Schools aren't accepting my credit!

[DrHugs]

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As I research medical schools and put together a list of schools to apply to I am finding that many schools don't accept AP credit or credit by exemption exam.

I took one semester of physics at my university and the other I took AP credit. I also took one semester of American lit and one other English course I got credit by exemption exam.

A lot of schools either don't accept this credit or they say that if AP credit was taken they recommend a higher level course in that field. I didn't take any other in physics or English (only non-English writing component courses).

Now I am worried that schools will look down on this AP credit and my chances of acceptance are slimmer. I also can't apply to my one in-state school or my #1 school because they don't accept AP credit.

I would appreciate any reassurance, comments, or suggestions of schools that i can apply to that aren't so strict. (My stats: MCAT 13P 13B 9V, O ;cGPA: 3.72; I am also a current Peace Corps Volunteer)

 

[PTPoeny]

Yeah, I ended up taking higher level classes for all my AP credits that I needed for medical school. When I applied it was basically universal that schools wouldn't take AP credits, just some schools had fewer required classes. Sorry, I know this isn't the answer you were hoping to hear.

 

[Doctor Strange]

If you're looking for reassurance, you're not going to find any. Most schools will not accept AP credit, and you really should have looked into this before accepting the credits/applying. Right now, you're stuck with either applying to the few schools that do accept AP credit (I wouldn't recommend it) or just biting the bullet and taking the missing prereqs that you have.

As it stands, your options are very limited, which is unfortunate considering your stats.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Did you take mcat in Africa? How did you study for it?

 

[anegron519]

if you're looking for reassurance, you're not going to find any. most schools will not accept ap credit, and you really should have looked into this before accepting the credits/applying. right now, you're stuck with either applying to the few schools that do accept ap credit (i wouldn't recommend it) or just biting the bullet and taking the missing prereqs that you have.

As it stands, your options are very limited, which is unfortunate considering your stats.

+1

 

[DrHugs]

Did you take mcat in Africa? How did you study for it?

I took the MCAT a week before coming to Namibia. As a teacher, studying would have been difficult since I don't have too much time. But as a volunteer in a different sector I would have had more time and I could have downloaded electronic resources and studies from my computer.

If you're looking for reassurance, you're not going to find any. Most schools will not accept AP credit, and you really should have looked into this before accepting the credits/applying. Right now, you're stuck with either applying to the few schools that do accept AP credit (I wouldn't recommend it) or just biting the bullet and taking the missing prereqs that you have.

As it stands, your options are very limited, which is unfortunate considering your stats.

You are right, I did not do my research well and I am paying the consequence. I will have to apply to those schools that will accept me, since my MCAT will not be accepted by most schools after next year (3 year mark). Despite my problem I still have a little confidence because of my scores and my Peace Corps experience.

 

[Doctor Strange]

What are your other ECs? Peace Corps, while a great experience, is not a trump card.

 

[plumazul]

If you're looking for reassurance, you're not going to find any. Most schools will not accept AP credit, and you really should have looked into this before accepting the credits/applying. Right now, you're stuck with either applying to the few schools that do accept AP credit (I wouldn't recommend it) or just biting the bullet and taking the missing prereqs that you have.

As it stands, your options are very limited, which is unfortunate considering your stats.

😕 There is so much confusion on this subject out there. Most schools do accept AP credit, some want you to take additional classes, very very few(if any) reject AP credit outright. I entered college with 55 credits of AP work, retook none of them and am not "limited" in any way.

Here is a link that might help.

http://students.rice.edu/uploadedFi..._Advising/AP Credit - Allopathic Medicine.pdf

 

[DrHugs]

What are your other ECs? Peace Corps, while a great experience, is not a trump card.

It is not a trump card, but I do expect it to have a pretty good effect on my application.
Other ECs: Ballroom dancing club in uni 3 years with leadership positions, peer sex educator in college 1.5 year, EMT certified with volunteer exp, 150+ hours shadowing physicians or in hospitals--part of pre-med org with leadership positions, habitat for humanity 1 year, stat analysis and lit review for my prof's research with no publication.

 

[DrHugs]

😕 There is so much confusion on this subject out there. Most schools do accept AP credit, some want you to take additional classes, very very few(if any) reject AP credit outright. I entered college with 55 credits of AP work, retook none of them and am not "limited" in any way.

Here is a link that might help.

http://students.rice.edu/uploadedFi..._Advising/AP Credit - Allopathic Medicine.pdf

Thanks! That makes me feel better.

