AMCAS 2015: Splitting up AP credit for Calc, Chem,...?

[Methyl Orange]

Hi guys,

For the coursework area, I know that we have to enter in AP credits as "AP Credit: Calculus." I took Calc BC in high and credit for both Calc I and Calc II. So, would I split and say instead:

AP Credit: Calculus I, 3 credits
AP Credit: Calculus II, 3 credits

Also, does the same apply for AP Chem, Bio, Physics?

Like AP Credit: Chemistry I and Lab, 4 credits or AP Credit: Chemistry and Lab, 8 credits?

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[Ismet]

From https://www.aamc.org/students/download/188688/data/apcoursework.pdf

Since the three AP classes I took are lumped together under the title AP credit, I’ll type in AP Credit:
Calculus for the course name. When I enter the other AP courses, I’ll type AP Credit: followed by the
name of the other subject.

I’ll leave the Transcript grade blank because I was only awarded credit, and my official transcript
doesn’t have a grade associated with my AP courses. Remember, this is only the way that XYZ
University reflects AP credit. If your official transcript is different, you should enter the information
accurately.

In this case, I have to be careful with the credit hours. Although XYZ lumped all of my AP credit
together, I’ll enter the individual credits that were awarded for each AP course. However, I need to be
careful not to exceed the total amount of credit earned.

tl;dr Yes, split up the credit hours, just double check that you don't exceed the total # of AP credit hours you were awarded.

Also, you probably already know this, but double check if the med schools you're applying to accept AP credit. Many don't accept it, and may require upper division courses in order to fulfill the pre-reqs.

 

[Methyl Orange]

Thank you so much! I ended up re-taking my science APs anyway (bio, chem, physics) because I didn't want to worry about the pre-reqs. Also, my institution took this as a repeat and didn't give me Earned Credit Hours. My transcript says: "Repeated: In GPA, Exclude Credit." Does this matter when I am filling out the credits for AMCAS? I dont want AMCAS to think that the number of credits dont add up or anything...

 

[mehc012]

My school put the APs on the transcript to show placement, but I don't believe they were counted for any credits. Of course, my school didn't have a credit system, so it's hard to tell from the transcript alone. I wouldn't mind putting those in there, though...that'd be 30 extra 4.0 credits (assuming 3 credit equivalence).

 

[pbrocks15]

I took AP Calc I was wondering the same thing.

Not to hijack your thread but I was wondering if medical schools would deny me having used AP calc to complete the pre reqs?

 

[Methyl Orange]

I took AP Calc I was wondering the same thing.

Not to hijack your thread but I was wondering if medical schools would deny me having used AP calc to complete the pre reqs?

I think, from what I have seen, that is very dependent on the schools. I would check the pre reqs for the ones you plan to apply. Personally, I think the AP credits are more of a concern for the science classes.

 

[terp720]

My school put the APs on the transcript to show placement, but I don't believe they were counted for any credits. Of course, my school didn't have a credit system, so it's hard to tell from the transcript alone. I wouldn't mind putting those in there, though...that'd be 30 extra 4.0 credits (assuming 3 credit equivalence).

you can put them in if your university granted you credit for them, but they don't affect GPA (assuming that's what you mean by 4.0 credits? maybe I'm misreading that..)

 

[mehc012]

you can put them in if your university granted you credit for them, but they don't affect GPA (assuming that's what you mean by 4.0 credits? maybe I'm misreading that..)

My school didn't do credit. It didn't use credit to determine graduation eligibility, it didn't do transfer, etc. You took 4 classes every semester, and if you missed one you had to take 5 once to make it up.
As I said, it lists them all on the transcript along with the 1st year placement exams to show which classes you were recommended to take as a freshman, but you will not find the word 'credit' anywhere on the unofficial transcript, at least. I would like to include them - as I said, 10 5s in 2yrs doesn't hurt anything, even if it doesn't help in any measurable (aka GPA) way. It also reinforces my math prereqs, among others, though I think I'm good for all schools given that I took an upper level Math, Biochem, English x2, etc.

