CLEP Biology or take the class?

[Raid KH]

Hi,
So i took AP Biology in high school, but had a really bad day during the AP test so I didn't do well. Should I CLEP it ? or rather take the class again at my college ?

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[kalbrecht17]

Hi,
So i took AP Biology in high school, but had a really bad day during the AP test so I didn't do well. Should I CLEP it ? or rather take the class again at my college ?

take it in college. the extra learning is never a bad thing and some schools won't take clep

 

[lobo.solo]

take it in college. the extra learning is never a bad thing and some schools won't take clep

+ it should be an easy A.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Take it. I APed out and it made MCAT studying a bear and I can't apply to quite a few medical schools.

 

[average app]

I would CLEP out and move on to upper level Bio classes. Why waste your time in a class you've already taken?

 

[plumhill]

Take it. Even if you had done well on the AP bio exam, there's a lot you learn in college intro bio that you don't learn in AP. I got a 5 on the AP exam and there was still a lot of new material in my intro class.

 

[CuttingCorneas]

Take the class. The easy A will add to your science GPA, which will help you in the long run.

 

[sliceofbread136]

I would CLEP out and move on to upper level Bio classes. Why waste your time in a class you've already taken?

Bad advice. It's not a waste of time because you can't apply to a large chunk of med schools with AP or CLEP credit in Bio. Plus easy A for science GPA is a big plus.

 

[average app]

Bad advice. It's not a waste of time because you can't apply to a large chunk of med schools with AP or CLEP credit in Bio. Plus easy A for science GPA is a big plus.

You CAN apply to a large chunk of med schools. I'm speaking from experience when I say that schools are happy to let you substitute higher level biology classes for the first 2 intro courses.

Everyone here is urging him to forego the CLEP/AP credit, so I'd just like to make it clear that the only advantage of doing this will be an "easy A" to help your GPA. Like I said, I'm applying to a bunch of med schools, and upper level bio classes replace the intro stuff on all applications I have filled out.

 

[DCGuava]

Bad advice. It's not a waste of time because you can't apply to a large chunk of med schools with AP or CLEP credit in Bio. Plus easy A for science GPA is a big plus.

I've never heard of a med school not accepting upper level bio classes for the biology requirement. It's only a negative case if you take the AP/CLEP credit and don't take any upper level bio classes...

This was in response to my own research, emailing several schools while doing the rest of my pre-reqs, because I had AP'd out of chem & biology the first time through university. The eight schools I asked were absolutely fine with the lack of BIO 101/102, since I had 200, 300 and 400 level bio and chem courses. The requirements are in place so that the schools can standardize their recruitment; if you hadn't understood the intro bio course (the AP class,) then there is no way that you would've done well in the upper level classes...

YMMV, email the admissions dept. at the schools that interest you and make sure that they take upper level courses for the biology requirement. That is the only correct answer.

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

Take it. Most places will not take AP credit, although a very select few will.

 

[sliceofbread136]

You CAN apply to a large chunk of med schools. I'm speaking from experience when I say that schools are happy to let you substitute higher level biology classes for the first 2 intro courses.

Everyone here is urging him to forego the CLEP/AP credit, so I'd just like to make it clear that the only advantage of doing this will be an "easy A" to help your GPA. Like I said, I'm applying to a bunch of med schools, and upper level bio classes replace the intro stuff on all applications I have filled out.

You can apply to alot, but you can't apply quite a few as well.

http://premed.ua.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Med-School-AP-Credit-2.pdf

I APed out of a ton of stuff and I regretted it when I was studying for the MCAT and I regret it now because I'd like to apply to some UC schools but they told me take a hike.

 

[average app]

You can apply to alot, but you can't apply quite a few as well.

http://premed.ua.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Med-School-AP-Credit-2.pdf

I APed out of a ton of stuff and I regretted it when I was studying for the MCAT and I regret it now because I'd like to apply to some UC schools but they told me take a hike.

See, this is how knowledge is fabricated here on SDN.

That AP sheet that you linked is incorrect. I only checked one school's requirements, and:
Keck Med: Biology requirement can be met by courses in the following areas: Molecular Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology, Advanced Cell Biology or the equivalent.
Link

You have said "I APed out and it made MCAT studying a bear and I can't apply to quite a few medical schools" and "you can't apply to a large chunk of med schools with AP or CLEP credit in Bio." These two statements are false.

