<p>The counselors at our high school have told us that any credit we earn through the AP tests will be applied to a 32-hour limit. If we go over the 32 hour limit, then we are automatically ineligible for freshman scholarships. The problem is, we are also taking several classes at the local community college which will apply towards that 32 hour limit. We're planning on taking 7 AP courses total (the most our school offers), but if this is true we won't be able to take the AP tests for all of these.</p>
<p>However, people on these boards have posted their scores for upwards of 8 AP tests. Are my counselors mistaken, or am I missing something?</p>
<p>Normally, AP credits are not counted as transfer credits. The 32 hour rule applies only to transfer credit (credit that automatically transfer to the college). If you have less that 32 of these credits when you enter college, you are still a freshman. Once you enroll in college, then you have to petition to be granted credit for your AP scores, so after one semester as a freshman, you could become a sophomore or a junior with your new AP credit.</p>
<p>Thats the way I understand it. Let's see if other posters can confirm this, or you may want to give the college a call.</p>
<p>Which state are your in? Is this true of your flagship state U? As you noted, many kids have 8-10 APs, in additioin to a community or college course.</p>
<p>In all the college info sessions that we have attended, the issue has not come up. Actually, quite the contrary -- some highly selective schools will only allow 1-3 AP tests for college credits -- the others will only allow the student to enroll in a more advanced course, but are still required to complete 32 courses in college residence.</p>
<p>This isn't going to depend on the state you are in. It's going to depend on the college you attend and on the scholarship program. Credit from AP exams or from college courses taken while still classified as a high school student (ie: thru a dual enrollment program) do not affect your application as a freshman at any of the colleges my son applied to. Even if you have enough credits to be a sophomore, colleges will consider you a freshman for admissions, scholarships, housing etc. Check the websites of the colleges you are applying to. BTW, your college will almost certainly not give you credit for every AP you took. </p>
<p>Scholarship programs make their own rules, but I still doubt if there are any that would consider you ineligible for freshman scholarships based on AP exams. You could check with specific scholarships you are interested in.</p>