I am often asked by students whether or not they should send their AP scores to the colleges to which they will apply. As with most of my answers, this one follows along with the “it depends” response. For the sake of this discussion, I will give the answer that applies most often, with the disclaimer that some colleges may have a slightly different answer (ie Test optional schools, top tier elite schools etc) So for our purposes, here is the answer:
Most colleges do not ask you to send an official AP score report. However, applications may ask you to self-report your scores. In this case, it is best that you only report the higher scores. For the most part, your AP scores do not carry a lot of weight in the admissions process. Generally speaking, high scores, especially 5s may be a positive factor while low scores (1s and 2s) may be a red flag to selective institutions. So with this said, you can see that reporting 5s is a good idea while reporting 1s and 2s may NOT be a good idea. Check with your counselor to see if AP scores are reported on your transcript. If so, you really need to strive for scores no lower than 3.
So why bother to take an AP course if the scores do not matter that much? Well there are lots of reasons why taking AP classes is a good thing.
- It will show up on your transcript. Colleges want students to challenge themselves and taking AP classes is a way to do that. They will look to see that you have taken the most demanding courses offered by your high school.
- You may be able to get college credit and skip prerequisite classes. This is usually a good thing, but sometimes there may be a class you would like to take but you can’t because you already got credit through AP.
- Taking AP courses can help prepare a student for the rigor they will face in college. This is always a good thing!
- If you score high enough on multiple AP Exams, you may earn the title of AP Scholar. And while there is no money or scholarship attached, it is nice to report on your application/resume to show that you did well on several AP exams. Oh! And did I mention that you get a certificate? Nice for you, but really won’t have much impact on the admissions process.
So the bottom line is this: Take as many AP courses as you can handle. Colleges like to see that a student is challenging him/herself academically. Get good grades in the AP classes. Remember that your transcript, standardized test scores and GPA matter most. Aim to score no less than a 3 on each test. Self report your best scores (especially 5s) and pass on the 1s and 2s unless the college specifically asks for ALL scores. Be sure you know the college policy on AP credit. And then don’t sweat it!
