<p>This might be a stupid question, and apologies if this is the case, haha. But. For people that have taken AP classes and gotten high enough scores - was it a good idea to go in with college credit? Is it better to just take the classes again that you would place out of or did it give you more opportunities to have requirements out of the way.</p>
<p>I'll shuffle on out if this is a ridiculous thing to ask, because no one I know would ever consider not taking the credit, but has it ever been done?</p>
<p>Some of my friends got 5’s on AP exams and felt they didn’t understand the material.</p>
<p>Turns out they did. If you have a 5 on an AP exam, you will likely know that material very well. College is harder, but it’s not THAT much harder.</p>
<p>It’s not a silly question. It really depends on what you think your level of understanding is after the AP class–regardless of score. </p>
<p>I got a 5 on the CompSci a couple years ago. But now that I’m interested in taking a couple comp sci courses, I’m retaking the class (it’s been too long to jump ahead). I also retook general chemistry because at the time I though I’d major in it. At the same time, my credits in a bunch of others (physics, english, history) were helpful for general education requirements and didn’t require me to really use my knowledge from those AP classes ever again. So, for those, I got the college credits but didn’t rely on my high school curriculum to carry me through college.</p>
<p>I think I would use AP’s for general education requirements, but probably not so much for major/minor requirements because falling behind could end your chances at majoring in anything that has a minimum GPA requirement, etc… </p>
<p>It also depends on how good your college is and how prepared you are to effectively study for college courses.</p>
<p>I think it depends. My school is like $400 a credit hour, so it certainly saves money, and it can get you ahead. I for one did not want to be ahead, because though I might have understood the material, I didn’t want to take particularly challenging courses my first semester and wanted to use the early classes to hone my study skills-- I may have done really well in my AP classes but it was by luck, smarts, and the grace of God, and those only get you so far in college. It turned out to be a wise choice for me, but for other students that wouldn’t make any sense.</p>
<p>"I think I would use AP’s for general education requirements, but probably not so much for major/minor requirements because falling behind could end your chances at majoring in anything that has a minimum GPA requirement, etc… :</p>
<p>I would disagree. Getting a 5 on the AP test doesnt necessarily mean that you understand the information. Some people could just be better test takers than others. and if your school didnt have the luxury of even having AP courses, who’s to say you dont know it?</p>
<p>There’s a thread in the UMich forums about how it can actually cost you more to take AP credit than to not take it. Though that’s because UMich does tuition in a really screwy way.</p>
<p>Well the AP tests I’m using credit for is either in something I’m going to be taking at a higher level (like they have lower level LA and upper level LA) or classes that I’m not going to take any more of in college.</p>
<p>Honestly, I’m regretting all the work that I did in HS preparing for AP exams. I did come into College with an extra 16 credits (Calc, World History, American History and Spanish). The problem is that I have to retake Calculus and Spanish to satisfy the general education requirements that they fill, and the History credits only help if I’m a history major, which I’m not. So, it was more of an academic endeavor in HS than anything that actually helped in College.</p>
<p>They were a great help to me! I get out of history classes, taking a language, eng 100, and a general chem class + lab! Plus they counted into IGETC and all that good stuff :). I was ahead in registration, thus getting the classes I wanted (and need). Now after only a year in CC, I have only 4 more classes to take for my major AND get the 60 transferable units to a UC! Plus, I’m now finished with IGETC and with can, with extra two classes (health and a general poli sci), get an AA degree. Also, I can take a few “fun” casses, before transferring and dealing with upper division classes at a university.</p>
<p>I have DEFINITELY used my AP credit to great advantage. In particular, biology and chemistry have filled major requirements at two different schools I’ve gone to, and the lot of them (I took five) at least fill gen ed requirements. Also, as mentioned, having more credit hours has allowed me to register earlier and has helped me get much better schedules at my current school (though at my last I got to register with the grad students because I was in the Honors program). </p>
<p>Also, I have to say one huge benefit to taking AP courses for me was that it prepared me for college-level work. When I went into my junior year in high school, I had zero study skills because I hadn’t really taken anything challenging (on a bad night before that, I might have an hour of homework). Taking AP courses eased me into reading college-level textbooks and learning a lot of material in a short time, but also with the guidance of teachers that were looking out for me. So yeah, as a current college sophomore I’ve definitely found it worth my while.</p>
<p>Oh, just one more addition. I’m currently transferring to my third school, and going on my third major in three years, and I’m STILL on track to graduate on time in my new major thanks to my AP credit (in addition to some fortunate overlaps in previous majors).</p>
<p>My four AP test scores got me a total of 16 credits at my school, but only 2 of them actually got me out of GE classes. Still, those extra credits let me register for classes a day earlier than most of my classmates, and I was able to graduate a semester early.</p>
<p>That’s a possibility I prefer not to think about. But, what happens, happens, so I’m (clearly) open to change and unexpected paths. All will be figured out in due time.</p>
<p>I would use your AP credits to get out of your general education requirements (unless you really want to take another general education class in college).</p>
<p>However, if the class is important or required for your major, I would take it again to make sure that you really understand the material.</p>
<p>That’s just my opinion and what I chose to do.</p>
<p>I chose my AP courses so that they <em>would</em> satisfy general education requirements.
Biology –> Will most likely re-take these courses anyhow since I’m a science major.
Lit –> If I get a 4 this year I will never…EVER…have to take English in college. Fantastic thing.
English Language –> Got a 5. Takes care of my comp credits (though my ACT score would’ve placed me out of the first semester one…meh).
Govt –> Will take care of an elective humanities course. Though I have credits from a CC anyway in a poli sci course. Meh again.
Micro –> Will take care of some of the writing requirement (Gordon’s Rule or something) that I have to do.
Basically, a lot of my electives will be covered. Which makes me happy. Then I am able to focus on my weak points that I still need for my major (e.g. math) and other courses I need to take (e.g. history…I regret not taking a history AP… :S).
In the end, yes. It’s worth it if your school takes AP credits (make sure to check beforehand!).</p>
I definitely will be using my AP credits.</p>
Plus they counted into IGETC and all that good stuff :). I was ahead in registration, thus getting the classes I wanted (and need). Now after only a year in CC, I have only 4 more classes to take for my major AND get the 60 transferable units to a UC! Plus, I’m now finished with IGETC and with can, with extra two classes (health and a general poli sci), get an AA degree. Also, I can take a few “fun” casses, before transferring and dealing with upper division classes at a university.</p>