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

😕 There is so much confusion on this subject out there. Most schools do accept AP credit, some want you to take additional classes, very very few(if any) reject AP credit outright. I entered college with 55 credits of AP work, retook none of them and am not "limited" in any way.

Here is a link that might help.

http://students.rice.edu/uploadedFi..._Advising/AP Credit - Allopathic Medicine.pdf

I would amend the above to say that most schools want you to take upper-level electives if you place out with AP. I'm not sure why you would willingly cross the schools that don't accept AP credit off your list by not taking upper level courses, since this by definition "limits" you, unless you truly didn't know as in OP's case. But for future applicants, why not play it safe and choose your courses to allow yourself to apply to any school you want later on down the line?

Edit: I counted that 48 have something other than a Y or NR in any column of that list, meaning that if you only had AP credit for all your prereqs, you are automatically ineligible for those 48 schools, which is about 1/3 of the ~160 US MD schools. So I have to disagree with your advice and say that one should never plan on just using AP credits.

 

[rfvbnmju]

How does the acceptance of AP credits work?
The Calc AP credits that I took does not show up specifically in my transcripts. It is just lumped as 27 "units of transfer credit" without actually saying what classes they are.

What's the best way to show I got college credit for it.

I was thinking of just sending the scores to the school via college board.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Would there be a problem with taking these two courses? If necessary, perhaps it could be done through a community college or online (depending on the rules of the school in accepting such credit).

 

[Lamel]

You don't have to take courses by the time you apply, just by the time you matriculate. So just to be safe you can take them over the summer at a CC or a local college.

 

[DrHugs]

Would there be a problem with taking these two courses? If necessary, perhaps it could be done through a community college or online (depending on the rules of the school in accepting such credit).

I would be more than willing to take these classes, but it seems that not many medical colleges accept online courses. And it would be very difficult (although not impossible) for me to take a course at a local university since I am living in the middle of the African bush. Plus, I don't want to deal with the hassle of schools not accepting credit from international universities.

You don't have to take courses by the time you apply, just by the time you matriculate. So just to be safe you can take them over the summer at a CC or a local college.

Just to clarify about this. I am getting back to the states by September or October this year. Since I am applying to matriculate in Fall 2014 I could take both of these classes, at the latest, in the spring of 2014, and it would be accepted by the medical schools. Correct? How do I indicate on my application that I am planning on taking classes before I matriculate, if I don't know at which university I will take them?

 

[BABSstudent]

I would be more than willing to take these classes, but it seems that not many medical colleges accept online courses. And it would be very difficult (although not impossible) for me to take a course at a local university since I am living in the middle of the African bush. Plus, I don't want to deal with the hassle of schools not accepting credit from international universities.



Just to clarify about this. I am getting back to the states by September or October this year. Since I am applying to matriculate in Fall 2014 I could take both of these classes, at the latest, in the spring of 2014, and it would be accepted by the medical schools. Correct? How do I indicate on my application that I am planning on taking classes before I matriculate, if I don't know at which university I will take them?

You list them as future courses. Just put it down under the school you will most likely take them from. Medical schools know that your plans might change since you cannot possibly know what the future holds.

 

[yehhhboiii]

😕 There is so much confusion on this subject out there. Most schools do accept AP credit, some want you to take additional classes, very very few(if any) reject AP credit outright. I entered college with 55 credits of AP work, retook none of them and am not "limited" in any way.

Here is a link that might help.

http://students.rice.edu/uploadedFi..._Advising/AP Credit - Allopathic Medicine.pdf

hey nice mdapps

 

[kal123]

DHugs,

You got some rough replies. Let me see if mine gives you any comfort...

Our pre-health office (Johns Hopkins) has pretty good reputation with med school ADCOMS and they seem to know what they do as well as anybody. Let me tell you what their advice is regarding AP credit.

If you take 1 AP Physics credit, you should take Physics II. If you take 2 AP Physics credits, you are advised to take Biophysics. If you take one AP Chemistry credit, you are advised to take Gen Chem II. If you take two AP Chemistry credits, you are advised to do Biochemistry or physical chemistry. If you take one AP Biology credit you are asked to take Biology II and Biochemistry. If you take 2 AP Biology credits, you are advised to take Cell Biology and Genetics or Dev Biology. You can't use Biochem to meet both Biology and Chemistry requirements. Everybody has to Orgo I & II.

I am an applicant in this cycle too and let me tell you about my AP credits. I took 2 AP chemistry credits and did Biochemistry. I took 1 AP Physics credit and did Physics II for Engineers. I took 1 AP Calculus credit and did Calculus II and several other math courses since my primary major is CS. I took 2 AP Biology credits and did a lot of upper level Biology courses, since Biology is my second major.

