Sending AP Score Report to med schools

[Serine45]

Hello,

I have some AP scores that I may actually need for some pre-reqs fulfillments, but my university did not give me credit for them (they were all scores of 5, but my university just had a blanket policy of not accepting APs...)

Now that it's been over 4 years, I have to pay $25 for each report to each school (~25 schools) if I want the College Board to send it to them directly. I haven't had time to call all individual schools (mostly because I am at work during business hours...), but do you guys have any suggestions for how to better do this?

Maybe if I ask my undergrad committee to forward a copy of the AP score report with my packet? Would that be appropriate? This is a really high expense.

Thanks for the advice!

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[Pylorii]

Are you sure about this? I've been through this application process a few times and never heard of anyone sending AP scores. Medical schools (at least close to all of them) will only accept AP scores to fulfill prerequisites only if the university gave credit for them on the transcript.

 

[Serine45]

I've called a few and explained the situation that my undergrad doesn't take AP scores, and they said it's okay to send them an AP score report directly. I am assuming most others would be okay with this too but was going to check with them all.

 

[Serine45]

I am quite suprised to hear of any school doing this. Many schools do not accept AP crecits Even if schools have verbally said this is ok, you damn well better get this in writing, particularly the school’s formal policy on this. The worst case scenario would be getting an acceptance then being told at pre-matriculation you have not fulfilled prereqs and being forced to defer.

Thanks @gonnif I know I was surprised too. Here's the thing, most schools require 8 credits of inorganic chem (usually Gen Chem 1 &2 + Lab) . The problem is my undergrad had both Gen Chem 1 and 2 combined into a SINGLE class of 4 credits. Couple that with 2 lab credits from a post-bacc and I have 6/8 total inorganic chem credits.

This is kind of a weird situation because the AP Chem credits could have easily solved my problem. However, my undergrad does not give anyone AP credit for AP Chem as standard policy (they hardly do any subjects). So I guess my only option is to retake Gen Chem 2 or something at a post-bacc? I'd be happy to redo that during this coming gap year.

Honestly I feel like if I get an interview and/or acceptance this is something I can easily discuss with adcoms and I suspect they would not have a huge issue with it. I got a 130 on C/P on the MCAT and took 2 semesters of orgo with lab + biochem. I think I have definitely met the inorganic chemistry competency, this is just a weird technicality.

I'm honestly just worried about being pre-screened for not having 8 inorganic chem credits - is there such a thing as pre-req screening if a school has clearly indicated they require 8 and I apply with less than that?

 

[ciestar]

Thanks @gonnif I know I was surprised too. Here's the thing, most schools require 8 credits of inorganic chem (usually Gen Chem 1 &2 + Lab) . The problem is my undergrad had both Gen Chem 1 and 2 combined into a SINGLE class of 4 credits. Couple that with 2 lab credits from a post-bacc and I have 6/8 total inorganic chem credits.

This is kind of a weird situation because the AP Chem credits could have easily solved my problem. However, my undergrad does not give anyone AP credit for AP Chem as standard policy (they hardly do any subjects). So I guess my only option is to retake Gen Chem 2 or something at a post-bacc? I'd be happy to redo that during this coming gap year.

Honestly I feel like if I get an interview and/or acceptance this is something I can easily discuss with adcoms and I suspect they would not have a huge issue with it. I got a 130 on C/P on the MCAT and took 2 semesters of orgo with lab + biochem. I think I have definitely met the inorganic chemistry competency, this is just a weird technicality.

I'm honestly just worried about being pre-screened for not having 8 inorganic chem credits - is there such a thing as pre-req screening if a school has clearly indicated they require 8 and I apply with less than that?

I don’t recall seeing a screening but many will come with conditional acceptances that you complete the pre-reqs they ask for. Even if that means taking chem 2 at a cc if it comes to it.

