As a student who has invested a considerable amount of time and energy into preparing for and taking AP tests, you may wonder about the impact of your AP scores on college admission. We'll dive into the relationship between AP scores and college admission, discussing the relative importance of these scores and how colleges consider them.

Do Colleges Look at AP Scores for Admission?

Colleges do not necessarily require you to submit official AP score reports, but some schools may provide space on their applications for self-reported AP scores. If you choose to report your scores, admissions committees will consider them. However, the weight of AP scores in the admissions process may vary. At selective colleges and universities, any positive data point can help to confirm their understanding of you. So if you have very strong AP scores (5s in a wide range of subject areas) then by all means report them and they can be helpful. However, you won’t get in anywhere solely because of a 5.

Do Colleges Care About AP Scores?

The impact of AP scores on college admission is not uniform and depends on the institution. Generally, AP scores are not the most critical factor in admission decisions and are often outweighed by other components like test scores, transcripts, and personal statements. However, exceptionally high AP scores (e.g. 5s) may give you an edge in highly selective institutions, and low scores (e.g. 1 or 2) may be seen as a red flag.

In some cases, you may submit AP scores to test-flexible schools, which allow you to choose from various standardized test scores, including AP exams, IB exams, or SAT Subject Tests. If you decide to use AP scores as your standardized test scores, you may need to submit an official score report.

AP Courses and College Admissions

The importance of AP scores in college admission should not be confused with the significance of AP courses themselves. AP classes are viewed as evidence of your ability to excel in challenging high school classes, and a rigorous course schedule, which may include AP classes, is highly valued by colleges, especially selective institutions.

Additionally, high AP scores may earn you college credits and allow you to bypass prerequisite courses. However, the availability of college credits for AP scores varies from school to school, with public schools typically offering more credits than private schools.

AP Scholar Awards and College Admissions

The AP Scholar program awards students who meet specific score thresholds on AP exams with honorary titles. The level of recognition depends on the scores and number of exams taken. For instance, an AP Scholar award is earned by scoring a minimum of 3 on three or more exams. In general, these awards are merely a consolidation of your AP score results, so since the colleges would see your self-reported AP scores across different subject areas (offering more information, breadth and mastery!) so it is essentially not offering any new information to receive such an award.

While AP scores may not be the most critical factor in college admission, they are still an important component of your application if and only if your high school offers AP courses. Taking challenging AP classes and doing well on exams can showcase your ability to excel in high school and provide you with potential college credits. To maximize the impact of your AP scores, consider the policies and preferences of the colleges you are applying to and report scores that are advantageous to your application.