<p>I am going to be entering the Marshall School of Undergraduate Business and don't know how the AP credits work. I know that if I pass one of the specified tests, I don't have to take the corresponding Marshall prerequisite or general education class. But there are only a few that are listed there:
<a href="http://www.marshall.usc.edu/undergrad/buad/admissions/freshman%5B/url%5D">http://www.marshall.usc.edu/undergrad/buad/admissions/freshman</a></p>
<p>What about the other tests? listed here:
<a href="http://www.usc.edu/dept/ARR/articulation/apexams.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.usc.edu/dept/ARR/articulation/apexams.html</a>
Do those count for anything if I pass those with 4s or 5s or is Marshall completely different?</p>
<p>Basically, how will the AP tests I've taken and am taking this year benefit me? Because the only test that can test me out of a Marshall prerequisite/general Ed is AP Calc AB (math-118)</p>
<p>So far, I've passed:
Psychology
US History
Language and Composition
Environmental Science</p>
<p>I am taking this year:
US Government and politics
Statistics
Literature
Calculus AB</p>
<p>Can someone interpret this for me?
Thanks</p>
<p>Your AP credits will benefit you in that you will be able to register sooner than others who don’t have as many units.</p>
<p>That’s the only benefit? I will get to choose my classes faster? </p>
<p>I want to possibly double major in accounting, would this benefit me in any way by clearing up some elective space so I can fit in the accounting classes required for a double major?</p>
<p>Most valuable APs for USC fulfilling req’s are European History or Art History (gets you out of 1 GE) and/or Bio, Chem or Physics (gets you out of 1 GE) plus Foreign Language (gets you out of 3 semesters of language) if needed for your desired degree. Other APs will count for elective credits. For students desiring double major or adding extra minors or getting BFA, there is little if any room left in 4 years to take electives, so the credit may be moot. OTOH, for students hoping to graduate in 3 years (and save $60,000+) who take only 1 major, full elective credit (USC allows max 32 units) can save you a fortune.</p>
<p>So if I pass my 4 ap tests this year (with 4s or 5s), I can essentially graduate with a single major in 3 years but for a double major, the elective ap credits are relatively useless</p>
<p>They do give you an earlier registration time which is more beneficial than it seems to you at this point, you will only understand when actually register for classes and you may get a 1 pm section before it fills and your friend who registers 2-3 days later has to wake up at 8am for his.</p>
<p>But that statement I said above is true?</p>
<p>Yes, what did you expect from tests that require you to get 40% to pass? USC is fairly generous for a “top” school, you just happened to take all of the “easier” AP classes.</p>
<p>My freshman daughter receieved a 4 or 5 in AP Euro, AP Art, AP US History, AP Spanish, AP Eng comp and AP Eng lit thus she started with 24 credits. She received 3’s in 2 others so they don’t count at USC. With her (Dornsife) major and a language minor, she can graduate in 3 1/2 years with no summer school and no semester more than 16 hours. Also, she did get an earlier registration time. I’m sure it depends on your major and the school but in 1985 I graduated college in 3 1/2 years (no summer school) as a pre-med Biology major due to AP credits. Money and time well spent.</p>
<p>So I spent $400 on ap tests this year for a seemingly insignificant advantage.</p>
<p>Well that $400 + your other APs translates to a ~$44,000 savings in tuition if you decided to just do a single major, the fact that you want to do a double major negates that savings and yes, doesn’t benefit you that much.</p>
<p>If I decide to single major, then how will it benefit me? I’m sorry. This is a difficult concept for me to grasp because I don’t really understand how electives and GEs work.
Does it mean that I can skip taking electives, meaning I can graduate in less time?</p>
<p>Essentially yes, a single major + GEs is usually less than the 128 units required for a degree (engineering is a notable exception), therefore you must either complete elective units to meet that requirement or add a minor/major/etc (or another case would be someone pre-health majoring in an entirely different area) to meet the total unit requirement. AP credits are essentially “pre-completion” of elective units and therefore you can complete a degree faster. </p>
<p>So I think you can look at it 3 ways and determine which would be more beneficial for YOU…
You could complete a single major in 3 years, save $$$ and time, start working earlier and gain 1 extra year of work experience which MAY allow you to advance faster/higher/etc in your chosen career path</p>
<p>OR </p>
<p>You could complete a double major in 4 years, spend extra money and time but that double major MAY allow you to get a “better” job initially which MAY allow you to reach whatever goals you have faster/easier/etc</p>
<p>OR</p>
<p>You could do a single major in 4 years, explore something else maybe, add a minor which would be the same as the first option essentially just delayed 1 year</p>
<p>Of course, these are all hypothetical and I can’t say for sure what impact what will have on you in the future but it is something to think about from many perspectives.</p>
<p>Okay I think I understand now.
So if I intend to single major and graduate in 3 years, the 32 credits from AP tests just means that I can skip out of 1 year of electives.</p>
<p>But if I intend to take this course, although it will save me money in tuition and get me working 1 year faster, it means I have less classes to explore. Since electives tend to be the “fun classes.” Essentially, I will be taking the same prerequisites, significantly less electives, and graduating. </p>
<p>I don’t know if I want to do that option either! College is a time to explore! Or so I’ve heard.</p>
<p>I think the best advice is to get to USC first, complete some classes, decide based on that what is best for YOU and see where life takes you. You may get an internship which may lead directly to a job offer pending graduation or you may not get one where you wanted and end up having time to complete another major or you may realize that you want to get a Masters in Accounting directly after your Bachelors or you may find you have a passion in something else. Just wait and see how everything pans out, its good to be ambitious but don’t let it be your downfall.</p>
<p>And don’t be so quick dismiss registration priority as “insignificant!” Coming in with 32 units gives you the flexibility by your sophomore year to tailor your schedule to your needs - you get to pick the sections that will allow you to schedule so you can do school-year internships (gives you a leg up in applications over those w/o the same flexibility) or have 4-day weekends every week. </p>
<p>Other benefits: With 32 units of elective credit in your pocket, study abroad is easier to fit into your schedule (and you can qualify for study abroad earlier in your program), minors & double majors (or both) can fit into a four-year schedule… </p>
<p>As you say, college is a time to explore - so use your AP credits as an opportunity!</p>
<p>You can also use AP qualifying scores to get out of certain pre-reqs for more advanced courses. D has used some to skip intro classes (Psych, Calc for example) and start in higher level ones. This has allowed her more room in her tight schedule-- she has one of the largest majors (credit wise) and a minor. She has also benefited from registering early compared to her peers. Some preferred GE classes and writing 140, 340 classes fill up quickly (word gets around on which ones to take and when).</p>
<p>This AP policy is quite common amongst top 25 schools-- especially amongst private schools.</p>