AP Bio Credit (Upcoming Application)

[thebadge]

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Hi all,

When I was a freshman, I used my 5 on the AP bio exam to skip the introductory biology sequence and jump to the second semester with lab. I'm hoping to apply this cycle-- is there anything I can do to fill the two semesters required by many schools? I'm a biochem major and have taken upper level coursework (biochemistry of metabolism and analytical chemistry). I've also done independent wet-lab science research... would these count instead at many schools?

 

[polymerization]

There are pros here that can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is school-specific. I do know the MSAR tells you whether schools accept AP credit for their prerequisites.

In open houses/admissions events I've attended, and of all the content I've seen, I gather that you absolutely can take upper division biological sciences to meet the biology requirement (like: immunology, biology of cancer, molecular biology, population genetics, etc.).

I still think it's worth doing your own research and investigating at the schools you're planning to apply to. The difference between undergraduate and graduate work starts to blur once you reach the upper division sciences.

Keep your eyes peeled: many of the courses I ended up taking were actually graduate courses that were crosslisted at the undergraduate level but ultimately were taught for PhD students and were a lot more work than I was expecting. Gratifying, fulfilling work—but it definitely burned more hours than I was planning. Just something to keep in mind. Your 5 means nothing if you take an advanced biology course and fail it.

 

[thebadge]

I received a good answer here and have checked the forum and found this question a lot, so I locked it as I don't need more advice. Thanks!