<p>I'm taking 3 AP's this year, and I really don't want to take the tests unless I get credit. SO, I was looking up the AP stuff on the USC website, and apparently, the classes count for ellective credit??? Is that the case?</p>
<p>If so, should I take the tests? I plan on having a major and minor, so wouldn't I have to fill my electives with my minor classes anyways?</p>
<p>I don't want to take the AP tests at all, but if I can get rid of some GE requirements, that'd be sweet.</p>
<p>I have taken AP French, AP Calc, and APush</p>
<p>This year I would take AP gov, AP english lit, and the other AP english one...</p>
<p>WHat do you all think?</p>
<p>EDIT: I've called the admissions office as well, and I'm still really confused.</p>
<p>And, I need help picking a minor. I was thinking political science, but I really don't now how/what that is. I'm interested in law/legal studies/criminal justice. Any advice? I can probably figure all this out later, but I'd like to get a head start. :)</p>
<p>Ouch. Apparently only the core science classes (bio, chem, physics) and art history and european history can be used as GE credit. Everything else is elective.</p>
<p>What makes me mad is this: Computer Science (A): Credit for scores of 4 or 5 only for exams taken. And this is only for elective credit. So my 3 isn't worth anything, even though I was the only person in my school district to pass. :(</p>
<p>Well, for my degree (ISIS - Engineering) I need 10 elective credits, which I've already fulfilled as I got 24 from AP.</p>
<p>It does leave some room for a minor in my schedule.</p>
<p>OH, and if you are going to be a student in Viterbi Engineering, do note <a href="I%20know%20this%20will%20sound%20weird,%20but%20it's%20true!">i</a>* that a 4 or 5 in AP U.S. History will fulfill the Category IV G.E.</p>
<p>Well, don't forget they could help you for class placement. You can probably screw the English exams, but I'd take the gov one, esp. since you have an interest in poly sci minor.</p>
<p>Yeah I'm pretty sure I read in one of the packets that you take placement exams at orientation or something. They test math, science, foreign language, and other stuff.</p>
<p>The only one I know is that a 4 or 5 on AP Calc usually gets you out of calc I and maybe even calc II...that is if you need those classes for your major. You'll have to check with a dept as to their standards.</p>
<p>And yeah, there are separate placement exams given during orientation. There's one for foreign language (which you can actually pass through the entire requirement), chemistry, physics, and math. Again, it depends on your major which one you take, and they will tell you before which ones.</p>
<p>Here's the real deal about AP credit - the one that they don't tell you until you get on campus.</p>
<p>The key is the <em>university</em> is not going to make any automatic waivers based on AP credit, except for some of the GE requirements. The department, on the other hand, is free to make whatever waivers they see fit (except for the GE reqs and university-wide reqs) So that means that you're guaranteed elective credits plus whatever reqs you're allowed to have waived. For example, I got math 125/126 (calc I&II) waived with AP calc BC, CS101/102 with my APCS, cat-4 GE with my APUS history, etc. So I got a lot of "unofficial" ap waivers.</p>
<p>I'll say, though, that the AP english exams count for absolute squat since they force everyone to take their two semester writing sequence. But ap english language is really good prep, it's going to be fairly similar to the first semester writing course.</p>
<p>If you are willing to put in the work and effort, then I would say consider going for it. You'll learn more, challenge yourself, be better prepared for the regular writing classes, etc. Plus, you will be drooling over those 12 elective units they give you for those 3 exams which help you a lot doing a minor or double major.</p>
<p>This board is awesome, I have learned sooo much!</p>
<p>ANyways, I'm still not sure if I want to take the AP tests. I've got math, history, and french under my belt. If I have to take english in college, and Ive already taken a history exam, will it really matter?</p>
<p>and, i think taking some ge's might be a good idea since Ill meet people who arent in my major...</p>
<p>I didn't think of that. Well, you'll meet new people in your minor classes, so I don't know. I would take the AP test just to get it over with, but then again, that's just me, and I'm not really a people person.</p>
<p>Something just hit me. I got an invitation for Science Honors, and I applied. The thing is, I'm taking Bio and Chem AP, and I already passed Physics. Would those classes basically make the honors program, like, worthless for me?</p>
<p>as for minoring or double majoring - they make it really easy unless you're in an intense program like engineering, and they highly encourage all students to do it.</p>
<p>Basically you take a few more units and take classes for your minor/other major in place of free electives. The major/minor or double major doesn't even have to be in the same area at all. AP credits really help because they open up holes in your schedule where you can shoehorn your major/minor requirements.</p>
<p>soooo i'm guessing it would be a good idea to sign up for the ap exams for English Literature, Chemistry, CalculusBC, and European History...</p>
<p>especially if I want to double-major/minor?</p>
<p>do 3's really get you anything, btw? (like in US Hist & US Govt?)</p>
<p>I'm pretty confident that I have the chance to get 5's on Lit and Euro, so I'm definitely taking those exams this year. I'm a little worried about CalcBC and Chem though cause I hate those classes, lol.</p>
<p>3's will probably only get you elective credit, and even if you could get more, you probably will want to take the classes anyway...</p>
<p>-English lit will give you elective credit only
-Calc BC might help you waive calc I & II if those are required for your major
-Chem will knock off GE science, which is helpful if you are not a science or engineering major
-Euro history knocks off a GE for all majors - definately helpful
-not sure about ap gov</p>
<p>sweet. thanks jbusc... I think I'm going to pass on the AP tests this year. Seems pointless to spend $250 on exams that won't influence college. That said, I think I have enough elective credit from the tests I already took, so at this point, anything further would be a waste of time and money (In my opinion).</p>