AP Policy Question

<p>I was reviewing Chicago's AP Policy, and did not see English. Is there no credit given for either of the AP English tests?</p>

<p>I dont think they give english credit. If you read the fine print it looks like you can get elective credit for fives. Still, I'd rather take an elective at chicago than skip one...</p>

<p>Yes, it is interesting that their website is silent on english and history, yet says "§ No credit is given for Computer Science A, Environmental Science, or Psychology."</p>

<p>I'd be surprised if Chi gave credit for AP English, given their legendary strength in undergrad humanities, but why not send them an email, or use the link on their admissions website, and ask? And then post and let the rest of us know!</p>

<p>aahh man i did really well in my english/UShistory AP exams. my other schools don't take random ones either..like oberlin and economics. all that wasted money =(</p>

<p>Heh, I had previously emailed the PSAC, and they gave me a link back to the original site. I will email the admissions office instead.</p>

<p>Jerew, another approach would be to call them. An advantage of calling is that you don't even need to give your name, if you want to be anonymous.</p>

<p>Chicago isn't very generous about AP credit, I'm afraid. My daughter took 11 APs, receiving 9 fives and 2 fours. I think she got credit for only two -- one quarter of bio and one of math. I know she took two English APs and several histories -- AP World, AP Euro for sure. She did not receive credit for them.</p>

<p>Sillystring7, were they courses outside of her major? I am assuming that she got credit for courses outside of her major.</p>

<p>I don't know exactly what you mean by "outside of her major," because you don't declare a major until the end of sophomore year. She plans to double major in classics/lit. Her AP classes were Calculus, Statistics, English Language, English Lit, World History, U.S. History, Euro History, Music Theory, Biology, Economics, and Government. Not sure about the last one. She did not get credit for calculus -- to get credit for calculus you have to take the next level of calculus. She did get credit for one quarter of math through statistics. And she did get one quarter of credit for the bio. None of the others were directly transferrable. I think she could use two of the other APs for elective credit, but she isn't going to do that because she would rather take a couple of extra courses in her major. Basically, the core is the core, and it seems that you can replace very little of the core classes with AP classes. Also, I know that all students, regardless of APs and grades, have to take placement tests in math and bio, plus a swimming/fitness test. I think there are also foreign language placement tests, but those are optional for those who want to place into higher-level courses.</p>

<p>"I think she could use two of the other APs for elective credit, but she isn't going to do that because she would rather take a couple of extra courses in her major."</p>

<p>So that's a decision she made, not a comment on Chicago's lack of generosity. </p>

<p>Chicago's AP policy is not all that different from other top colleges. They all tend to give a years credit for a 5 in Chem, Physics and math for non-major in those fields. </p>

<p>Sillystring, as has been discussed elsewhere, you D unfortunately took many of the APs that are least likely to lead to credit at any top school. The courses commonly considered AP lite are either english, stats, govt, econ, music therory, art hist. and the like. The histories are in between, and the heavies are the hard sciences, physics, bio and chem, math, and the languages.</p>

<p>I think Chicago gives 1 quarter, as opposed to a year, in bio, chem, physics, etc. And to get credit for calc, you have to take the next highest level of calc. For example my d received a 5 in AP Calc, but had to take the next level of calc for credit. I didn't think Chicago was particularly generous with their APs, but I didn't think it was awful either. </p>

<p>I can see that for students paying $40,000-plus per year for tuition, a school's generosity, or lack of it, re APs could pay a role in the decision to attend. In my d's case, she received a full tuition merit scholarship for four years, so the AP credit, or lack of it, wasn't an issue. However, as finances were of concern to us -- she received no need-based aid -- her schools' AP policies might have played a role in her decision had she not received a scholarship.</p>

<p>Sillystring, Chicago is much more generous than you indicate.<br>
Let me quote from the U Chicago catalog:
Calculus BC 5 MATH 15100-15200†
Biology 5 1 quarter general education (BIOS 10110)+
+ A biological sciences major requires a “Fundamental” sequence in general education or an “AP 5” sequence in the major. Students with an AP 5 who complete the two-quarter “AP 5” sequence are awarded a second AP credit to meet the general education requirement.
Chemistry 5 CHEM 11101-11201-11301
Physics:
Mechanics and E&M 4 or 5 PHYS 12100-12200-12300‡
‡ Note that a major in physics or chemistry requires PHYS 13100-13200-13300 or PHYS 14100-14200-14300</p>

