What AP credits should I use?

[Jess8398]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello I'm a biochem major. My college gave me the choice to use my ap bio credit to skip bio 1 and 2. I got a 5 on that exam, but I was concerned about most medical schools not accepting ap bio credit. Was I right to choose to take gen bio 1 and 2 for this school year, will it look bad that I'm "retaking" the course?

Also I got a 4 on my ap calculus exam, should I still put a math course on my schedule? Would it be best to maybe take stats or multivariable calculus?

I have 17 credit hours for this semester, is that below average for a freshman?

 

[neekzg]

I'd take Bio 1 and 2 this school year, I don't think med schools will think you're "re-taking" the course.

You need a year of math so you should still put in math courses, probably both stats and multivariable calculus. Some med schools like UCLA require/recommend a course of stats.

 

[Jess8398]

I'd take Bio 1 and 2 this school year, I don't think med schools will think you're "re-taking" the course.

You need a year of math so you should still put in math courses, probably both stats and multivariable calculus. Some med schools like UCLA require/recommend a course of stats.

Thank you so much for your advice 🙂

 

[ShenanigansMD]

You could also take upper-level bio classes, and they would probably be a lot more interesting. You could also get closer to professors in smaller classes, and get recommendation letters later as they would be more receptive.

 

[pasiley]

Take the classes. Some schools are very strict about AP classes. Schools have different rules as to which upper level courses count and it is much safer to just take the original courses, than to find out at the last minute you don't meet the requirements.

 

[plumazul]

You could also take upper-level bio classes, and they would probably be a lot more interesting. You could also get closer to professors in smaller classes, and get recommendation letters later as they would be more receptive.

This 👍

I started college with 55 AP credits and didn't retake a single one. Every adcom I've discussed this with has said I did the right thing. They want you to challenge yourself. Take more advanced courses. The truth is that very few MSs have any problem with AP credit. (mostly in California) The key is, does your UG school give you the credit/placement, and did you get a 5 on the exam. If the answer to both is yes, take the credit/placement and move on with your studies.

 

[DCGuava]

My quote from another thread:

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.

This 👍

I started college with 55 AP credits and didn't retake a single one. Every adcom I've discussed this with has said I did the right thing. They want you to challenge yourself. Take more advanced courses. The truth is that very few MSs have any problem with AP credit. (mostly in California) The key is, does your UG school give you the credit/placement, and did you get a 5 on the exam. If the answer to both is yes, take the credit/placement and move on with your studies.

Bingo...both of these. Take the upper level classes in everything you can AP/CLEP out of, but make sure that the med schools that you want are down w/this approach. With that said, I've never heard of a med school not accepting the upper level classes when you have been able to bypass the lower level classes.

 

[mehc012]

My college had a no-AP credit policy. If you scored a '5' on your exam, you were allowed to take the final exam of the corresponding course. If you passed THAT, you were allowed to take an upper-level course, but it never counted for a grade. I got to take a lot of cooler courses (which all count for med school credit in place of the intros) though, which was worth it.

If colleges accepted them, some schools would have very few students for their intro courses!

 

[chickenonrice]

@mehc012: i am just curious but what school has that type of system?