To Take (or Not to Take) AP Exams

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>I'd like to get some opinions on this before I start possibly canceling AP exams: Would it make more sense to pay the loads of money for humanities AP exams that'll get you 9 unrestricted elective credits each (IF you get a 5) or to hold out on the exams and save some (much needed) cash? From what I hear, earning unrestricted elective credits isn't usually a problem once you get there. Thanks.</p>

<p>Edit: For some context, I've already been admitted, so I don't need to impress admissions officers with flashy exam scores or anything. This is solely about college credit.</p>

2

<p>Unrestricted elective credits are not generally useful. </p>

<p>They can be useful mainly in two ways:

  1. if you are interested in obtaining early sophomore standing;
  2. if you need to drop a course without pressure to make it up by taking five classes in a later semester.</p>

<p>In the past, they were useful for people who were interested in double-majoring, because a double major required 270 units outside the GIRs rather than the usual 180, but this is no longer the case.</p>

<p>The AP English exam (either Literature or Language) is useful to take if you know or suspect that you will get a 5, because that score will exempt you from taking the Freshman Essay Evaluation.</p>

3

<p>^ That said, taking the FEE is cheaper than taking the AP exams (since the FEE is free :P).</p>

<p>If you’re tight on money, I wouldn’t bother taking humanities AP exams.</p>

4

<p>But the AP exams are during the school year and the FEE is during the summmerrrrr. You have to factor in the psychic cost, too. :wink: And the cost of your valuable summer time!</p>

5

<p>That’s fair. I guess I was thinking about the FEE for a week, and then started it at 5am the day it was due.</p>

<p>I learned to punt very quickly >.></p>