Not Using AP credit to raise GPA??

<p>Well last year my chemistry teacher said not to use AP credit because you can just take the class in college and get a relatively easy A+ (by college standards)</p>

<p>Now, I am going to be entering college in one year, and I would like to know if there is any truth to this. I plan on majoring in Mathematics, but also doing pre-med perhaps? I know grad + med schools look at GPA, so anything that would raise mine I would be interested in.</p>

<p>I would specifcally like to know about Chemistry, Calculus (AB and BC), Statistics, and Biology , all of which I expect to have an AP score of 4 by next year</p>

<p>At the college I'm at, they make you take the introductory courses of your major regardless of AP scores. Because of that I didn't take the AP Chem test, but judging by my grades in the class, I would've gotten at least a 4. I figured both my Freshman Chem classes would be an easy A...turns out it's going to be a struggle for a B. So taking the class doesn't always mean a GPA booster as I thought. Math really can't change though, so I'm guessing taking Calc I and II would boost your GPA and you'll prob have to anyway b/c of your major. But I'd test out of Chem and Bio with AP tests if I were you, especially if you want to fit in all the predmed classes along with your required major.</p>

<p>Stats in college is generally really easy. AB in college is easy but BC or second semester can be hard. Biology I think shouldn't be too bad. Chem is the tweener, it can be anything from really easy to insanely hard, depending on prof, curves, classmates, the university, and whether or not it's honors or accelerated.</p>

<p>god forbid you use the credit to <em>gasp</em> take more advanced courses and thus learn more.</p>

<p>However, to answer your question, assuming you had a good AP teacher, then yes, if you don't place out, the class should be easy for you. Keep in mind though, that you still need to put in effort. I have to take the 2nd semester of the 2 semester calc program at my school, and for the first test (of 3) i did not study AT ALL and 2nd guessing myself due to lack of studying cost me 22 points, taking me from 25 points above the avg test grade to 3 points above the avg.</p>

<p>Well, What if I think I am going to forget alot between last May and Next September? I will not have seen chemistry for a year and a half, I am not going into an advanced chem course.</p>

<p>And I am going to a state school, not a liberal arts school or an Ivy. Most likely I will attend TCNJ, Delaware, or JMU (my top choices). I will not be in an honors program</p>

<p>Well then, for chemistry, take the AP credit. If you're going into more courses of the subject, take the intro courses.</p>

<p>I don't know how your chemistry teacher can make a generalization like that...my dad attended State Uni and told me his introductory chem class was nearly impossible. Right now I'm breezing through AP chem, but I was never as good at the maths and sciences as my dad. I'm not expecting any easy A's in Chem 101! </p>

<p>The difficulty of the class really depends on the prof. </p>

<p>My advice is if you're planning to go into science, you should take the introductory course to make sure you're fully prepared for the path ahead. If you're going to be an English major but need the credit, test out.</p>

<p>If you end up at Delaware, you would def. get an A in reg. chem from what I've heard (good choice not taking honors!).</p>