AP Test I’ve Taken (My Score):
English Language and Composition (4)
English Literature and Composition (3)
US Government and Politics (4)
Environmental Science (4)
Psychology (5)
European History (3)
Bakersfield Community College (Currently attending):
AP Test Recognized (Minimum Score Required) – Credit Awarded:
English Language (3) – 9 units
English Literature (3) – 7 units
US Gov. and Pol. (3) -- 3 units
UC Berkeley (School I want to transfer to)
AP Test Recognized (Minimum Score Required) – Credit Awarded:
English Language (4) – 5 units
English Literature (4) – 5 units – Didn’t pass
US Gov. and Pol. (3) – 3 units
Environmental Science (3) – 3 units
Psychology (3) – 3 units
European History (3) -- 5 units
I want to transfer to UC Berkeley. At Bakersfield College, I get 19 units awarded from my AP scores. In regards to the 60 unit requirement to transfer-- does it only matter how many units I am awarded from my community college, or does UCB (or any other school I want to transfer to) translate my scores into their system? Taking into account English Language, US G&P, Environmental Science, Psych, and Euro History, I will have received 20 units from UCB.
AP credit for transfer students will be based on the AP credit policy of the school you transfer to.
Thanks so much for replying! So for clarification, I can take 40 units worth of classes instead of 41 units because Berkeley (assuming that is still the school I want to go to in a year) awards me an extra unit? I’m quite new to this whole transfer process and I want to be able to transfer in one year as opposed to two, so I’m really trying to understand everything ASAP.
UC AP credit units are listed here:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/exam-credit/ap-credits/index.html
Note carefully:
a. The units are in quarter units, so for UCB and UCM, which are on the semester system, the units are multiplied by 2/3. So 8 quarter units = 5.3 semester units, and 4 quarter units = 2.7 semester units.
b. If you take a college course covering the same material as your AP credit, you will not get credit units for both.
So your AP credit will be the following for UC purposes:
English language/literature: 8 quarter or 5.3 semester (but probably reduced to 4 quarter or 2.7 semester since you will have to take the second reading and composition course, at least for UCB)
US government: 4 quarter or 2.7 semester
Environmental science: 4 quarter or 2.7 semester
Psychology: 4 quarter or 2.7 semester
European history: 8 quarter or 5.3 semester
Total: 24 quarter or 16 semester units (assuming part of your English credit is removed when you take the duplicating course, but you do not need to take duplicating courses for the others for your major). This is approximately one semester’s worth, so if you want to transfer in one year, you need to take overload schedules averaging 22 semester units per semester.
Thank you!!! I’m forever grateful. :’) This all has been very confusing especially because my counselors have been no help whatsoever in this transfer process, but this has cleared up a bunch. I think I’m on my way to a one-year transfer!
I would like to add-- in case anyone wanting to transfer to UCB is reading this-- that I called the UCB L&S undergrad admissions advisor to ask about the two-part reading and comp course. You’ll receive the same amount of units regardless of whether or not you got a 4 or 5 on the AP English test. Your score just determines what class(es) you’ll have to take if you attend Cal. Getting a 4 exempts you from the first course, a 5 exempts you from both. That is my understanding from the advisor at least.