AP credit?

[jorditafrita]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hi,
I have a friend who is hoping to apply to med school this june. She is a senior at UC davis. When she entered she emailed some schools and was told that her AP credit for a full year of physics would be fine for the physics requirement, and since davis accepted ap credit for physics, she decided not to take any physics.
Well, she seems to have just realized that she may have been given incorrect info and is now seriously stressing over this. So, my question is, which schools will accept AP credit for physics, or where would I go to find that info? Also, would she be at a disadvantage is she took physics during her year off at a jc if she can't get credit for the AP?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
thanks

 

[ocdp09]

it is discouraged by many med schools to use ap credit, my med advisor told me to not use any of the credits, so basically all my ap credit did for me was to help me get into undergrad

 

[Kardizzle]

it is discouraged by many med schools to use ap credit, my med advisor told me to not use any of the credits, so basically all my ap credit did for me was to help me get into undergrad

From my experience, most of the schools I applied to accepted AP credit, to a point. Most schools had a policy of allowing AP Physics C (Mechanics and E&M) to fulfill the 1 year of physics requirement, but AP Chem would only fulfill 1 semester of chemistry, meaning I would have to take an additional chemistry class in college. Most schools also accepted AP Calculus BC as a complete fulfillment for a math requirement, if they had one.

To get more information, check their website under "admissions requirements" or anything similar to that. They will usually mention what classes they require you to have taken before matriculation, and if AP credits can be used. If you can't find that information online, you can always call the admissions office. It's a common question for a lot of applicants, so they will know the policy.

At my particular school, all my AP credits were accepted (physics, chem, math) so I didn't have to take any prerequisites in college except biology.

Of course, doing so limited which schools I could apply to. Some schools may be lenient in their AP policies, especially if you took a science-intensive major and can show that you have a good foundation of the basic sciences. Some may not deviate from their policies at all. I think the UC schools are particularly strict about this. I'd advise your friend to take physics at her school if possible (even if it means taking the course for credit after graduation) to make the application process as smooth as possible. You don't want to have to call every school you're thinking of applying to and plead a case to see if they will accept a physics course taken at a JC.

 

[CTtarheel]

To give yourself the possibility of applying to every school under the sun you should back up your AP credits, i.e. have 2 semesters of inorganic/gen chem, physics, and bio with labs without using your AP credits. I used AP credits for bio, chem, and physics, and I was not able to apply to several schools that would not take my credits. Almost all the ivy's don't accept AP credits, and neither does UCLA or JHU. Thus, back them up to be on the safe side, or just understand that there will be some schools you do not meet the requirements for.

 

[jash0624]

I say take the APs but take some upper level classes in the subjects to show you know your stuff. I kept my Phys AP but I'm a Physics major so it just got me to the good stuff quicker😀

 

[CTtarheel]

I say take the APs but take some upper level classes in the subjects to show you know your stuff. I kept my Phys AP but I'm a Physics major so it just got me to the good stuff quicker😀

exactly, doesn't matter if its an intro class or more advanced class, just make sure you have the hours and the labs in each subject (labs can be harder to get as not all advanced classes have them!).

 

[mvenus929]

This website is a general overview of a number of colleges that do not accept credits, but it's not completely accurate (I know Columbia refuses to accept AP credits for prereqs unless you have equivalent upper division to back them up.

http://www.colorado.edu/ArtsSciences/aacforstudents/noapib.htm

I got credit for math, bio, english and physics, but I took the physics labs at my school, and I'm a bio major. I'm required to take a stats class, so I hope that that's enough for the schools I plan on applying to. Also, I took a lit class, since it was required for my humanities credit, and I had to pass a writing portfolio to graduate, so I don't think my english credits will be too much of a problem. Good luck!

 

[xd2005]

On a more general note, more schools accept AP Physics than Chemistry than Biology. If you are a biosciences major, be sure to take biochem in addition to the organic chem sequence and you should be fine.

 

[CTtarheel]

This website is a general overview of a number of colleges that do not accept credits, but it's not completely accurate (I know Columbia refuses to accept AP credits for prereqs unless you have equivalent upper division to back them up.

http://www.colorado.edu/ArtsSciences/aacforstudents/noapib.htm

I got credit for math, bio, english and physics, but I took the physics labs at my school, and I'm a bio major. I'm required to take a stats class, so I hope that that's enough for the schools I plan on applying to. Also, I took a lit class, since it was required for my humanities credit, and I had to pass a writing portfolio to graduate, so I don't think my english credits will be too much of a problem. Good luck!

This list is either out of date or incorrect. I know that both BU and Temple accept AP credits.