AP Credits and Pre-reqs

[LightShallBringVictory]

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Hey all, I just had a quick (and desperate) question on AP credits for pre-reqs.

I opted out General Chemistry, General Biology, and 6 quarter units ( two quarters or 1 semester) of College English from my AP credits when I came to college. I am a biology major and currently a senior, so I took upper-level biology courses, which would replace the General Biology requirement for schools that ask the applicants to take advanced classes for pre-reqs if AP credits were used. However, my MAJOR concern is the General Chemistry and College English requirements. I have 4 quarter units of General Chemistry WITHOUT lab in college, and 5 quarter units of UPPER-LEVEL chemistry class, but it was research credits. I know I should contact each school for clarification, but I just wanted to ask for general opinions - Will my chemistry research credits (which involved, of course, labs) replace the General Chemistry requirements? It is under the same department (Chemistry).

As for College English, I have 6 quarter units of English courses from AP credits, and currently taking a writing class, which is 3 quarter units. I will have had 9 quarter units (or 2 semesters) of college English by graduation, but 6 out of the nine credits will be AP credit-based, and, to make it even worse, three out of the nine credits are not class-specific on transcript.

I of course have been talking to my advisor about these issues since last year, but he said it would be all right. Naiive have I been! After checking multiple schools for their policies for AP credits, I realized I was in big trouble; therefore I am creating this thread to ask the following questions:

1.Research credits for chemistry (same department) for fulfilling General Chemistry requirement?

2. If no for 1), then will Biochemistry credits (6 quarter units) be okay for it?

3. I took a writing intensive class, but its department was Microbiology and the course title was not at all giving the impression that it was writing intensive. Can I explain myself in secondaries to use it to fulfill the college English requirement?

4. I have read many threads on this issue on SDN, and I learned, though I am not sure, that one can take pre-req courses during the summer BEFORE matriculation. If this is true, then what should I say on AMCAS?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[deleted781806]

1) I don't think research credits would count towards course prerequisites, but I could be wrong.
2) Biochemistry =/= General Chemistry, in general, but maybe some schools are more lenient about it.
3) How did you have a writing intensive microbiology course?
4) Possible, but a tricky situation I think, I'd defer to someone who has more experience with these types of things.

The main rule is that to meet prerequisite course requirements for medical school admissions, they need to show up on your transcript explicitly, you can't just bypass a course (such as general chemistry) without any credit given for the introductory courses. You'd also definitely have to read up on all of the schools you are hoping to apply to though, as there is some variation in prerequisite policies between institutions.

 

[LightShallBringVictory]

1) I don't think research credits would count towards course prerequisites, but I could be wrong.
2) Biochemistry =/= General Chemistry, in general, but maybe some schools are more lenient about it.
3) How did you have a writing intensive microbiology course?
4) Possible, but a tricky situation I think, I'd defer to someone who has more experience with these types of things.

The main rule is that to meet prerequisite course requirements for medical school admissions, they need to show up on your transcript explicitly, you can't just bypass a course (such as general chemistry) without any credit given for the introductory courses. You'd also definitely have to read up on all of the schools you are hoping to apply to though, as there is some variation in prerequisite policies between institutions.

The Microbiology writing class was a course for learning how to write grant proposals, news articles, epidemiological report and etc - required by my major (Biology). There must be a section where I can explain this... right?

I was definitely given the credits for General Chemistry series - I will have to ask school to make it show up on my transcript. I definitely hope I could take missing classes the summer before matriculation. Thank you for your response.

 

[deleted781806]

The Microbiology writing class was a course for learning how to write grant proposals, news articles, epidemiological report and etc - required by my major (Biology). There must be a section where I can explain this... right?

There will probably be a free spot for comments about your coursework on secondaries, if you are concerned that they will not take your word for it that it was writing intensive (it would definitely help your case if it was listed as such on your transcript, but this varies from institution to institution). Also make sure that it doesn't need to be an English writing intensive course, because sometimes they are a bit picky. I think you should be fine, verify with individual schools though! Double-check about using AP credit for prerequisites as well, some schools really want to see that you did the work while in college (varies between schools, as I said).

 

[LightShallBringVictory]

There will probably be a free spot for comments about your coursework on secondaries, if you are concerned that they will not take your word for it that it was writing intensive (it would definitely help your case if it was listed as such on your transcript, but this varies from institution to institution). Also make sure that it doesn't need to be an English writing intensive course, because sometimes they are a bit picky. I think you should be fine, verify with individual schools though! Double-check about using AP credit for prerequisites as well, some schools really want to see that you did the work while in college (varies between schools, as I said).

