AP credits

[LaxGoaliePharm]

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Hey guys, I have a few questions about AP exams, credits, and how they apply to a future pre-med.

Will med schools take AP credits for pre-reqs? If so, is there any grade associated with it on your college transcript? Could it count towards my GPA?

Also, I'm thinking that I would take bio again in college because it would be one of the easier classes I would have to take, so it would make it slightly easier to get a good GPA.

And more relevant to me right now..........Any advice for the AP bio exam? I'm feeling pretty confident since I did great on a practice test, but I would appreciate it if anyone had any tips, especially regarding time management on the open response section.

 

[Lil Mick]

Don't know much about AP classes in general, but each medical school decides what sort of AP credit they will accept. Generally, taking a harder class (next level of course) will make it okay to use AP credit for college courses (such as two upper level physics courses with labs if you have credit for the first two introductory physics courses).

 

[Ibuprofen]

What Lil Mick said basically. AP classes (especially science) are mainly for getting a good background and foundation in a subject. Random APs for general education requirements at a college are useful though like APUSH, APHUGS, AP Psych, AP Econ, etc to open up college time.

To be honest, the biggest reason to take AP classes in high school is to get in the college you want, and more importantly for the price you want (Impressive High School credit list/awards = lots of scholarship money)

 

[NickNaylor]

I didn't accept any of my AP credit (aka retook all of the classes) because AP is a joke. Passing the exam - or even getting a 5 - does NOT mean that you know the material well. If anything, it should be an easy A since it's more review than anything else (you'll discover this probably won't be the case).

Lil Mack is correct with AP classes and pre-reqs, however some schools are wonky and won't accept advanced credit in lieu of AP classes. Personally I would just retake the classes once you get into college.

 

[loveoforganic]

I didn't accept any of my AP credit (aka retook all of the classes) because AP is a joke. Passing the exam - or even getting a 5 - does NOT mean that you know the material well. If anything, it should be an easy A since it's more review than anything else (you'll discover this probably won't be the case).

Lil Mack is correct with AP classes and pre-reqs, however some schools are wonky and won't accept advanced credit in lieu of AP classes. Personally I would just retake the classes once you get into college.

👍 I'd only take AP credits for things outside your major and outside the premed requirements.

 

[RunningStudent]

I would take the AP classes. Even if colleges or medical schools don't accept the credits, it'll make your resume look better in comparison to someone who has only taken lower level courses. Also, it could help you in introductory college courses of the topic and give you a preview of how much work there is in college. If the college takes the credit, you can take more advanced courses (if you're ready to take on the tougher material, though).

 

[Whitefox]

What about this situation: I have a fairly good chance of receiving credit for AP Chemistry and my school will allow me to either go into Topics in General Chemistry (from what it sounds like, essentially, a year of general chemistry condensed into one honors semester course) or starting Orgo I. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go for Topics in General Chemistry just to be sure I have general chemistry concepts down and all, but should I really just forfeit my AP credit and take the traditional two-semester sequence of general chemistry?

 

[LaxGoaliePharm]

Ok thanks for the responses. This pretty much confirmed my suspicion that I will have to re take a lot of these classes in college. At least taking AP classes in high school will help prepare me for college.

And I took the AP bio test today. I thought it was mostly easy🙂

Can't wait for AP chem next year (sarcasm)

 

[NickNaylor]

What about this situation: I have a fairly good chance of receiving credit for AP Chemistry and my school will allow me to either go into Topics in General Chemistry (from what it sounds like, essentially, a year of general chemistry condensed into one honors semester course) or starting Orgo I. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go for Topics in General Chemistry just to be sure I have general chemistry concepts down and all, but should I really just forfeit my AP credit and take the traditional two-semester sequence of general chemistry?

"Topics in General Chemistry" sounds like a non-major chemistry course, which would be a waste of time. I would take the normal gen chem course.