How important are AP exam scores in the admissions process, and how do admissions officers view honors or accelerated courses as compared to AP courses?

"The depth and breadth of the high school and/or college curriculum of a student is very important -- work done at the accelerated, honors, and AP levels will matter in how the Admissions Committee evaluates the overall transcript. We do not make such subtle distinctions between the three levels of course work, especially because we do not accept AP credit."

- Elena Ruocco Bachrach, Dean of Admissions and the First Year, Bennington College

"This is a good one. There are a lot of misconceptions about a 3 on an AP being a passing score and giving college credit. Carefully check the policy of each college, as many grant credit only for scores of 4 and 5. Still, even if you do not present AP test scores, the fact that you took the challenging class (whether AP, IB, fourth year, or honors) will be noted and rewarded in the review process."

- Mike Sexton, Dean of Admissions, Lewis & Clark College

"Did you do well on you AP exams? Most colleges and universities give credit and placement for high achievers on the AP exams. In the admissions process, it is a good indication to us that you can truly handle college-level work and perform well. If you have your AP exam results sent directly to colleges, those scores will land in office of the registrar office and not be a part of your admission folder. If you have done well, request that the scores be put on your transcript or send us a copy of your score report. AP scores are not required for admission. If you did not do well, you should not report them. Each high school names courses differently. Take the best courses you can that are appropriate for you. You know whether AP, honors, or accelerated courses are most challenging and where you will learn best. If I were creating your schedule, I would want you to take AP courses in your areas of greatest strength and interest, honors courses in the courses in which you are still strong but less interested, and accelerated or regular courses in the subjects with which you struggle."

- Ann Fleming Brown, Associate Dean of Admissions, Union College

"AP courses indicate a standard of teaching that is quantifiable so we like to see them, but no one is penalized by being in honors or accelerated courses, especially if those are the highest-level courses offered in that school."

- Allen Pritchard, Assistant Director of Admissions, Randolph-Macon College

"If we are to care about students learning as much as possible about themselves and academic subjects while in high school, then the only reasonable answer to this question is, Students should take as many courses as possible that will make them think and work hard. They should never avoid a course that would help them grow intellectually just to protect a GPA. Honors or AP courses are not for everyone, but who are we kidding here? Our job is to advise students to think, learn, understand that learning is difficult, realize that the best teachers may not be those who make them feel good, and, finally, that working for a GPA rather than for personal and intellectual development is wrong. This is the exact advice that I am giving my daughter, who is a high school junior. Although I have been an admission professional for seventeen years, I am sure that my advice does not speak accurately for all colleges. Unfortunately, I fear that there are college admission offices that do not reward learning over grade point averages, but I am still going to advise my daughter to do what is right. I do know for certain that there are plenty of excellent colleges that will accept for admission the students who explain in their college admission essays why it was better for them to take the AP course and earn Bs than the regular course and earn As. Not only are AP and Honors courses not for everyone, but they may not always be the courses that will challenge a student the most. A student and a counselor need to try to figure out what courses will provide the best learning environment for each given student. But it is precisely that strategy and not one aimed at protecting a GPA that needs to occur."

- Larry Clendenin, Director of Admissions, College of St. John