<p>I just came across a shocking thread that made me kind of frustrated: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/365803-do-extra-classes-credits-cost-more-tuition-cornell.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/365803-do-extra-classes-credits-cost-more-tuition-cornell.html</a></p>
<p>According to this thread, tuition is the same no matter how many credits you take (within limits, of course). If this is indeed true, doesn't this defeat half the purpose of AP credits? Well, you use them to get ahead in terms of courses, but you also use them to SAVE MONEY. Since I'm only given a certain amount of money for financial aid, I was hoping I could use the ap credit for the part that isn't covered.</p>
<p>Can someone verify this, give some advice, or provide some legitimate links from the Cornell website regarding this issue? I really want to save money for my parents. If no one knows, I will call Cornell.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>the purpose of the advanced placement test was to place students out of introductory level courses…in order to allow them to take UPPER LEVEL courses sooner…</p>
<p>taking upper level courses beyond your requirements for your major is your choice. </p>
<p>many who take AP credit just have easier semester load’s i.e. 12-15 credits instead of 18-22 (especially engineers)</p>
<p>i imagine that you could graduate 1-2 semesters earlier given the proper AP credit.</p>
<p>@ldftalk: It’s true that the tuition is the same no matter how many credits you take (and yes, within limits). What I don’t understand is this statement:
</p>
<p>People use their AP credits to get ahead in terms of classes that they can take. That means people can graduate early -> save money. not sure if that’s what you were not sure of though.</p>
<p>@fri3nds04
Sorry, I wasn’t very clear. By that I meant that say Cornell’s “estimated cost of tuition” is for 18 credits and let’s just say that Cornell takes into account of that through some of the grant money. I could use 6 AP credits and take 12 credits worth of courses during the school year, which would be less than their estimated number of credits/semester… thus there would be grant money left that I can use to lower the student/parent contribution. Does that make more sense? Graduating early does sound like a good option for saving money! but… is it common and isn’t it looked down upon? I mean, at least in high school, people are not encouraged to graduate early unless they have some sort of fixed goal for after graduation. Is it better to take advantage of all the years of a typical college education?</p>
<p>@campuscsi
You also brought up the graduating early thing. So if someone had 30 AP credits that properly apply, they could possibly graduate a year early?</p>
<p>Both of you emphasize getting ahead, and I totally understand. But my parents and my teachers have been pushing the money aspect of earning AP credit, so I guess I’ve always considered saving money through AP credits really important. Btw, thanks for your responses!</p>
<p>you only save credits at cornell by graduating early…not by taking less credit hours a semester…</p>
<p>cornell charges a flat tuition rate whether you take 12 or 22+ credits…</p>
<p>some universities (mostly state schools) charge tuition based on the amount of credit hours you sign up for. 12 credit enrollment costing less than lets say an 18 credit semester. at cornell this is not the case. </p>
<p>you will find that statutory schools at cornell have friendlier AP credit policies than endowed colleges.</p>
<p>@ldftalk: So, as campuscsi explained, whether you take 12 credits or 18 or 23 (depending on what you want, your status/colleges), you would still have to pay the same amount of tuition. So, AP credits are only helping you to get ahead of others.</p>
<p>This is, however, different if you are in the summer school or winter session. They would charge you depending on the number of credits you take.</p>
<p>Graduating early is something that’s pretty common. Most of them though choose to start their graduate school early (for example, college of engineering has this option). So, people certainly wouldn’t look down on you because you graduate early.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Thank you for those explanations, fri3nds04 and campuscsi! They were clear and helpful.</p>
<p>One last question, or rather idea that I was thinking about, is if I get ahead, then can I use the extra “space” on my schedule to start something like pre-med or pre-pharmacy? Will it be too difficult? I mean, from what I understand, Cornell engineering is very demanding and most people would not recommend packing on things to engineering majors. I do not want something like MORE than 4 years of school.</p>
<p>@ldftalk: I know one person who is a pre-med and majoring in electrical & computer engineering, and he is doing fine in terms of finishing his undergrad in 4 years. So, I guess it’s doable. Too difficult? A lot of work certainly is expected. I don’t know if it’s too difficult or not since I’m not doing it. But you just need to be very focus and plan things ahead to make sure that you will be done with your undergrad while getting some of the pre-med stuff done.</p>
<p>I know a BioE pre-med, and she’s also doing fine in terms of finishing. As fri3nds04 said, it just takes a lot of planning.</p>
<p>Start googling Cornell Engineering Handbook
<a href=“http://www.aptstudent.com%5B/url%5D”>www.aptstudent.com</a>
Cornell Courses of study</p>
<p>and get to scheduling now.</p>
<p>If it’s a relevant major like BEE, as Chendrix said, you should be okay. But the farther you get from Biology the harder it will become.</p>
<p>So doing pre-med you tack on:</p>
<p>1 Gen Chem (on top of the 1 you have for eng)
2 orgo + lab
2 bio + lab(not sure if bio has a separate lab)
And then some electives like virology and genetics are recommended depending on school.</p>
<p>If you have a cool adviser you could get some of these signed off on as approved electives. If your adviser balks, find a different.</p>
<p>The two things you need to question are: a) do you have the time management skills? if you are a hard core workaholic and can be meticulous in planning you can do it. b) how much of a life do you want outside of school? Doing a pre-med with engineering, for mere mortals like myself, is equivalent sacrificing your life for four years.</p>