Using AP credit

[ajtarheel]

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Hello all,

I'm a premed student who is an incoming first year at UNC. In terms of math and science AP credits, I have credit for calculus I and II, biology and the first semester of chemistry (but not the second). I know this has been asked before but what's the deal with AP credit and medical school? Should I take the credit? I was thinking of taking the calculus and biology credit but starting fresh in chemistry.

 

[Doctor Strange]

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

FWIW, I would forgo all credits and just retake. GPA booster and you cover all bases in terms of admissions.

 

[Conflagration]

I'm a fellow NC resident, and I took my AP credit.

The real jerk of it is that it depends on how it's documented on your transcript, and if the institutions are willing to take them.

Taking them would certainly make things go quicker- but Orgo I as a freshman super sucks. Just know that.

And it's not a race, either. The "extra year" (which for you wouldn't even look extra, lol) is good because you'll have more time to establish critical relations for LoRs as well as doing some research or volunteering. Even just a year of breathing space can help put things in perspective.

You had to have super baller grades to get into UNC- keep up the work ethic and you should be fine. Just remember to have fun, too.

 

[ajtarheel]

I'm not a North Carolina resident yet but I will be soon, my family is actually moving down after I start school. I'd be fine with retaking the APs aside from calculus, I'd really just rather not retake calc I and II. I had up to multi variable in high school and I would feel like I had backtracked so far. I see that a lot of med schools do accept AP credit, except for the UC system and some others.

 

[Mavs88]

I had lots of AP credit, but took some classes.over. I have Gen Chem I, English 1301 and 1302 left and will retake them to avoid using AP credit anywhere.

 

[274631]

I took AP credit for most of my prereqs. If I could do it over, I probably would not. A lot of schools don't accept them which sucks and it would have been a GPA boost taking over those entry level classes.

 

[Radon XP]

I took IB credit for Cal 1 and 2, but nothing else.

I recommend just retaking your pre req sciences and getting A's (it'll be easier than jumping straight into upper levels)

 

[The Milkman]

In my opinion, I wouldn't retake them unless you completely forgot everything from them or only managed a 3 on the tests. Many med schools accept AP credit for most subjects, but require that you take upper level courses in those areas, maybe such as physical chemistry, and then genetics and cell/molecular biology for bio. For me personally, I don't see any reasons to sit through courses you already took and succeeded in (unless for a reason stated above), and I would use AP as an advantage to take more upper level sciences that are more interesting, and to show med schools how you can succeed in those upper levels.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

Hello all,

I'm a premed student who is an incoming first year at UNC. In terms of math and science AP credits, I have credit for calculus I and II, biology and the first semester of chemistry (but not the second). I know this has been asked before but what's the deal with AP credit and medical school? Should I take the credit? I was thinking of taking the calculus and biology credit but starting fresh in chemistry.

I don't know about calc and chem. But as an anecdote, I used AP bio credits to skip my second semester of General Biology, and had no problems with the schools I applied to. By skipping it, I got to start taking upper level bio classes sooner, which I found way more interesting, and it gave me a leg up in my major. In my case, using the AP credits was definitely worth it.

I'm sure there are benefits to not using AP credits and re-taking a course as well, like using the class as a GPA booster (you should do better than your peers if your AP class was good) and covering all bases in case a med school doesn't accept AP credits. Also, taking the intro class can assure you know the basics expected of freshman before you take any related upper level classes. Taking Gen Bio 1 helped me a lot, because it reinforced some stuff I was uncomfortable with from my AP bio class alone, and I did better in later classes in the long run. But Gen Bio 2 was unrelated to my interests and I had no problem skipping that. Just some pros and cons to consider.

You could consider taking upper level bio and chem if you AP out of those, just to show you're strong in those sciences.

 

[tennisguitar]

I'd personally retake, unless you are truly an all-star and absolutely wish to move n. College is a pretty big adjustment for most people, and relearning the same material at the college level, in my opinion, will likely ease your transition.

 

[airabuyu13]

Hello all,

I'm a premed student who is an incoming first year at UNC. In terms of math and science AP credits, I have credit for calculus I and II, biology and the first semester of chemistry (but not the second). I know this has been asked before but what's the deal with AP credit and medical school? Should I take the credit? I was thinking of taking the calculus and biology credit but starting fresh in chemistry.

Hey there, I go to UNC and I'm applying to med school now... My best advice (at least in the case of UNC) is to retake the chem class because when you take your MCAT you're not gonna remember any of it and also chem in college is way harder than AP chem (or at least at a faster pace). Don't retake calculus (calc is the MOST failed class at UNC, even people who've taken AP Calc did poorly in it) and most schools allow AP credit for math at least or you can argue it somehow. And then Bio, take the AP credit and take two upper level classes at least, I'd suggest Cell bio & Development (BIOL205) and molecular biology and genetics (BIOL202) because those will help you tons with the MCAT. If you have time, you could take BIOL252 (anatomy and physiology) too which would also help. So basically, I totally agree with you. Make your first semester a good one taking chem101 and lab, a bio class and get some gen ed requirements out of the way. PM me if you have any more questoins about UNC etc!

