<p>Ok. I'm a little confused about this, so, I was wondering what advanced standing exactly is, and what it has to do with APs. Can I use the APs I take to make up for my credit (not advanced standing)?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>[FAS</a> Handbook for Students: Chapter 2: Academic Information](<a href=“http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/ugrad_handbook/current/chapter2/advanced_standing.html]FAS”>http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/ugrad_handbook/current/chapter2/advanced_standing.html)</p>
<p>Thus, with the right combination of fives on your AP exams, you can get the equivalent of four “credits” and push for advanced standing which typically lets you complete a master’s in your fourth year. Otherwise, AP’s will only be used to place you in certain courses.</p>
<p>Oh, okay. So when can I do the advanced standing? I heard from somewhere that it was only after the second year…</p>
<p>My opinion - once you get here, you’ll realize you don’t want to do advanced standing.</p>
<p>See: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1062231422-post50.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1062231422-post50.html</a></p>
<p>and [Advising</a> Programs: Advanced Placement and Advanced Standing](<a href=“http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~advising/advanced/]Advising”>http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~advising/advanced/)</p>
<p>Not everyone does Advanced Standing just to graduate in 3 years…if you want a master’s/plan on getting a PhD then it might be right for you.</p>
<p>question. what does it take to get a masters on the 4th year? as in… do you have to apply and be accepted by harvard again to be able to get a masters on the 4th year? or is the process more favorable than that? (i couldn’t find it on the web)</p>
<p>To elaborate on just<em>for</em>me’s point, I pretty much figured from day one that I wouldn’t use my advanced standing option because I would want to pack as much into my undergrad time as possible. I didn’t want to cut anything short. But also, I simply was not sure enough freshman year about what I wanted to study. Cutting out a year leaves less time to fit in the classes you want/need to take, and it leaves less room for exploration. I believe advanced standing works best if you have a good sense of your study plan from the get-go. In that case, using advanced standing to get a master’s in your fourth year is a great option. You’d still be on campus for all four years and would leave with two degrees. Not too shabby! (I have a friend who did this, and it worked out very well for him.)</p>
<p>Another thought: If you take a semester or a year off (leaves of absence are pretty common around here), you can use advanced standing and still graduate with your original class. I don’t think this is a particularly good reason to use advanced standing if you weren’t going to use it otherwise, but I’ve taken time off, and it’s an option I’ve considered. I’m more than likely not going to use the advanced standing at all (for the reasons above), but I’m just throwing that out there.</p>
<p>ETA: Oh, I see that I pretty much echoed [the</a> post you linked](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1062231422-post50.html"]the”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1062231422-post50.html), just<em>for</em>me.</p>
<p>“question. what does it take to get a masters on the 4th year? as in… do you have to apply and be accepted by harvard again to be able to get a masters on the 4th year? or is the process more favorable than that? (i couldn’t find it on the web)”</p>
<p>[Advanced</a> Standing: Addendum: Advanced Standing and AB/AM or SM programs](<a href=“http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~advising/advanced/addendum.html]Advanced”>http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~advising/advanced/addendum.html)</p>
<p>^ Does this link answer your questions?</p>
<p>Sorry, I meant just<em>forget</em>me* (not just<em>for</em>me).</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help! Just one clarification…if I were to do advanced standing (I am very sure of what I want to do), and I were to try to get my master’s degree in one year, would that be the same as going to Harvard Medical School? No, right?</p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>“the same” in what sense? It wouldn’t be a year of medical education, no.</p>
<p>@Co11ege</p>
<p>yea that definitely answers my question:</p>
<p>“Advanced Standing students interested in the fourth-year master’s degree programs ordinarily take the Graduate Record Exam and apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences by December of their third year. Admission is often quite competitive and the programs very rigorous.”</p>
<p>haha yea i think im good. im going to enjoy my undergrad experience instead…</p>
<p>wingless, for whatever it’s worth, everyone I knew who wanted to get a master’s in the fourth year did so. There’s a lot of self-selection in terms of who applies. It’s the hard core people who are interested.</p>
<p>Hanna - My impression (based on a very small number of anecdotes) is that the AB/AM programs have become much more selective since secondary fields were introduced. I’m not sure I see the logic - but I guess departments see secondary fields as an okay “consolation prize” for students who don’t get the AM.</p>
<p>Ah, so there’s a test that I would have to take as well…in addition to taking extra classes for the first three years?</p>
<p>By “same” I meant that if I were to go regularly and let’s say that I somehow was accepted to Harvard Medical School, would it be the same getting a degree there and getting a master’s degree using advanced standing?</p>
<p>@silversuz - Yes, masters programs will likely require you to take additional exams. You don’t need to take extra classes if you do advanced standing - you just need to take <em>the right</em> classes.</p>
<p>You can’t go to Harvard Medical School for your master’s degree. See the list of programs on the web site Co11ege posted.</p>
<p>^ Thanks! I read the websites for all of the info for advanced standing and I have decided to think about it more =D</p>
<p>Some major departments don’t require a GRE.</p>