You scored well on your APs. Now you have to actually get those scores to your college and make sure they translate into credit. Here's the exact process.
Step 1: Send Your Scores Officially
- Go to apscore.collegeboard.org.
- Sign in with your College Board account.
- Select "Send Scores."
- Choose the college(s) you're enrolling at. Each report costs $15 ($25 rush).
- First report is free if requested by June 20 of the year you took the exam.
Step 2: Check Your College's Receipt
Most colleges process AP scores during summer enrollment. After 2-4 weeks:
- Log into your college's student portal.
- Look for "Test Credits" or "Transfer Credits."
- Verify each AP score is showing the credit/placement awarded.
Step 3: Decide Whether to Claim the Credit
Just because you CAN claim AP credit doesn't always mean you SHOULD. Talk to your academic advisor about:
- Pre-med / engineering / pre-law: often skip-Bio-and-take-Org-Chem-instead is risky. Many advisors recommend taking the college intro course even with AP credit.
- Distribution / general ed: definitely claim. Use the AP credit to skip courses outside your major.
- Foreign language placement: AP credit usually places you out of intro levels. Verify with the language department.
What If My College Won't Accept My Score?
- Verify against the official policy at apcentral.collegeboard.org — your college's policy may have changed.
- Contact the registrar's office. Sometimes scores get mis-credited and need manual review.
- If your college truly doesn't accept the credit, the 5 is still a credential on your transcript. Move on.
AP College Credit Lookup · Got a 5 — Now What? · AimFive
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