? If the people from my school who reported high scores were helped then pretty much by definition I, who didn't report scores, am hurt because the pie stays the same size and those others now have an edge.
I find that 90% of parent advice here can be summarized as:
My kid did it, and colleges love it.
Or the converse:
My kid didn’t do it, and colleges don’t care.
Anonymous
09/14/2025 20:11
Subject: AP test scores- submit a 3 or no?
My kid with 1520 SAT and only 3s and 4s reported- he had a total of 14 including senior year.
Substantial merit from Pitt plus Honors, UMD Scholarship. I have no idea if it helped or hurt but I figured better to be straightforward.
Substantial merit from Pitt plus Honors, UMD Scholarship. I have no idea if it helped or hurt but I figured better to be straightforward.