<p>Hi, </p>
<p>I'm a senior and likely I'm going to Berkeley. Now I plan to take a couple of AP tests this semester. If I pass them with a minimum of 4, then I can get credits at Berkeley for them? What is the policy about AP at Berkeley? </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Depends on which college you’re looking at, as well as your major prerequisites.</p>
<p>Below are the AP credit guidelines for College of Letters and Science (L & S):</p>
<p>[Advanced</a> Placement Examinations](<a href=“http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/faq/ap.html]Advanced”>http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/faq/ap.html)</p>
<p>The policy is complicated. Here are several of the dimensions:</p>
<p>The colleges here list the number of units they will track as credit towards the total requirement for your major. For example, L&S requires 120 credits total to earn a degree - AP credits count towards that. However, it is a best of both worlds situation, in that they count towards minimums but are ignored for maximums. For example, L&S has a cap on enrolling after 130 units are earned during eight semester of attendance, but AP units don’t count against that. For units credit, a score of 3 or higher is required.</p>
<p>The colleges list which AP courses can be applied to satisfy various requirements. For example, the mandatory reading and comprehension classes can be waived based on scores on English Lang or English Lit AP - the higher the score, the more of these classes are exempted for you. Foreign Language and Quant Reasoning (math) are also waived based on 3 or higher on a number of APs. </p>
<p>Individual course pre-requisites can be satisfied by passing AP tests. For example, Chem 3A normally requires Chem 1A as a prereq but a 4 or 5 on the Chem AP will waive the requirement. You are not required to skip those classes. You might feel the need to learn it more deeply. You might want to benefit from a higher GPA based on the grade you expect to earn since you know the material already. Some majors have required courses for which they do not accept AP credit, even though students going into other majors can use the AP in lieu of the class. Pre-med students are strongly urged to not use AP credits for any pre-med requirement classes, instead taking the course in college. Another best of both worlds approach - skip classes if you choose, take them anyway and have those AP units dropped from your record if you don’t want to use AP credits in any particular case. </p>
<p>Depending upon the college, department and major, you may use AP credit to be considered to have taken certain courses, skipping the actual class here at Cal. No online list exists, this is a matter that requires an inquiry with the department hosting the class and with advisors for your (intended) major. </p>
<p>As you can see, it is a complicated answer but generally APs are a good thing. They give you units that might let you finish early, they can help you check off some requirements, and they allow you into more advanced classes without having to take the first classes of a series. Don’t forget they also are evaluated as part of admissions and can help tip a decision to the yes column. If you believe you can pass with 3 or higher, take the test, even if you haven’t taken a specific AP class oriented to the subject.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for detailed responses. It seems quite complicated, but I guess I got the big pictures. But I do have a couple of additional questions:</p>
<p>According to the link, it says AP has to be taken before the admission to L&S. I guess it means “before the enrollment”? The admission letters are going to be at the end of this month, but AP tests are going to be a bit later. This is not an issue, right? </p>
<p>Since it sounds we can get best of the two worlds by taking more APs, if I take quite a few APs, and fail a couple (getting a low scores), do it hurt me in any way (say, put it in my college transcripts?) I guess I don’t worry about its impact on admissions anymore since by the time I take APs, all admissions are out. </p>
<p>Again, thanks for the help</p>
<p>Before admission means before August.</p>
<p>How you do on your APs or if you skip them does not affect your admission status for any of the UCs.</p>
<p>You should take any AP test that you have signed up that you are confident you will get at least a 3 in. Those AP units will really help you in the long run for your first couple years for getting into highly impacted classes (assuming you get in here).</p>
<p>Failed APs do not impact you in any way and will not be on your transcript.</p>