Do AP and IB count as UC Honors?

Applying to College
1

I know that the UC system limits you to 8 semesters/ 4 years of “UC Honors” courses which just mean that they’re weighted as a 5.0 A. However, are AP and IB/pre-IB weighted classes also limited by this or just classes that have Honors in the name (ie. Algebra II Honors vs. AP Calculus BC, Honors Chemistry vs. AP Chemistry, or Spanish SL/IB vs Spanish 4)? Basically, do AP and IB classes factor into the 4 class limit?

2

If you are a California HS student, you can look up which AP/IB courses at your HS are UC Approved on this website;

https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist#/list/search/institution

Not all “honors” classes are UC approved. You need to look at the link.

3

I know but I’m a sophomore taking 5 AP/Honors, if I take more Junior and Senior year, will those boost my GPA in the eyes of the UC system or will they just give me brownie points?

4

The UC’s have several ways to look at your GPA. Your UW UC GPA, your Capped Weighted UC GPA and Fully Weighted UC GPA. The GPA quoted most often on the UC websites is the Capped weighted (max 8 semesters) but UCLA/UCB do quote their Freshman admit UC GPA fully weighted stats also. Although not all UC’s will state their Fully weighted UC GPA averages or ranges like UCLA/UCB, they all take HS course rigor into account during the admissions process.

So bottom line, there is no downside to take more AP’s even if you cannot boost your GPA unless you do not do well in the AP classes.

5

The capped UC GPA gives you max 8 bonus points no matter how many honors, AP or IB classes you take.

6

Thanks, but out of the three GPA’s which is most important to them? Also, are pre-IB classes honors certified

7

Are you at a high school in California?

8

yes

9

Check the link I gave you in post #1 to see what courses are UC approved for the honors points. Usually the Pre-IB or Pre-AP courses are not UC approved. Other than UCLA/UCB which state they consider the fully weighted UC GPA, the rest of the UC’s may or may not. HS course rigor is still considered.

10

This whole thing just seems dumb, if every college and high school has a different GPA system, why not ignore it and just look at the transcript?

11

UCs ask you to self report your courses and grades. The courses, grades, and recalculated GPAs are then presented to admission readers in standardized form.

If you matriculate, your final transcript will be used to verify your self reported courses and grades.