My implication, which I guess should have been less subtle, in my earlier [url=http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19574139/#Comment_19574139]post[/url] was that finances was not a consideration, or at least not a deal-breaker. If finances are a concern, there are plenty of schools where the COA is <$70K. Nobody is forcing a student to attend.
@skieurope, if finances were not a consideration, then starting this thread would be pointless, no (considering that I specifically reference costs in the title)?
And certainly, for most, there are cheaper options. I did post the hypothetical earlier in the thread of 3 years at a school with more of what a kid wants vs. 4 years at a less desirable school. It seems like you would choose the 4 years. That’s fine. But I would like to examine the decision-making. Why do you believe 4 years is automatically better even if the school rhat costs more offers more opportunities?
For engineering at a UC, the AP credit can help lighten the load, but from what I can tell, you won’t really be able to graduate early due to capstone projects and course sequencing (although I’m sure someone somewhere has proved the exception). You could get out of a couple of math classes, a couple of writing courses, and satisfy a few GE requirements such as American Institutions, but the UCs I’ve looked at don’t give anything for Physics and Chemistry which most engineering students will have taken several courses of. Most of the APs will at least count for empty units which can help with priority during scheduling.
Re: #42
I did know someone who graduated from UCB EECS in 7 semesters. However, EECS (then and now) is somewhat more flexible than most other engineering majors there in terms of course requirements and prerequisite sequencing once one gets to upper division courses. The UCB College of Engineering does let students get out of up to two semesters of calculus (with a 4 on calculus BC), one semester of physics (with a 5 on physics C mechanics), and one semester of chemistry (with a 3 on chemistry, though students who need to take additional chemistry courses are suggested to start from the beginning course). See http://engineering.berkeley.edu/academics/undergraduate-guide/exams-ap-ib-level-and-transfer-credit-information . Note that while many AP scores can count for “one lower division humanities / social science”, at most two such courses can be fulfilled with AP scores.
Scheduling priority through higher class standing may be of slight help, but popular courses’ priority is often based on whether one is in a major that requires the course, or if one is an undeclared student for an introductory level course that leads to a College of Letters and Science major.
Neither of my kids got credits for their APs. They just got to start at a higher level.
BTW, @skieurope, AP credits may be applied to Brown’s enrollment requirement:
https://www.brown.edu/academics/college/degree/
We are full pay and our state’s flagships are generous with AP credit.
My older S shoukd end up with 36 hours of credit that will apply to his degree plan. I don’t know that it will save us much. He will likely take a lighter load than his peers in the beginning at least. Our state U offers flat rate tuition so it won’t save us money on that front. It is possible that he could use the credit to create room for another internship and if we can figure out how to avoid the money pit of subleasing apartments, etc. we might save money that way. He may do a five year Masters program in four or four and a half. It will depend on what program he can get in for a Masters.
My younger S will come in with something like 56 hours but I think 9 may be wasted. He is already slightly young for his grade- on track to graduate college at 21. I don’t know that graduating at 19 or 20 will make sense for him. He plans a business major and I can’t imagine an employer taking a chance on someone so young. Again, he make take lighter loads and he is much more likely to work in a masters program in that four years or multiple internships. I am not a huge fan of double majors, but for him a second major may make sense.
Our S1 is using his AP credits to pick up a double major in finance. He just figured that out this week. He wont graduate early .
D1 - her degree requires 8 consecutive semesters, so she cant graduate early. She might just use the credits to take some fun classes of interest. We havent talked yet about minors and those options.
We absolutely were looking at the savings possibilities at one of her college choices; had she chosen there the credits would have saved alot.
My D. used AP credits to be able to have 2 minors. She could not graduate earlier in her program, 4 years in UG was required. Cost did not matter to her because she was attending on full tuition Merit ward.
My daughter graduated a year and half early with IB credits and a couple summer/winter session courses.
AP did help eliminate required courses, so DD is able to do two tracks in her chosen engineering field - needed to put in three extra upper division courses.
I’ve earned a total of 18 credits (the maximum credits my school offers for AP credits) and 8 college transfer credits, so a total of 26 credits, which put me directly into 2nd year level courses.
I was able to save a total of one year worth of education, which was about $66000 in total.
Although it depends on where you go, AP credits DO pay off!!