To current CalPoly students: How much of an impact does getting AP credit have on your classes? Does the AP credit really help you go through college faster (possibly shorter than the 4 years) or does it just keep you on track to graduate in 4 years? And if it’s the latter, would not having AP classes extend the amount of time you spend at Cal Poly?
Just trying to find out if it’s really even worth taking a bunch of APs in my senior year next year.
Background info: I plan on majoring in Comp Sci for college! Also, I will have taken (& hopefully passed) the following APs by the end of senior year: European History, English Lit, English Lang, Calculus AB, Statistics, Biology, Physics, Macroeconomics, Government, & Computer Science
The links below will give you the tools to figure out the exact impact APs can have.
Remember, there’s total hours, GEs and sequences. The real power of APs is when they allow you to shorten a sequence. For example, getting through the math and physics sequence faster, will open the opportunity to start upper level courses sooner. It’ll make sense once you print the info below and go through the exercise.
I’d add two caveats. If you can do dual enrollment, the transfer credit is often more powerful than an AP score. For example, a 5 on AP Chem will test you out of half of Chemistry, but dual enrollment credit for the same course will count for the whole thing. Also, registration for courses is now based on how far you are towards your degree. AP never hurts that.
FWIW, my son brought in AP and dual enrollment credit and is now a junior at the end of his first year.
Eyemgh: Wow, thank you so much for all those links, as well as the advice, they’re truly appreciated. (: I’ll definitely be looking into nearby dual enrollment programs for my senior year later this year!
Also, I will have taken (& hopefully passed) the following APs by the end of senior year: European History, English Lit, English Lang, Calculus AB, Statistics, Biology, Physics, Macroeconomics, Government, & Computer Science