Of the 15 schools in this country that don't accept AP Biology, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas (x2), and Utah only take in-state applicants. In other words, they don't apply to anyone not from that state. Additionally, Michigan State is highly preferential to in-state apps, Loma Linda only caters to the devoutly religious, and you have to speak spanish to go to Puerto Rico.

That leaves FOUR schools in the U.S. that will exclude you for using AP credit for biology.

This post is in no way a personal attack on you sliceofbread. I have used SDN for many of my questions, and I just want to make sure that the myth of AP bio excluding applicants from a huge chunk of schools is dispelled immediately.

If someone isn't planning on taking upper level bio courses, this entire post is moot. Everything just comes down to the individual's curriculum.

 

[plumazul]

Take it. I APed out and it made MCAT studying a bear and I can't apply to quite a few medical schools.

Which ones?

 

[Neurosis]

I would CLEP out and move on to upper level Bio classes. Why waste your time in a class you've already taken?

i dunno about CLEP but the fact the OP didn't do "too well" on the AP Bio exam, which by the way you only need to get about 50% correct on the multiple choice and 4/10 on each essay to get a 3 (a passing score), doesn't stir too much confidence in me that they understand the material. Besides I've heard CLEP and APs are a joke compared to actual college level sciences/math, especially upper level classes.

 

[plumazul]

Take it. Most places will not take AP credit, although a very select few will.

Absolutely false. The opposite is true, a very select few don't take AP credit.

 

[plumazul]

See, this is how knowledge is fabricated here on SDN.

That AP sheet that you linked is incorrect. I only checked one school's requirements, and:
Keck Med: Biology requirement can be met by courses in the following areas: Molecular Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology, Advanced Cell Biology or the equivalent.
Link

You have said "I APed out and it made MCAT studying a bear and I can't apply to quite a few medical schools" and "you can't apply to a large chunk of med schools with AP or CLEP credit in Bio." These two statements are false.

Of the 15 schools in this country that don't accept AP Biology, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas (x2), and Utah only take in-state applicants. In other words, they don't apply to anyone not from that state. Additionally, Michigan State is highly preferential to in-state apps, Loma Linda only caters to the devoutly religious, and you have to speak spanish to go to Puerto Rico.

That leaves FOUR schools in the U.S. that will exclude you for using AP credit for biology.

This post is in no way a personal attack on you sliceofbread. I have used SDN for many of my questions, and I just want to make sure that the myth of AP bio excluding applicants from a huge chunk of schools is dispelled immediately.

If someone isn't planning on taking upper level bio courses, this entire post is moot. Everything just comes down to the individual's curriculum.

👍👍👍
I too am doing my best to dispel the AP myths. Here is an "up to date" list:

http://students.rice.edu/uploadedFi...Allopathic Medicine (Updated Summer 2011).pdf

Some of the schools listed as "N" on this list will now accept AP credit with upper division work. (I called and asked)

 

[plumazul]

Hi,
So i took AP Biology in high school, but had a really bad day during the AP test so I didn't do well. Should I CLEP it ? or rather take the class again at my college ?

OP, if you didn't get a 5 on the exam, then you need to retake the course. If someone does score a 5, then move on to the next class.

 

[sliceofbread136]

See, this is how knowledge is fabricated here on SDN.

That AP sheet that you linked is incorrect. I only checked one school's requirements, and:
Keck Med: Biology requirement can be met by courses in the following areas: Molecular Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology, Advanced Cell Biology or the equivalent.
Link

You have said "I APed out and it made MCAT studying a bear and I can't apply to quite a few medical schools" and "you can't apply to a large chunk of med schools with AP or CLEP credit in Bio." These two statements are false.

Of the 15 schools in this country that don't accept AP Biology, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas (x2), and Utah only take in-state applicants. In other words, they don't apply to anyone not from that state. Additionally, Michigan State is highly preferential to in-state apps, Loma Linda only caters to the devoutly religious, and you have to speak spanish to go to Puerto Rico.

That leaves FOUR schools in the U.S. that will exclude you for using AP credit for biology.

This post is in no way a personal attack on you sliceofbread. I have used SDN for many of my questions, and I just want to make sure that the myth of AP bio excluding applicants from a huge chunk of schools is dispelled immediately.

If someone isn't planning on taking upper level bio courses, this entire post is moot. Everything just comes down to the individual's curriculum.