I have just checked my official transcript notation policy and writing intensive courses are denoted with a symbol like an asterisk - great news indeed. Symbol legendary is kind of hard to locate on the transcript, though, so I will just mention it briefly.

I will definitely check with schools individually for their policies. I just don't know why my AP credits transferred are not showing for the classes I opted out on the official transcript, whereas they do on online transcript. Thanks so much for the encouragement and answer!

 

[LightShallBringVictory]

If there is anyone who knows about my question 4), please leave a comment! It'd be greatly appreciated. 🙂

 

[cactusman]

I believe (4) usually happens because you weren't able to take the course as you planned to during your senior year. It sounds be risky to plan for that schedule, especially since some orientations may overlap with summer courses.

 

[LightShallBringVictory]

I believe (4) usually happens because you weren't able to take the course as you planned to during your senior year. It sounds be risky to plan for that schedule, especially since some orientations may overlap with summer courses.

Should I then take the missing course(s) during the summer after graduation this year? I think that is a much safer bet.

 

[LightShallBringVictory]

A friend of mine who knows more about the med school admission just told me that I should just take a class at a local community college after graduation - sounds like I can actually do it...?

 

[deleted781806]

sounds like I can actually do it..

I have heard of people taking prerequisites after graduation at CCs, it does depend on when you are expecting to apply and when you are hoping to take the courses though. The scheduling might not match up well, but it depends. If it was post-acceptance you'd also have to make sure things would work out well with that particular school. Lots of variables.

 

[LightShallBringVictory]

The policy on all these are school specific. The safest and no risk method is to take the actual courses. No school will accept AP or exempt work unless assigning credits atht appear your transcript. Even after that, a school may not accept the AP, may require additional work, or may in fact, not allow substitution or advanced coursework. You must find the policy of each school first on MSAR and then on each school's website.
(See my post with school example links http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...al-school-applications.1198163/#post-17717701)

All applicants should also understand that the checking of fulfillment of prereqs is not done on either AMCAS primary or on most schools secondaries. It is a post-acceptance/pre-matriculation function. That is, offer you take an offer of acceptance, you will be required to send official transcripts to the school where they will check, among other things, courses for fulfilling prereqs. Not having prereqs fulfilled may require a waiver request, a deferment, or in the very unlikely worst case scenario, rescinding of your acceptance. Therefore, all applicants should be very aware and should not assume substitution of courses can be made


Some schools may accept this, but it is iffy at best and will require a waiver


Biochemistry is required course at many schools and cant be substituted for another required course


Some schools are very strict that it be an English course and not simply a writing course. I had a former journalism major and professional writer nontrad who was required by a school to pick up intro english



You may be able to but this is becoming more risky. The reason is that more and more medical schools are starting earlier and earlier and you may not be able to have the time to take a summer class, finish it and get an official transcript in prior to orientation. Schools are also moving to requiring course fulfillment be accomplished by June or even by January of matriculation year.

Thanks for the detailed response - I checked URL you posted, and it does seem that I would need to check institutions individually unless I retake the courses I opted out...

If end up taking the required course(s) at a local community college, it would be this summer after graduation - since I am taking a gap year (applying this cycle), should I be alright? I am getting so frustrated about this issue, because my advisor NEVER told me it may be a problem until I brought it up MYSELF last year. I also checked my official transcript (electronic) from last year and my AP credits did not specify which classes they were applied for - I think I will just visit the registrar's office tomorrow and ask them what is going on! I am panicking 🙁

 

[Welshman]

If end up taking the required course(s) at a local community college, it would be this summer after graduation - since I am taking a gap year (applying this cycle), should I be alright?

Why not just stay and take them at your Uni? I think the general consensus is not to take prereqs at a CC.

I couldn't see why taking them during your gap year would be a problem, gap years are for strengthening your app

 

[LightShallBringVictory]

Why not just stay and take them at your Uni? I think the general consensus is not to take prereqs at a CC.

I couldn't see why taking them during your gap year would be a problem, gap years are for strengthening your app

I would have to drive here from where I will live after graduation on class days, which takes more than an hour - or I could just take them online, even though I'll still have to travel on lab days if I end up retaking chemistry classes too. I will come back to this thread after talking with my advisor tomorrow! You brought up a really good point. Thanks so much!