Question about conflicting AP credit policies (planning to transfer from a CC into a 4-year)

<p>For various reasons, I am taking the CC to 4-year transfer route. I am about to start my first year, and my CC likely has a different credit policy for exam scores than some of the colleges that I hope to transfer into.</p>

<p>Here are my scores:
AP US History - 5
AP English Lit/Comp - 3
AP US Gov/Politics - 3</p>

<p>On the latter two, I aced the courses, studied hard and got 4's/5's on my practice tests but panicked when it was time for the exams and ended up with 3's as a result, putting me in a bit of a pickle. According to the credit policy of my CC, I already have 12 units because of my scores, but I am worried that a college that I apply to will simply say that the units from my English Lit and US Gov/Politics tests are non-transferable (if their undergrad credit policy conflicts with my CC's policy.) Is there anyone on here who has experience or advanced knowledge in regards to situations like this? </p>

<p>Yeah. I can help you out. Is it a California CC? What 4-year are you hoping to transfer to?</p>

<p>@solostish Yes, it is. My primary goal is to transfer into a top-tier UC (UCSD, UCI, UCSB, UCLA, UCB, etc.) I know that they generally accept 3’s, as long as the exams are not related to your major (not planning to be a Lit or Poli-Sci major), although I could be mistaken. I plan to apply to schools outside of the UC system as well, in order to have additional options. I am not exactly sure which schools outside of the UC system I will choose, but I know that I need at least a few. As as I researched the AP credit policies, it seems that even a lot of schools now only recognize 4’s and above, which is where my fears lie. I know that my CC will give me units for my AP scores, but my question is in regards to whether or not the school I apply to will reciprocate, if their policy technically differs. Once the CC gives me the units, does that mean that they are a permanent part of my record, or can the school say that my units are non-transferable if the units are from an exam with a score of 3?</p>

<p>My son transferred this Fall, in NY, and his new school requested AP scores directly sent to them. So, in all likelihood, your AP scores will be looked at as far as the new schools standards, and you will get the credit as per their score chart.</p>

<p>I think each college has their own policy, and you can check online to see what AP scores your transfer target schools are presently looking for. Once you get accepted as a transfer, you will go through transcript review, and be told how much of your existing work will be accepted toward your intended degree at the four-year school. That’s essential, in order to budget time and money for degree completion at the four-year school</p>

<p>FWIW, our CC (different part of the country) only gives credit for 4s and 5s. It’s a very transfer-oriented CC, with kids fortunately transferring on to some good schools, and they don’t want the kids to think they’ve got advanced standing on the basis of an AP 3, only to have it rejected on transcript review by the four-year school. AP work is college freshman work. Our CC does not want you to walk in with a 3, rely upon that instead of taking the course, and then find out later that you still need the freshman course (even as a prerequisite to upper-level work) when you transfer up to the four-year school. But every four-year school has their own rules.</p>

<p>It depends on your major really. If you are a Stem major, you may get credit for them, but they may not help you at all towards you major. </p>

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<p>When you apply to a UC or CSU, the AP units are included according to the UC or CSU policies. Any subject credit they are used for would be based on the UC or CSU campus’ policy on AP scores.</p>

<p>In some cases, ASSIST reports will tell you whether AP credit can be applied to the major. For example, UCR accepts AP US government and comparative government scores of 3 for some political science major requirements, but UCB does not accept any AP scores for political science major requirements.</p>

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<p>Where the ASSIST report has no mention of AP scores, check the department web site at the UC or CSU campus in question.</p>

<p>@ucbalumnus Thanks for clearing things a bit, since it was the transferring of the units as a whole that was confusing to me. I am planning on transferring as a STEM major, so I hope that my somewhat underwhelming Lit and Gov scores won’t be an obstacle. </p>