If you are a high school junior and you will be applying early action to the college of your dreams this fall, you may wonder if you should send in your AP (advanced placement ) exam scores.  What if you received scores, a 4 and a 5 on the two exams you took, should you send them in May of your junior year? Are they part of the college  application process?  Will they help in the decision process?

AP or Advanced Placement courses are college level classes with exams given each May for students who complete the AP coursework. The fact that you took rigorous courses will indicate to a college that you are college ready. You’ll improve your writing skills, sharpen your problem-solving abilities, and develop time management skills, discipline, and study habits. These characteristics may be helpful in the in the admissions process. The scores may or may not be a factor in the admissions decision. If the college  ask you to report the scores, they will look at them. The scores should be sent directly from the College Board testing service. The AP course and test results could also be a factor in class placement at college. Each college will decide if credit will be given for courses you completed in high school. Once you have determined where you will enroll, you will need to order score reports for that college if you expect to earn credit for your AP results.

Another tip:  As you being to send materials (e.g., recommendations, test scores, resume) to colleges where you plan to apply, the admission staff will keep these materials in a file until your application comes in. Once your application and fee (or fee waiver) arrives, the admissions staff  will open a file for you and connect the materials.