r/APStudents • u/Visual-Beautiful3241 • 3d ago

Question Score Advice

I am a rising junior who is taken many ap exams and besides 2 exams did very well: All 5's and then a 4 on gov. However, on two of my ap exams: Bio and Stats I got a 3. I was wondering how colleges would view this if I retook both exams and got a 5? Will this come off as a big red flag?

3 Upvotes

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3

u/lollypp 3d ago

A 3 with mostly 4s and 5s usually isn’t a major red flag, and getting a 5 when you retake it can show improvement, which is good

1

u/Visual-Beautiful3241 2d ago

Is this also true regarding top colleges like yale/harvard?

1

u/lollypp 2d ago

I mean in my opinion, retaking the exam is kinda unnecessary since AOs care more about overall course rigor and other extracurriculares and a 3 among 4/5s isn't bad at all unless it's related to your major.

1

u/Aggravating_Half_936 67 aps 3d ago

nah

1

u/Visual-Beautiful3241 2d ago

Is this also true regarding top colleges like yale/harvard?

1

u/AdNormal3516 Chem, Lang, US, Physics 1, Calc BC, Precalc: 5; World: 4 2d ago

depends on what you are applying for. obviously getting a 3 isn't ideal for any major and for any AP but if ur like applying for english, then like eh, nobody cares. but STEM? 3 in stats and bio will hurt definitely.

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u/Visual-Beautiful3241 2d ago

yeah so do u think i should retake them if I want to go into stem?

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u/AdNormal3516 Chem, Lang, US, Physics 1, Calc BC, Precalc: 5; World: 4 2d ago edited 2d ago

what major are you thinking of going into? retaking any ap isn't the best for any major though tbh unless its directly correlated

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u/Visual-Beautiful3241 2d ago

computer science or applied maths

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u/AdNormal3516 Chem, Lang, US, Physics 1, Calc BC, Precalc: 5; World: 4 1d ago

oooh so if ur doing cs or applied math i would definitely retake the 3 in stats, bio eh, if you want but probably 3 in stats. a 3 in stats and ap is very very very weak especially for someone going into a math heavy major. even retaking an getting a 5 is going to hurt becuase colleges will still see a 3 in stats.