One of my biggest setbacks in highschool was transferring to another school’s science curriculum that wouldn’t allow me to take AP courses ( my old one was designed for kids to double up after taking IPC their freshman year, my current one is the traditional Bio->Chem->Physics-> AP). I was recently admitted into Emory University and I want to transfer some AP credit to skip introductory Bio and Chem. I’m already down with self- studying for AP Bio, but I’m not sure about Chemistry since it seems to be a different beast from the Chemistry SAT II I already took. Comments from other threads ranged from ‘‘it’s too hard for self-study and that the labs were necessary’’ to ‘‘I just grabbed a review book and got a 4’’
To get a better idea of my situation to make giving advice easier:
-At my old school I was in Honors IPC as a freshman and finished with like a 95. It was a bit challenging, but I comprehended it.
- I took Pre-AP Chemistry my junior year and scored a 710 on the May SAT II exam with less than a month of review from a Princeton guide.
- I aced the my chemistry class without trying very hard ( probably because of IPC), I just paid attention and easily retained what I learned in class, so I think I possess at least a fair affinity with Chemistry.
- I’m only looking get at least a 4 ( though preferably a 5).
-I’m willing to put in a lot of work. ( not too many EC’s, so I have a lot of freetime as long as I avoid laziness)
The other AP exams I’m taking this year is BC Calc, Eng Lit. and AP Bio.
Buy a test prep book and take a sample test. If you are close to a 3 already, you can prep to get up to a 4. If you are t even close, it’s probably too much to learn in too short of a time.
I was recently admitted into Emory University and I want to transfer some AP credit to skip introductory Bio and Chem.
Why do you want to skip introductory courses?
I want to be able to enter the intermediate and upper level courses as soon as possible so I can have a head start in developing the mindset that allows me to apply the content on a professional level( going the pre-med route, want be a physician-scientist too). I was advised that it was a waste of time for students who already know the content and earned a 4 or 5 on the exam. It would also benefit me later when handling prerequisites.
Pre-AP and a test doesn’t equal a first year college course. For many college freshmen, even with AP and a 5, it’s hard enough to master first year chem.
You should be looking at how med schools explain their course requirements and AP credit. After that, clarify on the pre-med forum.
@lookingforward
‘‘Pre-AP and a test doesn’t equal a first year college course. For many college freshmen, even with AP and a 5, it’s hard enough to master first year chem.’’
I know my limits, so I’ll definitely keep that in mind. If I don’t feel confident about the content and my skillset after taking the exam and even getting a 4 or 5, then I’ll definitely opt to sticking with first-year chem. At the end of the day I’m gonna take the exam so I’ll at least have the chance to have my options open.
As for AP credit, most of the med schools I’ve already researched follow the general rule of thumb that AP credit is accepted for the intro courses ( with exceptions) as long as it’s stated clearly on the transcript that it’s AP credit being awarded and/or that the prerequisites are substituted with higher-level courses such as molecular biology or organic/biochem. Luckily this policy applies to most of the med schools I was interested at attending, including the less competitive ones.
If you skip introductory chemistry, you won’t be ready for organic chemistry. Taking chemistry at college will prepare you more than in high school.
@NASA2014
Well I was informed by@ bernie12 That what the intro classes cover at Emory is essentially the same content covered by the AP curriculum except for tougher exams ( I heard the very same from others, even with high-ranking schools) and that the students who don’t transfer figure this out. Even if I don’t transfer, studying for the exam will give me a better start for intro chem than not doing so.
I understand that there’ll be a curve regardless, but I’ll decide for myself after further counseling from say the pHMO or something at Emory. I can afford to take some risks with my freshman year anyway since med schools often pay attention to trends. As of now I’m taking the exam regardless.
You won’t taken AP chem, though. only prepped for the test.
Just be wise and as informed as you can be.
@lookingforward
I see where you’re coming from, this IS a gamble even if I did take the actual course. The worst that could happen is that I’ll be more prepared for intro chem than I was before studying.