I did a lot of research into my situation. There are a handful of schools (Vanderbilt, BU, ...) that are very rigid. Several schools take AP credit without questions, as long as it is on your transcript. A lot of the top schools are flexible, and are OK if you did additional science courses even if they are not in the same area that you took AP credit in. I have decent stats (3.82/38), did a lot of research with a published first author paper, several years of dedicated volunteering and so on. If all of that is not good enough for me to get through the gate, there is not a whole lot I can do.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

tbh i'm not sure how closely med schools look at the course stuff, there's a good chance i didn't technically meet some of the requirements..

also remember you just have to have taken them by matriculation so you can always make them up provided the list isn't too crazy

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

Just to clarify about this. I am getting back to the states by September or October this year. Since I am applying to matriculate in Fall 2014 I could take both of these classes, at the latest, in the spring of 2014, and it would be accepted by the medical schools. Correct? How do I indicate on my application that I am planning on taking classes before I matriculate, if I don't know at which university I will take them?

You could even take them in summer of 2014 as long as they are finished by the time you matriculate, which is usually in August, although some schools (Case, CCLCM are the ones that come to mind) start in July. Sounds like you'll be fine!

 

[DrHugs]

DHugs,

You got some rough replies. Let me see if mine gives you any comfort...

Our pre-health office (Johns Hopkins) has pretty good reputation with med school ADCOMS and they seem to know what they do as well as anybody. Let me tell you what their advice is regarding AP credit.

If you take 1 AP Physics credit, you should take Physics II. If you take 2 AP Physics credits, you are advised to take Biophysics. If you take one AP Chemistry credit, you are advised to take Gen Chem II. If you take two AP Chemistry credits, you are advised to do Biochemistry or physical chemistry. If you take one AP Biology credit you are asked to take Biology II and Biochemistry. If you take 2 AP Biology credits, you are advised to take Cell Biology and Genetics or Dev Biology. You can't use Biochem to meet both Biology and Chemistry requirements. Everybody has to Orgo I & II.

I am an applicant in this cycle too and let me tell you about my AP credits. I took 2 AP chemistry credits and did Biochemistry. I took 1 AP Physics credit and did Physics II for Engineers. I took 1 AP Calculus credit and did Calculus II and several other math courses since my primary major is CS. I took 2 AP Biology credits and did a lot of upper level Biology courses, since Biology is my second major.

I did a lot of research into my situation. There are a handful of schools (Vanderbilt, BU, ...) that are very rigid. Several schools take AP credit without questions, as long as it is on your transcript. A lot of the top schools are flexible, and are OK if you did additional science courses even if they are not in the same area that you took AP credit in. I have decent stats (3.82/38), did a lot of research with a published first author paper, several years of dedicated volunteering and so on. If all of that is not good enough for me to get through the gate, there is not a whole lot I can do.

Thanks! I took phys 1 in college and AP for phys 2, which is the opposite of normal. My situation at the time gave me a compelling reason to take the credit for phys 2. I think I am going to take both phys 2 and an English class when I get back to the states. Does that sound OK? (The university at which I am planning to take the classes offers some basic lower-division English courses, for example: 1. Intro to College Writing 2. Exposition and Argument 3. Intro to Creative Writing. I was planning on Intro to College Writing. This will fill an English component, right?)

You could even take them in summer of 2014 as long as they are finished by the time you matriculate, which is usually in August, although some schools (Case, CCLCM are the ones that come to mind) start in July. Sounds like you'll be fine!

That is reassuring! I will have the whole spring free, anyways, and a little school will be a good thing to fill my time and get back into the swing of studying after almost 3 years away from it.

Thanks for all the responses, they have helped a lot! I have another question. Some schools require at least one or two writing-intensive courses for admission. How do they choose which courses are writing-intensive? Do all English courses count?

I took two "official" writing component courses during college, both non-English. Only one shows as a writing component on my transcript (indicated by a "-W" after the course name). Will this be a problem if the second one isn't indicated?

 

[Benedictus123]

What are your other ECs? Peace Corps, while a great experience, is not a trump card.

Jesus Christ SDN.

 

[kal123]

Thanks! I took phys 1 in college and AP for phys 2, which is the opposite of normal. My situation at the time gave me a compelling reason to take the credit for phys 2. I think I am going to take both phys 2 and an English class when I get back to the states. Does that sound OK? (The university I am planning to take the classes offers Intro to College Writing, Exposition and Argument, and Intro to Creative Writing courses as some of the lower-division English courses. I was planning on Intro to College Writing. This will fill an English component, right?)

