<p>I sent this email to the Cal Poly admissions last week.</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I took a calculus course, which was intended to prepare me for the AP exam, but was not technically AP because it wasn’t a-g approved at my school. I took the AP calculus ab exam and passed with a 4. When my GPA is recalculated at admissions, will it consider this course as AP with a scale that goes to 5?</p>
<p>Thanks,
Michael</p>
<p>This was the response I received today.</p>
<p>Michael,</p>
<p>No. A pre-AP course is NOT an AP test nor is it an AP course. You cannot get AP credit for a pre-AP course. If you have entered any pre-AP courses as AP courses, then you must identify them to us immediately so we can make a change to your application. It will be very important that you have an accurate application prior to the selection process. If you have any questions, call the admissions office at 805-756-2311, Monday thru Friday, 12 noon to 5;00pm for assistance. Thank you.</p>
<p>Larry W. Hammons
Senior Admissions Advisor
Cal Poly University
San Luis Obispo, California</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s a pre-written email. I think you should call them and get it worked out. It was asking on the application whether the actual class was an AP class if I’m not mistaking. </p>
<p>I think you can change your application until Nov. 30. Again, not 100%, but I still think you should call and get it worked out.</p>
<p>Definitely call them and explain what classes you took. It does not sound like an AP class. However, you can still pass the AP test without taking an AP class at all. Not sure I would recommend that, but discuss this with the admissions people also. </p>
<p>A good foundation in calculus is necessary for understanding rest of the calculus series and differential equations. The math is a critical part of any kind of STEM education as the math is a critical tool. Don’t skimp on this subject, you’ll pay for it later.</p>
<p>The following instructions are copied from CSUMentor instructions for High School Preparation under the heading “Advanced Placement Tests”.</p>
<p>"If you have not completed all of the required number of subject matter course units in Mathematics, but you have earned a score of three (3) or higher on an AP Test in Mathematics, you may enter the test for subject matter credit in Area C. Select the institution you attended when the test was taken. Select the grade level and year the test was taken. Select the course title “Other” and enter “AP Exam” and the exam name in the course title field. Example: “AP Calculus”. Select the Semester term type. Enter the number of semesters of course credit that you lack, up to a maximum of six (6) semesters of credit, and select ‘Pass’ for the grade in these semesters. "</p>
<p>My son did this for 3 AP Tests when he applied to Cal Poly. His senior year of high school he did not take English or Government, but at the end of his junior year he took the AP English Language test and AP US Government test. He scored a 4 (English) and a 3 (Gov) and he reported these on his CSU Application in the section where you list your A-G courses. He listed:</p>
<p>AP English Lang Exam PASS
AP US Gov Exam PASS
AP Chemistry Exam PASS</p>
<p>He could have listed AP Chemisty as a course he took his junior year, but chose not to list the course because he made a “D” the 2nd semester. Since he passed the AP Chem exam with a “4”, he just listed the exam on the application instead of the course.</p>
<p>I called the admissions office and they said that I had to send an email to have them change the course to be listed as not receiving AP credit, which I did. They replied to email saying the changes would be made and I was still eligible to get admitted early decision. I have all the required math courses I need.</p>
<p>If Cal Poly doesn’t know that I passed the calculus AP AB exam with a 4 will that have a big impact on my chances? I have 3.77 GPA and 1460/(1600) on the SAT.</p>