AP tests

I'm a junior in high school and have recently taken a few AP tests. Does the academy look at these scores like they would for an ACT/SAT, or do they not even care how I do on these tests?

lone survivor said:

I'm a junior in high school and have recently taken a few AP tests. Does the academy look at these scores like they would for an ACT/SAT, or do they not even care how I do on these tests?

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I took them too this week, and from what I understand AP scores will not be looked as a boost or detraction from admissions. However, if appointed your scores may allow you to validate out of some courses.

I can't help but think that AP scores "can and will be used against you in a court of admissions" ...also they can be used in your favor too. They might be something that distinguishes you from the next excellent candidate. Or, if you didn’t score so well, they might lend credence to the opinion that something’s not quite right with that 4.28 gpa but 1220 SAT score.

I have no inside knowledge to support this, of course, but why would they ignore any data?

Ectriso - make sure you read the USNA policy concerning AP test scores and class validation since it is very stringent compared to many universities.

The USNA does not require AP test scores to be sent to them - you have the choice of where you send your scores just like the SAT and ACT. They look at how many AP courses you have taken in high school and your grades in those courses - especially math and science. AP test scores can be sent to try and validate courses (get credit for) - from the USNA Admissions website:
"More than half of those entering the Naval Academy validate one or more courses. Each of the Academy's academic departments sets its own validation standards and considers one or more of the following: --transcripts;
--department validation tests, administered at the Naval Academy; and
--College Entrance Examination Board Achievement and Advanced Placement tests.
In any case, midshipmen must take a minimum of 15 credit hours each semester and spend a total of four years in residence at the Naval Academy to complete professional courses and training."

So I would probably not send any AP test scores unless you have recieved at least a 3 but more likely a 4 or 5 and really think you can validate and move on to the next level course.

If I am recalling correctly, the only 3's that will help you are in the introductory levels of a foreign language. 4's will get you some validation (computer science, calculus I and II), but for most anything else you will need a 5. Additionally, some of the subjects (economics and history) require you to have taken more than one test (macro and micro, 2 history courses) to be able to validate a class. Some classes require a validation test and do not consider AP test scores.

The consensus that I have seen from other posts is that it is good to have AP courses (challenging).
Also consider that a lot of students take AP courses their senior and their scores will not be available when they received appointments. In some schools, students in an AP course have the option of not taking the exam if they do not feel adequately prepared.

I had the option of taking AP USH but decided not due due to its cost (school is not covering any part of the cost, like 72 dollars) and my US history class is an IB class, originated towards the IB history exam next year.

Also, you can take an AP exam without having taken that course.

Yes – you can take one without the other. The AP exam is separate from the class. Some schools require (?) or strongly insist that students take the AP exams after taking AP courses but it is then up to you to decide where to send the scores. Schools like students to take the exams and do well in them because it makes the school's public profile look better - colleges look at this to help rate the quality of a school. It is good to take the toughest classes available at your school when possible - AP, Honors, etc. Your choice of classes and your grades in those classes are what are most important.

I didn't even take my AP Psychology test, because I didn't think it'd really matter .... C'mon, it's psychology! Is this okay ?

Like I said - the difficulty of the class and the grade you get is what matters most - that is what colleges (and USNA) are going to focus on. Taking the AP exam and the score you get would only matter if you plan on trying to get credit for (and validate out of) a course that you would take at USNA - and you would need to check with the individual departments at USNA to see what their requirements are for validating their courses.

AP Psych

Getting a >4 on the AP Psych test validates your Leadership, Ethics, and Law "Introductry Psychology" class in the Division of Officer Development.

Depends on how soft your major is

for validating...is it testing you out of the class or is it putting you in a more challenging class of that subject? if you get what i am saying?

Both, I guess

ski_addict29 said:

for validating...is it testing you out of the class or is it putting you in a more challenging class of that subject? if you get what i am saying?

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Unlike many other colleges, regardless of how many classes you validate you're going to be there 4 years. At her plan B school she would have entered as a 2nd semester soph and been able to finished in 3 years taking a light load. Not so at the NA.

What validating does is give you credit for certain classes which frees up space for others. For example, my DD validated plebe chemistry so that slot was available for something else (that being the only chem class required). She also validated calc 1 & 2 so was moved up to calc 3 (two years of calc being required.) All of this leads to having greater flexibility during 2C and 1C years. So it works both ways as lone survivor said.