How do these classes agree with Core?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>I'm planning on applying to UChicago next year (I'm a junior this year). I hear some AP classes do get you out of certain core classes, others don't (I heard AP Psychology won't.)</p>

<p>These are the courses I hope to have 4s and 5s on by the end of my high school career:</p>

<p>AP Human Geography
AP Latin Literature
AP Latin Vergil
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Biology
AP English Language
AP English Composition
AP Calculus BC</p>

<p>As well as Linear Algebra and/or Vector Calculus via the community college.</p>

<p>Which of these will opt me out of core, which will count for something else, and which will do nothing for me? What core classes are a requirement no matter what, and which areas will I still have things left to take in?</p>

<p>Thank you muchly!</p>

2

<p>Hey there,</p>

<p>This website will basically tell you everything you need to know:
Course</a> Credit and Credit by Examination</p>

<p>You can get out of the language requirement by either getting a whole year's placement out of the way via the proficiency test you take during orientation week, or by scoring a 3 on an AP Language test.</p>

<p>AP English, Human Geo, History, Psych, and basically anything social-sciences/english related cannot be used to replace your core. You absolutely must take the humanities and social sciences core.</p>

<p>AP Bio, if you can score a 5, will help you in taking a certain AP Bio 5 sequence for prospective bio/premeds. I don't know much else besides that. A 5 or 4 will also exempt you from taking the 2 required quarters of bio. It's awesome.</p>

<p>If you score a 5 on your AP Calc BC exam, then you're invited to take what is called IBL Honors Calculus (if you also place into Honors Calculus, after taking the placement test). IBL is "inquiry-based learning," which is a student-led honors calc section that is supposed to be quite rigorous, yet worthwhile for the most part.</p>

<p>You can't earn credit from taking linear alg and vector calc. If you end up doing honors calc, you'll actually just be dealing with the stuff you learned in AP Calc BC (in a totally different context). Or, alternatively, you can get a 5 on the calc exam, place out of two quarters of regular calc, then do the third quarter of calc (multivariable) or just never do anymore math.
You may, however, end up placing out of 160s calc and then start 199, which is an Intro to Analysis class that is all about math proofs; or, if you're wicked awesome at math and am already familiar with doing math proofs, you may be able to start analysis (203-204-205), but rarely do people place into analysis...</p>

<p>You're welcome! =)</p>

3

<p>That link gives information from 8 years ago. Use this Courses</a> & Programs of Study instead.</p>

<p>Bio only gets you out of one quarter of bio, not two.</p>

<p>And a 5 on BC fulfills the math requirement completely as far as I know.</p>

4

<p>I believe some language placement exams can now be taken online.</p>

5

<p>The only core courses that AP classes can get you out of are math, the sciences, and languages. The history, humanities, social sciences, and fine arts recs are all required on campus. </p>

<p>There is also a limit of six courses by exam (most AP exams equal between 1-3 UChicago courses) you can count towards your degree, although no limit to how many courses you can be placed out of, e.g. you could place out of Spanish and physics entirely, but not accumulate credits for them, and then take six courses worth of AP sweetness elsewhere. </p>

<p>Generally, if you are a 'AP Scholar with Distinction' with a decent underlying subject spread, you core requirements will be reduced to just a year. Students in this position tend to then graduate in three years + a summer term or so if they plan well and don't waffle in their major choice.</p>

6

<p>Actually, the catalog says that no more than 6 elective credits can be gained through examination. So I don't believe math and science count toward that.</p>

7

<p>"You can't earn credit from taking linear alg and vector calc."</p>

<p>Really? Even though they're from the community college? I suppose it's a whole different batch of cookies, but one would have thought...</p>

<p>And good thing I don't particularly care about my English and History courses. They're fun, but I'd be more miffed if I had to, say, retake calculus.</p>

<p>Thank you all again, you have been quite helpful!</p>

8

<p>You can get placement for your advanced math classes by taking a test, but not credit. I really doubt that a CC course would compare to what math people do at the UoC.</p>

9

<p>CC linear algebra and vector calculus courses where one earned solid A's would likely be akin to getting passing grades in the courses dubbed "Math for Social Sciences" at Chicago. By no means a waste, but also by no means akin to taking linear algebra for math majors or the first quarter of real analysis. </p>

<p>I am generally of the school that says one should alway stake linear algebra twice though.</p>

10

<p>Lin Alg may not get you credit, but WILL help you with your performance on the Calc placement test, should you want to take 160s Calc (Honors) or higher. There is no "Lin Alg" class per se -- my understanding is that it gets rolled into the 160s (someone else can tell me if this happens in the 150s). The Chicago math folks are flexible about placement, too, so if you test into the 150s but based on your Lin Alg/vector calc background feel you are ready for the Honors version, they are willing to let you give it a try. </p>

<p>On the other hand, those APs certainly demonstrate abilities in a broad range of areas and will be good preparation for the rigors of UChicago.</p>

<p>My S would argue that one doesn't WANT to test out of the Core HUM and SOSC -- they are an essential flavor to the experience. That said, I think he is sorry he didn't bite the bullet and take AP Bio in HS.</p>

11

<p>Well, my older kid had this to say about her HUM: "They have five different levels of math here so that I don't hold back anyone who really cares. I wish they had two levels of HUM, because I'm tired of sitting in class with a bunch of people who have no idea how to read poetry, don't see any reason to learn, and feel privileged to take up class time expressing their contempt for the whole idea. Been there, done that; it was called 'high school'. The kids here may be a little smarter, but the kids in my high school English classes weren't dumb, either."</p>

<p>On the other hand, she really liked SOSC, I think largely because the material and the analytic methods were much less familiar to her, and because there was more focus in the syllabus.</p>

12

<p>S1 loved HUM and liked SOSC. He found his classmates invested and fun. They even went to the Homerathon together. Sometimes it is the luck of the draw.</p>

13

<p>There is a linear algebra course for math and computer science majors that is quite popular. </p>

<ol>
<li>Linear Algebra. PQ: MATH 13300 or 15200. This course takes a
concrete approach to the basic topics of linear algebra. Topics include vector
geometry, systems of linear equations, vector spaces, matrices and determinants,
and eigenvalue problems. Autumn, Winter, Spring.</li>
</ol>

<p>But linear algebra has almost nothing to do with first year calculus other than being an indicator that you might, sort of, be good at math.</p>

14

<p>The 160s Honors Calc sequence incorporates a decent bit of Lin Alg -- and Analysis assumes you've had exposure to Lin Alg as well. Neither requires 19620 as a PQ, so if one has some LA background headed into those courses, it may make your life a little easier.</p>