 

[Serine45]

I don’t recall seeing a screening but many will come with conditional acceptances that you complete the pre-reqs they ask for. Even if that means taking chem 2 at a cc if it comes to it.

If I'm sitting on an acceptance, I would gladly do that!

 

[Pylorii]

FWIW I remember seeing very few random secondaries that require you to type the courses that fulfill their prerequisites. Not sure if they use those to screen applicants or just to avoid problems post-acceptance. I would say the great majority of schools do not screen for prerequisite fulfillment before granting acceptances.

 

[dodolol21]

I am quite suprised to hear of any school doing this. Many schools do not accept AP crecits Even if schools have verbally said this is ok, you damn well better get this in writing, particularly the school’s formal policy on this. The worst case scenario would be getting an acceptance then being told at pre-matriculation you have not fulfilled prereqs and being forced to defer.

Actually, I think HMS does require sending AP scores for classes chemistry, physics, and math that you are claiming credit for, becuase they require scores of 4/5. They also have their own listing separate from Harvard Undergrad on College Board.

Source: Prerequisite Courses

“If advanced placement credits are used to satisfy portions of the chemistry, physics, or mathematics requirements, AP scores must be submitted prior to matriculation. If these scores are not shown on students’ college transcript, an AP score report will be required before matriculation. We will only accept AP credits if students scored a 4 or 5 on the respective AP test. AP coursework cannot be used to fulfill certain course requirements, as noted in the table above.”

 

[dodolol21]

But most schools have comments along these lines
AP credit used for Medical School Applications

1) Some schools will allow some AP courses but not others

Example Weill Cornell Medical College http://weill.cornell.edu/education/admissions/app_req.html

Advanced Placement credit. AP credit from high school can be used to satisfy the WCMC requirement in physics. AP credit in other areas cannot be used to satisfy the WCMC requirement. If a student has AP credit in an area other than physics, the student fulfills the WCMC requirement by completing advanced science coursework.

2) Many schools will not accept them as full and complete fulfillment of prerequisites. Some do.

Example will NOT accept: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University http://www.rowan.edu/coopermed/students/admissions/prerequisites.php

No AP/IB credits may be used in place of an actual course, even if the undergraduate institution grants a credit for the AP coursework. Upper level coursework in the same subject area may replace the listed prerequisite. (Note: All science courses used to satisfy a prerequisite must include a laboratory component, so online coursework will not be acceptable to substitute for hands-on lab credit).

Example Will Accept AP: NYMC https://www.nymc.edu/Academics/SchoolOfMedicine/Admissions/PremedicalCourseworkRequirements.html

All courses offered in satisfaction of the premed requirements for admission must be taken at, or accepted as transfer credits by, an accredited college in the United States or Canada and must be acceptable to that institution toward a baccalaureate degree in arts or sciences. (This includes Advanced Placement courses taken in high school.)

3) Many schools will accept the fulfillment of the course (ie general bio, general chem) but not the credits as counting towards 2 years of Bio, 2 years of Chem and therefore require additional upper level coursework.

4) Many "recommend" additional course to be competitive

Example: SUNY Upstate (Frequently Asked Questions | College of Medicine | SUNY Upstate Medical University)

"Yes, as long as you were awarded college credit and the course(s) are listed on an official transcript from your primary undergraduate institution. The Admissions Committee recommends that you also complete advanced science coursework in order to be competitive for admission."

Example: SUNY Downstate Admissions Requirements

Do we accept AP credits for our prerequisites?

If your undergraduate college has awarded you AP credits and the credits are listed on your transcript, we will also accept your AP credits to fulfill our prerequisites if the course is listed by subject title on your final official college transcript. However, in order for the Admissions Committee to consider you to be competitive for admission, you should take advanced level science course work equivalent to the number of credit hours which have been accepted for AP prerequisites.

Yes, there are definitely many that don’t accept it. I was just highlighting HMS as one example of where you might have to actually send scores from College Board directly.