<p>I realized today, as I looked up how many credits I would have at each school I am considering, that there is a huge difference in how many of my AP credits each school will take.</p>
<p>My safety safety (know I can afford for sure, and know I can get in to for sure) turns out will only give me 2.5 credit for what I have earned so far. 1 credit is an entire class. You have to earn 8 a year to graduate on time, most earn 9 a year.</p>
<p>My safety risk (I can basically get in and perhaps can afford) will take 23 credits from what I have so far (regular semester hours). By the time I am done with next year, assuming that I pass all the AP exams next year, this will go to over 45 credits. On the other hand, the safety safety will, at best, reach 5 credits.</p>
<p>This means, at my safety safety, I would need to go 3.5 yrs for sure. But, at my safety risk, I would need less than 3. 3.5 yrs at my safety safety would cost me, because I would have to pay for a portion of the dorm when I am not there in the second term and everything. They are a small school and do not do graduations mid-year. I do not know if I would start to lose out on financial aid for not going a whole year. It really messes with the whole grad school thing if I go that route. You get the idea.</p>
<p>Just be sure to take into account each school’s core curriculum requirements as well as the requirements for you intended major to determine if you can graduate in a shorter time-frame. Some schools do not allow AP credits to count towards core or major classes. Each school is different so it is worth checking. Also look out for courses that need to be taken in a certain sequential order because they are harder to compress.</p>
<p>The safety safety won’t let the AP classes go toward core, while the safety risk will.</p>
<p>I would not put too much stock in your college decision based on what an individual school takes for AP credits. Think of it more as a bonus instead of a big deciding factor.</p>
<p>If, for cost purposes, you actually intend to graduate early, or are considering the potential risk of graduating late, then it certainly can be relevant how generous the schools are with AP credit.</p>
<p>But be sure to note the distinction between three kinds of credit for AP scores:</p>
<p>a. Credit units.
b. Subject credit.
c. Placement into higher level courses.</p>
<p>It definitely should be a factor, but as Etuck said, I wouldn’t make it the deciding factor. I know between my two final schools, UIUC and UMich, there was a HUGE difference in number of credits. At UIUC I would have over 45 credits, and I could easily graduate in 3 years. At UM, although credits are accepted, they are for elective credits, and I would still have to take the gen-eds etc. I’m attending UM regardless, but I’m pretty frustrated that I still have to take all of these gen-eds. It sucks putting so much work in 10+ APs and not reap all of the benefits.</p>
<p>But consider, you may want to stay all 4 years regardless if you can graduate early. College can be the most exciting time of your life - not everyone wants to leave early :p</p>
<p>It definitely should be a factor, but as Etuck said, I wouldn’t make it the deciding factor. I know between my two final schools, UIUC and UMich, there was a HUGE difference in number of credits. At UIUC I would have over 45 credits, and I could easily graduate in 3 years. At UM, although credits are accepted, they are for elective credits, and I would still have to take the gen-eds etc. I’m attending UM regardless, but I’m pretty frustrated that I still have to take all of these gen-eds. It sucks putting so much work in 10+ APs and not reap all of the benefits.</p>
<p>But consider, you may want to stay all 4 years regardless if you can graduate early. College can be the most exciting time of your life - not everyone wants to leave early :p</p>