AP Courses - Conflicting Advice

[NYR56]

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I am currently taking orgo 2 and trying to figure out which other courses I would need to take for med school. I've heard that AP courses are generally looked down upon, but using my AP Chem credit instead of taking 4 additional courses will drastically change my plan (allow me to continue working full time). I've called numerous med schools and they all have said they accept the credits and there is absolutely no difference to them between that and undergrad chem. That goes directly against what I've read online and was wondering what everyone thinks about that.

In addition, most of the schools said any writing intensive class marked as such on the transcript will fulfill the english requirement. Once again they said there is no difference between writing intensive intro to business and an english composition class. Any thoughts?

I'm trying to get any post bacc classes done within a year so I can apply in 2010. I'd like my application to be strong and don't want to screw myself because I didn't take the right prereqs but at the same time, taking more classes will force me to quit my fulltime job working inside an OR. I don't know what med schools think but to me, that experience is far more important than repeating gen chem. Thanks for any advice!

 

[Captain Fantastic]

In addition, most of the schools said any writing intensive class marked as such on the transcript will fulfill the english requirement. Once again they said there is no difference between writing intensive intro to business and an english composition class. Any thoughts?

Anecdotal evidence, FWIW: I applied with one English course and two writing intensive courses in other disciplines (one Rural Sociology, one Computer Science). It didn't cause me any trouble getting into medical school. I was never once asked to explain anything about meeting any English requirements.

 

[sindadel]

Calling your top-choice schools (i.e. state schools + a few others) and clarifying their policy as regards this might be useful.

 

[sarahg]

Some schools won't accept AP credits at all or will only accept them for certain courses. If all of the schools you want to apply to say there's no difference, I'd assume those schools in particular don't care. People online are saying otherwise because they're applying to schools that don't accept AP credits or prefer not to.

The two reasons I could think of to retake chem are that you might change your mind and want to apply to a school that doesn't take the credits, and that since you presumably know chemistry pretty well it would probably be an easy way to beef up your GPA.

 

[painmd87]

I was DQ'd from a few schools for taking AP Chem credit. I'd call them and ask, and make sure you verify whom you're talking to and when you did.

If you still have time, take an upper level inorganic chem or biochem w/ labs.

Or go back and take the Chem I and II for a little GPA boost. I'll be pounding through them this summer.

 

[bellakk]

AP credits are usually accepted if a higher-level course in that same category has been taken. So AP credit for gen chem would be ok since you are taking organic chem for credit which is a higher-level chem class. I got AP credit for english comp 1 and 2 and am only able to use them on my application because I have taken a third semester of english that is a higher level course. However, I do agree that it might be a good idea to take the chem class instead of taking AP credit to boost your GPA. 5 credit hours of A for chemistry can do great things for the GPA, Although if your GPA is already great than this may not be necessary. And on the other hand, FT experience in an OR is probably more beneficial than gen chem. Just make sure and do well on the physical sci section of the MCAT to show that you've mastered the material.

I would call/email a couple schools to clarify the english requirements. I know most of the schools in my area (oklahoma/texas) require 3 english classes (or at least 8 credit hours) so you might need to take comp anyway.