<p>I currently have 8 AP credits, and I'm going to be taking four more AP tests this spring. I'm currently accepted at UW-Madison, and I understand that I can use AP credits to get my bachelor's degree, but they wont count when I apply to med school, so I'll have to take some higher level math and science courses to fulfill the medical school admission prerequisites. But what I'm worried is, will they not even count the AP credits as college credits, or just not classes that fulfill their prerequisite requirements? I.E - if I have Calc I (AP credits), and take Calc II and Stats, would they just accept the Calc I credits as general credits?</p>
<p>Almost all medical school applicants have enough general credits before applying, so your question is moot – unless you apply in the summer after sophomore. But if you apply so early, frankly, most medical schools do not take “babies” who may not be mature enough to even take care of themselves, let alone helping others. (Maybe some medical schools which have a lot of emphasis on medical research may be exceptions.)</p>
<p>So should I even take the AP tests if they wont even help me with the admission requirements? It seems like the only thing they’ll be useful for is putting me in higher level classes, which could potentially lower my GPA.</p>
<p>Some colleges will allow students with AP credit to retake the courses for which they have AP credits. Some colleges will not allow the use of AP credits to replace required coursework within one’s major, but will give credit/advanced placement for AP scores outside of one’s major. Some colleges require students who have AP credit to use it to place out of introductory courses.</p>
<p>Policies vary widely from school to school. And even department to department,</p>
<p>Before you make decision, check the departmental policies at UW-Madison.</p>
<p>(At D2’s school, Bio majors can’t use AP credits to place out of any required courses within the bio dept; however, the math dept happily allows math majors to use AP credit to fulfill graduation requirements. She took Intro to Bio along with everyone else, but started her math with Theoretical Linear Algebra and finished a math minor by the end of her freshman year.)</p>
<p>Also consider that 2/3rds of all freshman pre meds end up never even applying to medical school. Think long and hard about whether you might someday want those AP credits.</p>
<p>It’s very likely that you will graduate with enough credits that it won’t matter…if you go to school for all 4 years and take all the “next higher” classes.</p>
<p>It sounds like you’re concerned that med schools will “subtract” your AP credits from your total credits. I don’t think they do that. However, if you were to try to graduate in - say 3 years - it may be an issue. </p>
<p>If you go all 4 years and take a full load (maybe a lighter load fall of senior year), you should have enough total credits that it shouldn’t be a problem.</p>
<p>My son came in with about 45 AP credits, but he’ll be a full-time student all 8 semesters - so he’ll graduate with a lot more credits than are needed. Does that clarify things?</p>
<p>Yes it does, mom2collegekids! Thanks for the clarification.</p>