<p>Sucks about WH. World History is like, the most legit history AP class out there man! Why does it not get the recognition that it deserves?!?!</p>
<p>Is advanced class standing essentially the only benefit of AP scores that don’t waive specific courses? (that and being able to graduate early).</p>
<p>For someone who does not want to skip any courses in math, a 4 or 5 in AP Calc AB will not benefit me much, right?</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>crazi4uni,</p>
<p>AP benefits depending on AP tests w/ score of 4 or 5:
- can satifsy GE cat 1 and GE cat 3 requirements
- can satisfy foreign language requirement
- can waive course pre-requisites
- can give up to 32 units (one full year) of USC credit
- can give advanced class standing, allowing students to take upper-division courses earlier, study abroad sooner, etc…
- give registration priority, allowing students to get popular classes at popular times
- can allow students to graduate a semester or year early</p>
<p>what additional benefits were you hoping for?</p>
<p>Alamemom,</p>
<p>What does 4 units of elective credit equate to? Is that half a semester of an elective course, or a year? </p>
<p>Also, say we don’t get a lot of AP credits. Are we doomed to not get into popular classes?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>With the right APs (and scores of 4-5), there are only 2 GEs (science and history) you can skip, plus the 3 semester language requirement. But that will give you space for 5 other courses (almost a complete minor,if you are so inclined). </p>
<p>Aside from those specific courses & GEs, the AP credits (up to a maximum of 32 units) are counted as electives. Since you need 132 units to graduate, a student entering with those 32 units is virtually a sophomore when they step on campus. If you can complete your GEs and major requirements in three years, then add those 32 elective credits you could graduate USC in 3 years, potentially saving over $55,000. If you work the year after you graduate and earn say $45,000, you will have a net gain of $100,000 for having the smarts of taking 8 APs and acing the exams. :)</p>
<p>Of course, not everyone is willing to sacrifice one year of amazing and fun college experiences, nor does everyone need to worry about the $$ involved, but it is a true benefit to those who want a USC education at a 25% discount. ;)</p>
<p>Down the line you’ll get advance registration. But all freshmen register at orientation–so no advantage there. However, every year after that you will have earlier registration than your age peers, allowing for more choice in times of sections and preferred profs, too.</p>
<p>^^ cross-posted with alamemom. 4 units = 1 semester course. At USC, 1 semester is the length of most courses. Typical schedules include 4 courses per semester, so that’s 16 units + 16 units = 32 units a year (about 8 courses).</p>
<p>^^ correction. You need 128 units to graduate. D’oh!</p>
<p>If you do not have AP credit, you are only doomed to be taking classes at 8am your first year or two. The kids with more units than you will get all the 10 am slots. There are some very popular courses that you might have to wait until you are a junior to take (sailing is one I hear mentioned that is very popular). USC schedules plenty of sections for all students, but you may have early courses or slightly inconvenient schedules. It really won’t be a problem.</p>
<p>OK, thanks for all the information! I will probably be attending for four years regardless because I am pre-med and potentially double majoring, so I doubt I will be able to get all that done in 3 years. </p>
<p>I guess what I’m confused on is I know for majors you need to take certain amounts of “elective” courses that are required by your major. So the AP “elective” credit DOES NOT count towards these courses, correct? I.e. I wouldn’t get out of some of my major’s elective classes because I have AP credit?</p>
<p>So for me, I have AP Bio credit to get me out of the science GE. I also will <em>hopefully</em> have BC Calc credit to place into higher math classes. But other than that, since I know I will be at USC for four years regardless, APs don’t really benefit me? Besides with the 8AM class thing (which I don’t mind because I’m a 7AM riser anyway). I mean the “elective credit” only helps if you want to try to graduate early–it doesn’t get you out of specific electives within your major, right?</p>
<p>What about AP bio. I thought one of my sons said it counted towards his major. It should for premed right?</p>
<p>If you take AP Biology you can waive out of BISC 120 or BISC 220 (which are the basic bio courses), but if you are planning on going into medical school you have to retake them anyway because a lot of medical schools don’t count AP courses. They want you to take bio in college. So other than getting me out of the GE, my bio credit doesn’t do anything.</p>
<p>Chelseaaa217, you are right. The APs won’t help more than that. Although, it could be argued that by taking so many APs and doing so well, you attracted USC to admit you ( as most admittees have similarly serious rigor in their coursework). It signals you will thrive in college. Which is a good thing. :)</p>
<p>So, yeah.</p>
<p>Yes, I’m definitely glad I took the courses. I’m just saying, realistically I am not going to get much studying in for these exams because I have intense senioritis. So I don’t have to worry about if I mess up (which I think I will still be able to pull off at least a 3 even with no studying, and I am studying so hopefully 4s and 5s).</p>
<p>This is going to sound like a stupid question, but even though they say they don’t give credit for the AB Calc subscore, will they? I got a 3 on BC last, 4 on the AB subscore. This year, I’m in Math SL, which is kind of like AB. I will be quite shocked if I don’t get at least a 6 on it. I should get the 30 points for my IB diploma to get the 20 credits, but I’d really much rather not have to take the same semester of calculus three years in a row.</p>
<p>I already will be entering with 28 credits, but again, I really don’t want to take that math class one more time. I had 105 in it last semester… I think I know the material pretty well by now.</p>
<p>I think they give individual credit for IB’s as well not just for the diploma.</p>
<p>well it’s SL math, not HL. Pretty much no one gives credit for SLs, which is its own load of bs, but that’s an argument for another day. (The argument in short is that in America, SL classes are just as hard as AP classes. Therefore, HL classes are even harder…seeing as they are two year classes and test on twice as much material. Credit should be distributed accordingly, but it isn’t.)</p>
<p>^ as an IB diploma recipient a few years ago i completely agree with you about the SL/HL credit debate… but i doubt things will change any time in the near future.</p>