Ap classes and college GPA

[ReyesSMHS]

If I pass some of the AP exams I have, will they have an impact on my college GPA? My concern is my GPA before I apply to med school. I don't want a 3 on an AP exam counting against me as B which would lower my GPA. Thank You, I appreciate it.

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[aarsdam]

IF your AP classes count for credit (depends on the university), they do not have a grade associated with them. APs are good training for college and can lighten your load so you can graduate early, but they will have absolutely NO bearing on your college GPA.

APs can provide marginal help, but will certainly not hurt you in any way. Don't be so neurotic!! Worry about going to college before you start worrying about medical school.

 

[goyo1010]

AP credit has no associated GPA score. It is simply credited to your degree. For example, I had 42 hours worth of AP credits toward equivalent classes, but they all counted as an "S", which simply designates that the class was credited via AP credit. This can be a good or bad thing. Good in that you save money not having to take theses classes, you get experience in "college-level" classes, you can graduate early. Bad in that those freshmen/sophomore classes to which the APs were credited aren't counted. So if you were to make As in those relatively easy classes, well there won't be any 4s to allocate to you GPA.

 

[ReyesSMHS]

I allready know what school I'm going to. I will be majoring in biochemistry, and I plan on taking 3 AP tests in May. I felt that being concerned for my gpa is a very real concern, considering that maybe a 3 would keep me from a 4.0 when I could have otherwise done so. So I am curious, do the units I would receive for the course count, but not as a grade?

 

[ReyesSMHS]

AP credit has no associated GPA score. It is simply credited to your degree. For example, I had 42 hours worth of AP credits toward equivalent classes, but they all counted as an "S", which simply designates that the class was credited via AP credit. This can be a good or bad thing. Good in that you save money not having to take theses classes, you get experience in "college-level" classes, you can graduate early. Bad in that those freshmen/sophomore classes to which the APs were credited aren't counted. So if you were to make As in those relatively easy classes, well there won't be any 4s to allocate to you GPA.

Ahh I see how it works now..So it is sort of a gamble I guess. Okay so I guess if I do receive credit, then I better focus on some of the harder classes I will be taking later on. Okay Thank you guys, I appreciate the help!

 

[goyo1010]

Mhmm. Good luck and don't study too hard. That never works out because people get burned out. If you take enough APs in high school, then some, if not the majority, of your college freshman classes, e.g., Gen Bio, freshman english and comp, government, will be credited toward your degree and you can start taking higher level classes earlier.

This could also give you the time to participate to a greater degree in on campus activities or research later on in junior/senior year, as you won't have as many classes as you would have without the APs. But I guess, you may have to work hard to get good grades in those classes as you won't have the buffer of the credited classes.

Enjoy your final months before college!

Ahh I see how it works now..So it is sort of a gamble I guess. Okay so I guess if I do receive credit, then I better focus on some of the harder classes I will be taking later on. Okay Thank you guys, I appreciate the help!

 

[deleted393595]

Be careful about which classes you use your AP tests to claim credit for. Most medical schools will not count the credit hours you got from your AP tests. I need to look more deeply into this, so don't take my word for this, but I think that med schools are ok with using AP credits for liberal arts classes but not science classes (especially intro classes).

But be warned. Most intro classes often introduce more material and go more into depth than a regular AP class at your high school. By skipping to the next level, you could be missing out on valuable knowledge from the earlier class and you could do terribly.

 

[skierbum]

If I pass some of the AP exams I have, will they have an impact on my college GPA? My concern is my GPA before I apply to med school. I don't want a 3 on an AP exam counting against me as B which would lower my GPA. Thank You, I appreciate it.

If anything, they get you out of the traditionally "weeder" classes and allow you to take upper level classes like genetics and microbio...which will give you an edge. Also, it will free up your schedule for a minor or double major.