<p>I see that UMD gives credit for about 21 different AP courses, depending on the final AP exam score. For the most part this satisfies lower level intro courses. From what I have read, AP classes are treated as transfer credits, so that means they are not calculated into the GPA. For my daughter a high GPA will be important, as she is a biology major, with the possibility of going into premed.</p>
<p>By bypassing these intro courses, doesn't that put students at a disadvantage in their GPA calculations? My daughter can get credit for 6 different AP classes. That means she can start with higher level courses in her Freshman year. Would it better for her to repeat some/all of these AP classes and receive a higher grade in the intro courses, and GPA?</p>
<p>@MDdad,
You bring up a hotly debated issue. It’s always being discussed on forums such as SDN or here at,</p>
<p>[Pre-Med</a> Topics - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/]Pre-Med”>Pre-Med Topics - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>My goal is not strictly medical school since I plan on applying only to MSTPs, so my outlook may differ from your D’s, but this is what I’ve seen during my 2 years here.</p>
<p>Beware of using AP credit if you score other than a 5. The scoring system the CB uses is just way to lenient. If I scored a 4, I would repeat the course, however, if you did score a 5 then certainly accept the credit and move on to a higher level course. (I consider any other score to be a fail)</p>
<p>I’ve had the opportunity to discuss this with several MS admins/adcoms over the past years and they all agree that taking AP credit/placement and moving to a higher level class is what they want to see. Here at Maryland there are perks to accepting the credit. I started with 55 AP transfer credits so now after just two years I am a “supersenior”(122 credits) and will get to register on the first day from now on 
I will also be taking my first graduate level course(for UG credit) in my major this fall and hope to take several more during my final 2 years as an undergraduate. </p>
<p>As to your concern for your D’s GPA, if your D has always been an A student, then she will probably continue to be one. Just don’t try to do too much in any one semester. So far, I’ve had no problem. You should also not underestimate the potential for some of the “intro” courses to be more difficult than you might have thought. :eek:</p>
<p>Best of luck to your D</p>
<p>@plumazul - thank you. It’s helpful to have your insight and perspective as a current student.</p>
<p>Plumazul, thanks for the well-thought-out response. I think my D will take credit on some of her AP scores.</p>
<p>It seems to me that although med school admission is obviously very competitive, they look at college students the same way elite colleges look at high school students. You daughter (along with many other students) could easily have taken standard courses and gotten a 4.0, but the reason she took APs is because rigor is extremely important. Similarly, many college students could have a near-perfect GPA taking the easiest courses possible to fill their requirements, but it is the ones who do well in difficult courses who stand out.</p>
<p>OK, that is good to know. She might as well take as many AP credits as possible. She wants to double major anyway.</p>
<p>Yeah if she wants to double major she should definitely try to get ahead. I’m planning to double major as well and trying to fit in all the requirements while still having some room for electives is pretty hard, but I think coming in with ~32 AP credits (if all goes right over the next week…) should make it doable.</p>