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AP season is over, and the stress of late-night cram sessions and test-day nerves is finally behind you. But now comes the anxious waiting and worrying about your scores. Here’s the truth—you really don’t need to stress.
Taking an AP class is what matters most. It shows colleges that you challenged yourself with rigorous coursework. The exam? It’s just a test, and for most students, it won’t make or break anything. In fact, AP scores are often barely considered in college admissions. Admissions officers care far more about your grades in the class, not the number that shows up in July. Unless your scores directly contradict the rest of your application (like getting a 2 in APUSH after bragging about your love of history), they’ll likely be overlooked.
And what about earning college credit? While that’s the big selling point of AP exams, the reality is murkier. At elite schools, the very ones students who take APs often aim for, credit policies are restrictive or nonexistent. Harvard, Stanford, and many top-tier universities don’t let AP scores replace core classes or count toward your degree. Some may offer elective credit, but even that’s limited. Ironically, the more APs you take, the less marginal benefit you may receive.
Meanwhile, around 80% of students attend in-state public or community colleges, which are often more generous with dual credit (or College In the High School) from high school courses – no AP exam needed. If you’re headed to one of those schools, you may get the same credit simply by completing the AP class or taking a dual enrollment option.
Even if you do get credit, skipping introductory courses can backfire. College-level classes—especially in STEM—are much harder than their AP counterparts and starting at the 200-level as a freshman isn’t always the blessing it seems.
So, if you’re feeling unsure about your scores, don’t overthink it. You’ve already done the hard part, and chances are, the number you see in July won’t matter nearly as much as you think.
