AP Policy

<p>What is Wellesley's policy regarding APs? I know which ones yhey give credit for, and the limit of 4, but I am still not 100% clear. I have heard that even if you can't skip an intro class or move to a more advanced one, the credits go towards graduation. So, if I want to major in history, I know I can't use the AP exam towards the major, but will that still count towards graduation?</p>

<p>Yes. You basically have a “blank” unit. Now this unit would be only useful if you took 3 classes a few semesters, took four every other semester, and didn’t get extra units from labs or half credit courses or wintersession.</p>

<p>Now back in the good old days when I matriculated, you could get credit for 4s and 5s and have 8 units of credit. I did have 8 units and it didn’t do anything unless I wanted to graudate early.</p>

<p>Right. The AP credits will count towards graduation, but not towards distribution or major requirements – if you get “credit” for an equivalent course, you basically pass out of that course and can move up to a higher level. Since I have matriculated, the AP policy has changed and you basically have to have an AP 5 on everything to get any type of credit. These credits will “count” if you want to graduate early or take a lighter load during a semester. The maximum right now that you can have is 4, so effectively 1 semester’s worth of credit.</p>

<p>Does the limit of 4 credits include college courses taken during summer?
I have one 5 on AP test, and I have 6 units of college credit - so how does this work?</p>

<p>Yes it does. You can only get 4 units of credit total from anything you have done before you matriculate to Wellesley (eg. AP/IB scores, college credits, etc)</p>

<p>Girls have told me that the credits helped them take a lighter course load and study abroad more easily. Do these beneficial effects only take place if you have 4…i guess I’m trying to say how many APs and stuff do you need to actually benefit from it…So far, I have fives on two APs from junior year and am taking 4 exams this year. (Only two of these will really matter). I also have completed a 200-level college course, but it was at a state university that…well let’s just say it doesnt compare to Wellesley College, lol, so they might only give me a fraction of a credit. but back to my question…</p>

<p>I would say that any additional credit will help you take a lighter load or study abroad more easily. One more credit is one more semester than you could take 3 courses only if you wanted to. Also keep in mind that even if you get partial credit for a course, lab courses and some intro language courses count as 1.25 credits instead of just 1, so all of these can add up and help you later on if you want to go abroad and not all of your courses transfer, want to take fewer courses one semester, etc.</p>