 

[terp720]

My school didn't do credit. It didn't use credit to determine graduation eligibility, it didn't do transfer, etc. You took 4 classes every semester, and if you missed one you had to take 5 once to make it up.
As I said, it lists them all on the transcript along with the 1st year placement exams to show which classes you were recommended to take as a freshman, but you will not find the word 'credit' anywhere on the unofficial transcript, at least. I would like to include them - as I said, 10 5s in 2yrs doesn't hurt anything, even if it doesn't help in any measurable (aka GPA) way. It also reinforces my math prereqs, among others, though I think I'm good for all schools given that I took an upper level Math, Biochem, English x2, etc.

right.. I understood from your previous post that your university doesn't use credits. I'm not saying it hurt anything? or questioning anything about your classes..
I just meant the AAMC instructions say you can include AP if your college granted you credit (probably works if they're on your transcript but Idk how entering classes in works for schools like yours), but mostly I interpreted the "4.0" to be about GPA, so was clarifying that they don't factor into GPA for anyone.

 

[mehc012]

right.. I understood from your previous post that your university doesn't use credits. I'm not saying it hurt anything? or questioning anything about your classes..
I just meant the AAMC instructions say you can include AP if your college granted you credit (probably works if they're on your transcript but Idk how entering classes in works for schools like yours), but mostly I interpreted the "4.0" to be about GPA, so was clarifying that they don't factor into GPA for anyone.

Fair enough...I knew that, but wasn't thinking when I posted.
I still have no idea whether I get to mention my AP courses, though, which is my biggest concern there. I don't understand why you wouldn't be able to show them, regardless of what your school counts. If they aren't credit and don't affect GPA, then why does it matter whether your school accepted them? They're a standardized test that you got a certain score on, why do some people get to use that test and others not?
Terrible system.

 

[terp720]

Fair enough...I knew that, but wasn't thinking when I posted.
I still have no idea whether I get to mention my AP courses, though, which is my biggest concern there. I don't understand why you wouldn't be able to show them, regardless of what your school counts. If they aren't credit and don't affect GPA, then why does it matter whether your school accepted them? They're a standardized test that you got a certain score on, why do some people get to use that test and others not?
Terrible system.

I assume you could? Your school doesn't list credits, but don't you have to convert it somehow when you enter your courses into the primary? Maybe it would work the same for the AP courses?

edit: soo many questions haha

 

[mehc012]

I assume you could? Your school doesn't list credits, but don't you have to convert it somehow when you enter your courses into the primary? Maybe it would work the same for the AP courses?

edit: soo many questions haha

Haha, yeah, you have to call the registrar and ask them for the credit equivalence of each individual course you took. I mean, after the first several you start to figure out the patterns...non-science courses are 3.25 credits, most sciences with labs are 4.75, chemistry courses with labs are 5.25, etc. There are some other outliers which I don't know how to estimate.

If you want to get REALLY strange/complex, the Chemistry department accepts AP chem (well, technically I believe it is set up so that if you have AP chem you can take a special intro course which counts double towards the major), but of course, you don't get any double-counting towards graduation for the school, just for the Chem major reqs.

Now, I don't really expect anyone to be able to answer these sorts of things for me...but it sort of highlights how stupid it is that APs don't simply count as APs, regardless of how your college handles them.

 

[terp720]

Haha, yeah, you have to call the registrar and ask them for the credit equivalence of each individual course you took. I mean, after the first several you start to figure out the patterns...non-science courses are 3.25 credits, most sciences with labs are 4.75, chemistry courses with labs are 5.25, etc. There are some other outliers which I don't know how to estimate.

If you want to get REALLY strange/complex, the Chemistry department accepts AP chem (well, technically I believe it is set up so that if you have AP chem you can take a special intro course which counts double towards the major), but of course, you don't get any double-counting towards graduation for the school, just for the Chem major reqs.

Now, I don't really expect anyone to be able to answer these sorts of things for me...but it sort of highlights how stupid it is that APs don't simply count as APs, regardless of how your college handles them.

geez thats so confusing!

 

[mehc012]

Yeah, that didn't make it less confusing. It just highlighted the effed up system I was complaining about in the first place.

