AP Scholar Award: National or International?

Hi! So, I just found out I might qualify for the AP Scholar award. Is this a national or international distinction? I'd like to know how prestigious this award is and if it'll make a difference on college applications.

Hi there! Congratulations on qualifying for the AP Scholar award! This award is given to students on a national level in the United States, although international students who take AP tests can also qualify for it. The College Board, which administers the Advanced Placement (AP) program, offers various levels of AP Scholar awards, such as AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, and AP Scholar with Distinction. Each of these is based on the number of exams taken and the scores obtained on those exams. The higher the level of the award, the more prestigious it is.

While becoming an AP Scholar is certainly an accomplishment, it is not extremely rare or unique, as many high-achieving students receive this distinction. Therefore, it would be categorized as a Tier 4 extracurricular achievement, which is the most common and often seen by admissions committees. Including this award on your college application can show that you performed well on multiple AP tests, but it's not likely to significantly boost your application on its own.

To stand out to college admissions committees, it's crucial to focus on your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and essays. Ideally, you'd want to strive for achievements that display greater leadership or exceptional skill in your area of interest, such as Tier 1 and Tier 2 accomplishments. While the AP Scholar award can be a nice addition to your accomplishments, it should not be the sole factor you rely on to boost your application. Make sure you're also investing time and effort into your other extracurriculars that demonstrate your passion and dedication to specific areas!

I hope this helps! Good luck with your college applications!