It is an out of date link, I know of a better one but couldn't find it. (Catalystik often posts it). There are some schools that aren't on that list that now don't accept AP/CLEP for prereqs if I remember correctly.

What I think we can agree on is that you should research what the school you want to go to will accept the credit if you want to use it. For instance, I believe that Yale (contrary to the link I posted) no longer accepts AP credits. If you wanted to apply to Yale you better retake the class.

What I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on is if it is worth to just retake the AP class. In my personal experience I have to say I wish I retook all of my AP. First off, they would have been easy classes that would have given me more time to experience college during my freshman year. Second of all, I would've known chem and bio a TON better for the MCAT. Instead I had to relearn all of it (and I put it off too, had to learn all of princeton review's bio book in 2 weeks....). I ended up doing well on those sections, but it was stressful and I might have done better with some background before hand. Third off, alot of highschool AP classes are garbage. Odds are you'll learn better in a college class.

I see your side of the argument. Alot of schools do accept AP credit if supplemented by upper division classes, and retaking the classes isn't the most practical thing in the world. I still believe retaking is the way to go though.

 

[sliceofbread136]

👍👍👍
I too am doing my best to dispel the AP myths. Here is an "up to date" list:

http://students.rice.edu/uploadedFiles/Students/Academic_Advising/AP%20Credit%20-%20Allopathic%20Medicine%20(Updated%20Summer%202011).pdf

Some of the schools listed as "N" on this list will now accept AP credit with upper division work. (I called and asked)

This is the link I was talking about! A good link to read if you want to use your AP credits.

 

[plumazul]

This is the link I was talking about! A good link to read if you want to use your AP credits.

In a perfect world, all the AP courses should be taught in every high school in the country. AP courses are high school level classes and their college equivalents (intro to ***) should not even be offered at the university level. This country needs major reform to its public education system or else we are going to be left in the dust.

 

[angemon89]

This is a no brainer, take the class.

 

[sliceofbread136]

In a perfect world, all the AP courses should be taught in every high school in the country. AP courses are high school level classes that should not even be offered at the university level. This country needs major reform to its public education system or else we are going to be left in the dust.

Honestly I totally agree with you. However the reality of the present time is sadly different than how it should be.

 

[average app]

What I think we can agree on is that you should research what the school you want to go to will accept the credit if you want to use it. For instance, I believe that Yale (contrary to the link I posted) no longer accepts AP credits. If you wanted to apply to Yale you better retake the class.

What I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on is if it is worth to just retake the AP class. In my personal experience I have to say I wish I retook all of my AP. First off, they would have been easy classes that would have given me more time to experience college during my freshman year. Second of all, I would've known chem and bio a TON better for the MCAT. Instead I had to relearn all of it (and I put it off too, had to learn all of princeton review's bio book in 2 weeks....). I ended up doing well on those sections, but it was stressful and I might have done better with some background before hand. Third off, alot of highschool AP classes are garbage. Odds are you'll learn better in a college class.

I see your side of the argument. Alot of schools do accept AP credit if supplemented by upper division classes, and retaking the classes isn't the most practical thing in the world. I still believe retaking is the way to go though.

I agree with everything said here. Very accurate advice! 👍

 

[plumazul]

What I think we can agree on is that you should research what the school you want to go to will accept the credit if you want to use it. For instance, I believe that Yale (contrary to the link I posted) no longer accepts AP credits. If you wanted to apply to Yale you better retake the class.

This puzzled me since I've discussed this in person with a Yale admin. They most definitely do accept AP credit with additional coursework.

What I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on is if it is worth to just retake the AP class. In my personal experience I have to say I wish I retook all of my AP. First off, they would have been easy classes that would have given me more time to experience college during my freshman year.

This is what Yale says on the subject of retaking AP classes:

The student of medicine enters a profession closely allied to the natural sciences and must be prepared to cope with chemistry and biology at a graduate level. Students entering college with a strong background in the sciences, as demonstrated by advanced placement, are encouraged to substitute advanced science courses for the traditional requirements listed above.

http://medicine.yale.edu/education/admissions/apply/premed.aspx

 

[sliceofbread136]

This puzzled me since I've discussed this in person with a Yale admin. They most definitely do accept AP credit with additional coursework.



This is what Yale says on the subject of retaking AP classes:



http://medicine.yale.edu/education/admissions/apply/premed.aspx

I guess I was wrong and used a bad example :/