<p>After I am done with my AP exams I think I will have around 50 hours of college credit if I go to SMU. Is that good? And is 50 hours classified as a sophomore? So will I graduate from college a year early or something? And I want to become a bio major to go into premed and I need around 130 hours or something so can I finish undergrad in 3 years if I take classes during the summer also? So if I take 3 semesters a year (summer plus the two regular) how many hours will I complete per year?</p>
<p>Slow down. If you are going to be a science major, I suggest not skipping through the introductory science classes at college even though your AP test scores may allow you to do so. An AP science class in high school is usually not all on the same level as an introductory science class at college. </p>
<p>My suggestion is to use the AP Credits for your general education requirements only.</p>
<p>When you enter college with AP credits, you will still be considered a freshman. However, the AP credits will give you a higher registration status thus allowing you to register for classes earlier based on the number of credits you earned via AP’s. Also, many times, the colleges make you pay per credit for the AP credits.</p>
<p>You really need to slow down about graduating early. First, concentrate on getting accepted. Then, sit down with your academic advisor and create a realistic plan to complete your program. The typical student takes around 15 credits per semester but this is a very general statement. It all depends on the availability of courses per semester and the ability of the student to handle the coursework. The minimum number of credits to be considered a full time student is 12 credits/semester.</p>