What is an AP Scholar?

I've seen people mention the term 'AP Scholar' but I'm not quite sure what it means. Can anyone explain what an AP Scholar is and what it takes to achieve this recognition from College Board? Do colleges value it during the admissions process?

An AP Scholar is a recognition awarded by the College Board to high school students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement on multiple Advanced Placement (AP) exams. There are different levels of AP Scholar recognition based on the number of AP exams taken and the scores received on those exams. The levels are:

1. AP Scholar: Granted to a student who receives scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.

2. AP Scholar with Honor: Granted to a student who has an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

3. AP Scholar with Distinction: Granted to a student who has an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

4. National AP Scholar: Granted to students in the U.S. who have an average score of at least 4 on all AP exams taken and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.

As for the value of AP Scholar recognitions in the college admissions process, it is a nice achievement to include on your application, but it might not have a significant impact on your chances of getting admitted to selective colleges.

This is because college admissions officers mainly consider the rigor of your coursework and the actual AP scores you received to give context to and assess your academic performance. Additionally, they may prefer students who have excelled in a particular subject area or demonstrated in-depth involvement beyond just AP exams, such as through research or extracurricular activities.

To summarize, being an AP Scholar is a commendable accomplishment, but its influence on the college admissions process may not be substantial. It will be more important to focus on achieving high AP exam scores and demonstrating a strong academic profile overall, along with showcasing your extracurricular involvement and personal attributes.