 

[Thermodynamical]

take credit for calc I and II, move on to calc III and diff eq (optional) and stats/biostats

 

[starlight15]

I also took multi-variable in high school and didn't want to move "backwards" so I just took multi-variable again in college, so that can also be an option if you don't want to take the AP credit for calc but also don't want to take a weeder calc course (had that at my school too)

 

[Arkaine]

Retake them all. It's not worth the hassle of dealing with ambiguous pre-req requirements at some medical schools. Also, the college course you are receiving credit for likely has a lot of material that was not covered in high school or your AP exam. It will better for your GPA and for you as a student having a stronger background in these fields going into upper-level courses.

 

[SN12357]

The real jerk of it is that it depends on how it's documented on your transcript, and if the institutions are willing to take them.

MAKE SURE IT APPEARS, NAMED, ON YOUR TRANSCRIPT.

I am a nontraditional premed who had to retake things I passed over in undergrad, all because the APs weren't actually ON MY TRANSCRIPT.

But retaking it would be fine too if you want to take it easy for a bit.

 

[ForHumors]

I tested out of both semesters of calc, which in my mind was an awesome deal because its letting me fit in more upper level science courses later on and I got to spend more time focusing on gen chem 1 and orgo 1 during freshman year. Apparently you can't go to the UC schools though if you dont take calc in college.

As a side note, I also tested out of my school's writing course with AP, but also took a literature class in college. Anybody know if the schools that require two English classes will accept one as AP?

 

[487806]

Hello all,

I'm a premed student who is an incoming first year at UNC. In terms of math and science AP credits, I have credit for calculus I and II, biology and the first semester of chemistry (but not the second). I know this has been asked before but what's the deal with AP credit and medical school? Should I take the credit? I was thinking of taking the calculus and biology credit but starting fresh in chemistry.

I was about to present the opposite viewpoint in these cases (like I usually do in these AP threads), but I don't think you are capable in diving into upper level courses in your freshman year. So, I will stick with the majority and recommend you to NOT use the AP credits and retake those basic courses.

 

[ajtarheel]

I got 5s in all my APs except chemistry so I'm thinking that's the only one I will retake. I know it would be easier to get good grades if I retook but I would rather move on. I'm fine with limiting my med school applications a tad if it means having some credit going in.

 

[487806]

I got 5s in all my APs except chemistry so I'm thinking that's the only one I will retake. I know it would be easier to get good grades if I retook but I would rather move on. I'm fine with limiting my med school applications a tad if it means having some credit going in.

Contrary to the popular preallo theme, your options are NOT limited. Medical schools will in fact accept AP credit as long as you take upper level science courses to prove you can handle advanced college material (i.e. "to show your skills"). I'm not sure whether the same applies for the UC system, but in general, schools that say they don't accept AP credit actually imply the previous statement.

Contact the schools for more info.

 

[plumazul]

Contrary to the popular preallo theme, your options are NOT limited. Medical schools will in fact accept AP credit as long as you take upper level science courses to prove you can handle advanced college material (i.e. "to show your skills"). I'm not sure whether the same applies for the UC system, but in general, schools that say they don't accept AP credit actually imply the previous statement.

Contact the schools for more info.

+1 👍, this is your answer.

 

[Mavs88]

I'm reconsidering my plan to take english1301, 1302, and gen chem I to get the actual credits instead of AP....

I will have taken lots of upper level chem courses by the time i apply such as ochem 1 and 2, analytical chem, 3 semester biochem series, and physical chem.

Should I retake the gen chem considering all those chems?

Also...how much do they really care if english AP credit is used?

Thanks

 

[NervousNerd]

I got a 5 on AP bio. Chose to take the credits as "elective" and take intro bio in college. Obviously was a cake walk (A) but...If i had not taken it in college, i would not have met my favorite professor at my school, would not have gotten such a great LOR, as well as been given the research opportunity I have been so lucky to have.

Re-take, you never know.

 

[487806]

I'm reconsidering my plan to take english1301, 1302, and gen chem I to get the actual credits instead of AP....

I will have taken lots of upper level chem courses by the time i apply such as ochem 1 and 2, analytical chem, 3 semester biochem series, and physical chem.

Should I retake the gen chem considering all those chems?

Also...how much do they really care if english AP credit is used?

Thanks

1. Don't retake gen chem.
2. You need to take a writing course to compensate if you plan on applying to schools that don't accept AP credits.