At our school AP credit for a higher lever course is not allowed if you don't take the credit for the lower level one. I think expository writing course and/or the creative writing course should be fine for your English requirement.

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

Yeah a semester of physics and the College Writing course (not creative writing) should be fine. The college writing course will fulfill both English and writing requirements so you cover all your bases. Creative writing will likely not fulfill the writing requirement as they usually want it to be expository writing.

 

[DrHugs]

At our school AP credit for a higher lever course is not allowed if you don't take the credit for the lower level one. I think expository writing course and/or the creative writing course should be fine for your English requirement.

Yeah a semester of physics and the College Writing course (not creative writing) should be fine. The college writing course will fulfill both English and writing requirements so you cover all your bases. Creative writing will likely not fulfill the writing requirement as they usually want it to be expository writing.

Just curious, why don't you guys think that the Intro writing class will count? Is it too basic? Is it like the pre-calc of English?

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

Just curious, why don't you guys think that the Intro writing class will count? Is it too basic? Is it like the pre-calc of English?

This is what you wrote: "Intro to College Writing, Exposition and Argument, and Intro to Creative Writing courses"

and I read it as 2 courses but I see they are 3 separate courses. I think the Intro to College Writing and Expositoin & Argument courses are both fine, and everything I wrote about expository writing applies to both, while you def shouldn't take the creative writing course.

Sorry for the misunderstanding! What hijinks!

 

[Lamel]

DHugs,

You got some rough replies. Let me see if mine gives you any comfort...

Our pre-health office (Johns Hopkins) has pretty good reputation with med school ADCOMS and they seem to know what they do as well as anybody. Let me tell you what their advice is regarding AP credit.

If you take 1 AP Physics credit, you should take Physics II. If you take 2 AP Physics credits, you are advised to take Biophysics. If you take one AP Chemistry credit, you are advised to take Gen Chem II. If you take two AP Chemistry credits, you are advised to do Biochemistry or physical chemistry. If you take one AP Biology credit you are asked to take Biology II and Biochemistry. If you take 2 AP Biology credits, you are advised to take Cell Biology and Genetics or Dev Biology. You can't use Biochem to meet both Biology and Chemistry requirements. Everybody has to Orgo I & II.

I am an applicant in this cycle too and let me tell you about my AP credits. I took 2 AP chemistry credits and did Biochemistry. I took 1 AP Physics credit and did Physics II for Engineers. I took 1 AP Calculus credit and did Calculus II and several other math courses since my primary major is CS. I took 2 AP Biology credits and did a lot of upper level Biology courses, since Biology is my second major.

I did a lot of research into my situation. There are a handful of schools (Vanderbilt, BU, ...) that are very rigid. Several schools take AP credit without questions, as long as it is on your transcript. A lot of the top schools are flexible, and are OK if you did additional science courses even if they are not in the same area that you took AP credit in. I have decent stats (3.82/38), did a lot of research with a published first author paper, several years of dedicated volunteering and so on. If all of that is not good enough for me to get through the gate, there is not a whole lot I can do.

 

[DrHugs]

This is what you wrote: "Intro to College Writing, Exposition and Argument, and Intro to Creative Writing courses"

and I read it as 2 courses but I see they are 3 separate courses. I think the Intro to College Writing and Expositoin & Argument courses are both fine, and everything I wrote about expository writing applies to both, while you def shouldn't take the creative writing course.

Sorry for the misunderstanding! What hijinks!

Sorry, that sentence was poorly written. It is now edited.

 

[deleted503015]

I just posted this in the other AP thread and thought it might also be useful here:

I would recommend calling the schools you're interested in. I didn't take Gen Chem lecture in college because of AP Credit (just took a semester of Gen Chem lab freshman year), and but did take one semester of Biochemistry (no lab).

None of my schools cared. Technically this was "unacceptable" for one of the schools I was admitted to (I was one credit short and the system told me this on my secondary), but I emailed the admissions office as soon as I received the secondary and they ok'd it.

 

[DrHugs]

I just posted this in the other AP thread and thought it might also be useful here:

I would recommend calling the schools you're interested in. I didn't take Gen Chem lecture in college because of AP Credit (just took a semester of Gen Chem lab freshman year), and but did take one semester of Biochemistry (no lab).

None of my schools cared. Technically this was "unacceptable" for one of the schools I was admitted to (I was one credit short and the system told me this on my secondary), but I emailed the admissions office as soon as I received the secondary and they ok'd it.

Thanks, I will probably do that.