Why is there so much misinformation regarding AP credit?

[Sweet Baby Boy]

Many premeds I've talked to seem to have this idea that medical schools across the board do not accept AP credits.

Looking at a table from MedSchoolCoach (here) that's just simply not true. Most schools do accept AP credits for most courses. Moreover, a lot of the schools that "do not take AP credits" have a bunch of loopholes that end up waiving the requirement for most premeds, considering most major in some kind of biology, chemistry, physics, or health based program.

Take Columbia for example. The table says they do not take AP credits for anything, but if you look at Columbia's Application Requirements page (here), for Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and English you can see that they essentially do accept AP credits as long as your undergraduate accepts them as well. They just have some additional requirements that, again, most premeds are already going to satisfy.
Looking at English for example, they require taking a years worth of English OR any kind of writing intensive coursework. I would be really surprised if someone was able to get their degree while dodging writing intensive courses, especially since they're required for graduation at many institutions anyway.

Why is there such a persistently spread rumor that medical schools do not accept AP credits? It's not true and it convinces otherwise perfectly applicable applicants to take a bunch of courses they don't need, wasting their time and money. I have even heard highschoolers tell me they don't bother with AP courses since they won't matter for medical school, which I find awful since those were some of the most fun, stimulating, and engaging courses I have ever taken.

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[1nygiantsfan]

Yeah this is why I highly recommend using MSAR for MD schools and I think the DO equivalent is choosedo (not 100% sure)

 

[wysdoc]

Many premeds I've talked to seem to have this idea that medical schools across the board do not accept AP credits.

Looking at a table from MedSchoolCoach (here) that's just simply not true. Most schools do accept AP credits for most courses. Moreover, a lot of the schools that "do not take AP credits" have a bunch of loopholes that end up waiving the requirement for most premeds, considering most major in some kind of biology, chemistry, physics, or health based program.

Take Columbia for example. The table says they do not take AP credits for anything, but if you look at Columbia's Application Requirements page (here), for Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and English you can see that they essentially do accept AP credits as long as your undergraduate accepts them as well. They just have some additional requirements that, again, most premeds are already going to satisfy.
Looking at English for example, they require taking a years worth of English OR any kind of writing intensive coursework. I would be really surprised if someone was able to get their degree while dodging writing intensive courses, especially since they're required for graduation at many institutions anyway.

Why is there such a persistently spread rumor that medical schools do not accept AP credits? It's not true and it convinces otherwise perfectly applicable applicants to take a bunch of courses they don't need, wasting their time and money. I have even heard highschoolers tell me they don't bother with AP courses since they won't matter for medical school, which I find awful since those were some of the most fun, stimulating, and engaging courses I have ever taken.

There can be some misunderstandings about how things work, but there is seldom an "all or nothing" statement fitting every circumstance:

To gain college credits for AP courses taken in high school, a student must take the step of asking the college to accept them. This usually requires an AP test score of 3, 4, or 5 and is done by the student after they enroll in college. A medical school never wants to be sent your AP test score, though.

If AP chemistry appears on your college transcripts WITH an associated number of credit hours, most schools will take that for a chemistry credit.
If AP credits appear as an undifferentiated lump sum of credits, the schools will not.

Some medical schools take AP credits for English, but not for science pre-reqs.
Baylor does not accept AP credits for any prereqs, as they prefer you to take the courses at a college level.

Get used to being expected to look things up, verify them, and pay attention to detail. They are some of the skills a good doctor needs.