1) Not relevant to what we called confusing, and in fact already pointed out multiple times
2) Same
3) The registrar has a list of 'credit equivalences', which is the only place to get that information.
4) I am in that atypical circumstance, which is what we were discussing in the first place, so listing all of the other stuff is not helpful. But thanks for telling me what I 'should have done when I originally matriculated', as a person who was not premed and so these things were not relevant.
5) The point is, why isn't this the default, instead of some screwy 'some people get credit for their APs and others don't'. I understand that colleges vary across the board, but that is a confounding factor in evaluating coursework, not something that should be emphasized when you're already talking about standardized evaluation
6) Not really, but thanks for the condescension.

 

[terp720]

Lets make lets confusing

1) If your college transcripts list AP credits you get to mention them

2) if your college transcripts dont list AP credits, you dont get to mention them

3) Registar at college is usually by charter responsible for keeping records of students, not evaluation of course work. That would typically under student advisement.

4) unless you are in some atypical circumstance where AP allowed you to opt out of a prereq and now you do not have the on your record, there is no reason to try to fix it at this late date (ie late as in a junior trying to fix things that should have been done when you originally matriculated to your undergrad institution ) .

5) If you do get accepted to medical school and need to show a course via AP (every accepted student will need to have official transcripts sent to medical school prior to matriculation) you may need to get the AP score sent directly.

6) you will have alot more to be focusing on (ie to be neurotic and OCD) about than AP courses.

yeahhhhh. I was just talking about how @mehc012 has to call and get all the credit equivalences of all her classes, which compared to someone with credits simply listed on their transcript is a bit more difficult.
have already been through the process, it was rather straightforward for me. but 👍

 

[plumazul]

Yeah, that didn't make it less confusing. It just highlighted the effed up system I was complaining about in the first place.

1) Not relevant to what we called confusing, and in fact already pointed out multiple times
2) Same
3) The registrar has a list of 'credit equivalences', which is the only place to get that information.
4) I am in that atypical circumstance, which is what we were discussing in the first place, so listing all of the other stuff is not helpful. But thanks for telling me what I 'should have done when I originally matriculated', as a person who was not premed and so these things were not relevant.
5) The point is, why isn't this the default, instead of some screwy 'some people get credit for their APs and others don't'. I understand that colleges vary across the board, but that is a confounding factor in evaluating coursework, not something that should be emphasized when you're already talking about standardized evaluation
6) Not really, but thanks for the condescension.

If your school maintains such a list but does not put AP credit on your transcript, then the list must be only to help in placing students in classes (determining if a student has the proper prerequisites). If your AP exams are not listed on your transcript as credit for college courses taught at that university, then they don't belong on the AMCAS.

 

[mehc012]

If your school maintains such a list but does not put AP credit on your transcript, then the list must be only to help in placing students in classes (determining if a student has the proper prerequisites). If your AP exams are not listed on your transcript as credit for college courses taught at that university, then they don't belong on the AMCAS.

Which is a) a stupid policy, as I've already stated, and b) unhelpful, because the courses taught at that college are not listed as credit either.

 

[mehc012]

I am not trying to be condescending; just trying explain that most AP doesnt matter. If your school somehow uses the AP towards fulfillment of graduation requirements, then it will be on the transcript in some fashion. If it doesnt have a credit value on the transcript and you create credit equivalences you may in fact be delaying your AMCAS verification. Using them just add to number of credits doesnt do anything to enhance your application so why sweat over it. As long as you are over the 90 credits to apply. Unless you need an AP in fulfillment of some specific requirement, then it is not worth much in the effort to get them on transcript.

You apparently don't have to try.

I cannot see how showing the ability to consistently excel at standardized exams (10 5s in 2yrs) is unhelpful. Personally, I had a cruddy college gpa due to a whole crap-ton of factors not worth going into here. However, I was a great student before college, and now have a good 2yr 4.0 postbacc.
And again, since I took so many of them, that adds 2 maths, 2 sciences, 2 english, a foreign language, 2 histories, and a CS course...that is a substantial additional coursework background that again, can only help.

Furthermore, the inconsistency bothers me. APs are by definition a standardized exam, meaning that I put in exactly the same effort to get my scores as everyone else...so why should I not be able to use them when others can? It's completely ridiculous as a matter of principle.