How to Not Send Your AP Scores to College (and Why You Might Want To)
Okay, let’s be real. You’re here because you’re either desperately trying to avoid a college admissions officer seeing your AP scores, or you just want to know how to exercise your right to keep those test results under wraps. Whatever the reason, you’ve stumbled upon the ultimate guide to dodging the AP score sending process.
The Short Answer:
You’ve got options, my friend. The College Board, in its infinite wisdom, has provided a few ways to keep your AP scores under wraps. You can:
- Cancel your scores: This means you’re effectively saying “Nope, I don’t want this score associated with me” and the College Board will happily oblige. Just make sure you do it by June 15th of the year you took the exam.
- Withhold your scores from specific colleges: This is a more targeted approach. You can choose which colleges get to see those precious (or perhaps not-so-precious) AP scores.
- Don’t send them at all! It’s your score, your choice. You can simply choose not to send your AP scores to your colleges.
The Long Answer, Because Let’s Be Honest, We All Have Time For That
Now, let’s delve into the nitty-gritty of each option, because you deserve a detailed explanation that’s as clear as a perfectly scored AP exam:
1. The “Cancel Everything” Method:
This is for the bold, the daring, the “I want a clean slate” types. You can totally cancel your AP score. You just need to fill out a fancy form, sign it with a flourish, and send it to the AP Services. Think of it as a formal “I’m done with this” letter to the College Board.
Here’s the catch: You have to submit this cancellation form by June 15th of the year you took the exam. It’s like a deadline, but with a more dramatic name. After that, it’s too late, and your score will be sent to the colleges you’ve chosen on your My AP account.
2. The “Selective Sending” Strategy:
This option is for the strategic, the calculated, the “I’ll pick and choose who sees my scores” types. The College Board lets you select which colleges receive your scores. You can be as selective as a designer shoe buyer, and pick only the colleges you want to impress.
The catch is that you need to make those selections online through My AP. And it’s important to note that if you’re opting to send your scores to any colleges, they’ll receive the full report, including any scores you’re not thrilled with.
3. The “I’m Not Sending Anything” Approach:
This is for the rebels, the free spirits, the “I’m not playing your game” types. You can completely avoid sending your AP scores to any colleges. No pressure, no stress, just pure freedom.
The catch is that you might miss out on potential college credit or a little boost in your application. Colleges do take AP scores into account, and they can be a factor in admissions decisions. But hey, you’re the one choosing your path.
Why You Might Want to Keep Those Scores Under Wraps
Now, let’s talk about why you might be considering this whole “not sending AP scores” thing. Here are a few common reasons:
- You’re not satisfied with your score: Let’s be honest, sometimes those AP exams can be a real curveball. If you didn’t do as well as you’d hoped, you might feel like your score doesn’t accurately reflect your abilities. It’s completely understandable to want to avoid showing it to colleges.
- You’re worried about your GPA: If you’re worried that your AP scores might drag your GPA down, you might want to keep them hidden. This is especially true if you’re applying to selective colleges that heavily weigh GPA.
- You’re applying to schools that don’t give much weight to AP scores: Some colleges don’t give a lot of weight to AP scores, so you might be better off focusing on other aspects of your application, like your extracurricular activities or essays.
- You’re just not comfortable sending your scores: Maybe you’re just not comfortable with the idea of sending your AP scores to colleges. It’s your data, and you have the right to decide who gets to see it.
The Bottom Line: It’s Your Choice
No matter what your reasoning is, remember that it’s your decision whether or not to send your AP scores. There’s no right or wrong answer. Just make sure you’re comfortable with the choice you make and that it aligns with your overall college application strategy.
But Wait! There’s More!
Remember, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The world of AP scores and college applications is a vast and complicated one. If you have any more questions, or need further guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at JobLoving. We’re here to help you navigate the treacherous waters of college applications and emerge victorious.