<p>So, you can get a full year of credit in Physics and Chemistry, 2 quarters of credit in math, possibly three with good placement performance, and one or two quarters of credit in Bio, depending on what you take.</p>

<p>This is not worth arguing about, but what I have been trying to say is that, yes, you do get credit for Calculus, but in some cases ONLY if you take the next highest course. For example, my daughter received a 5 in AP Calc AB, but she does not get credit for it because she did not continue to higher calculus. However, as I stated, she did receive 1 quarter of credit for Statistics. She also received 1 quarter of credit for Bio for receiving a 5 in AP Bio. And whether a student receives credit for Calc, Physics or Chemistry depends on what courses they choose at Chicago. In the "footnotes" section of the AP page on the Chicago site, it states the following: </p>

<p>AP Physics, or Calculus: Students who register for physics or calculus must forego AP credit.</p>

<p>It further states:</p>

<p>Students who register for one to three quarters of General Chemistry or one to two quarters of Honors General Chemistry forgo partial or full AP credit.</p>

<p>So the bottom line is that, depending upon your plans, the amount of credit received for AP courses can vary.</p>

<p>"This is not worth arguing about, but what I have been trying to say is that, yes, you do get credit for Calculus, but in some cases ONLY if you take the next highest course."</p>

<p>What are those cases? My D does not have to take any math. Does that mean she gets no credit, 3 quarters, or what?</p>

<p>So what I am seeing is that probably no credit for me, because as a physics major, I will hopefully take Honors General Physics and Honors Calculus, neither of which would warrant me receiving any AP credit. Furthermore, a 5 in AP Chemistry wouldn't help me that much either, because as a science major, there is no point in me covering my science electives bases, since those elective will be a given for a science major. And finally, I am assuming that everyone must take a first-year writing seminar, regardless of AP English scores, so those too are null and void. Hmm, I guess the only reason I would take the AP tests would be if I got into HPS or Cornell. What is your advice?</p>

<p>sillystring: did your daughter investigate the six quarter math/science sequence? My son is looking at that to meet his core requirments. His Calc BC score will not place him out, only up in math, just as you've stated. He is intrigued by the sequence (I think it's called natural science) that covers all of the various science and math core.</p>

<p>Of course this might be a moot point if he doesn't get in!</p>

<p>texasmim - does your son have to take all 6 courses in the math/science sequence even with a 5 on the BC calc ap, or is it 4 or 5 courses long because he's already taken some of the math?</p>

<p>indy: he isn't admitted so it may not even come to pass. He was looking at the course selection guide to see what kind of core requirments could be met in what manner. Since UChicago is on a quarter system, I am not familiar with how these sequences run, but they have several...some that are just science, and one that is math/science. (He is a social sciences type person) Some are "four quarter" and some are "six quarter"--which I would assume would mean 1 year and 1 1/2 years?</p>

<p>He doesn't want to move up in the math sequence because it is not his strong suit. It was sillystring's d that had the 5 on the BC. The math science sequence caught his eye, thinking perhaps that the math and science in lock step together might keep him from getting in over his head in a science class that is very math based. Am I making sense here? I seem to be talking in circles!</p>

<p>no that makes a lot of sense. i'm not much of a science person either, but i am rather good at math. this sounds like a great option, thanks for the information!</p>

<p>My son had 8 AP's - all 5's. As I recall he receives credit for 1 quarter biology, 1 quarter statistics, 1 quarter Calculus, also credit for Economics but Economics department discourages using that credit because they would like to start fresh with the student in Econ although it can be used. No credit for English because Humanities is part of Core and all have to take that sequence. No credit for History. Math Exam can place students in Honors Math and Physics. I have seen the Honors Physics book and it is extremely Math oriented. Looks like one long equation and formula.</p>