<p>
Upper level courses in a subject are usually taken by folks that are majoring in that subject and some grad students. With upper level courses, class sizes tend to be smaller, curves tend to be more lenient, and there are less number of gunners in the class. </p>
<p>Having said all of that, let me be clear about one thing - none of that will guarantee an A grade for you and therefore is not a substitute for your effort. You still have to work hard.</p>
<p>If you go to a good premed program outlining what they believe meet most requirements, they always advise you to cover the requirements at the college.</p>
<p>Whether you do or not is upto you and whether colleges accept any AP credits you hold is upto them.</p>
<p>I was asking someone if the documented evidence in Texas is correct whether AP credits are accepted by most schools and I was told it was strongly believed that a candidate from UT was denied despite excellent credentials due to usage of AP credit in a subject by Southwestern.</p>
<p>There are two tracks of physics in my school, each track has two courses. One is calculus based, one is algebra based. </p>
<p>Do I must take calculus based physics for MCAT? Or algebra based one is ok as well? I took AP calculus AB in high school.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>D. did not take Calc. based, almost no pre-meds at her UG did.
I would check at your school though - pre-med advisor, current pre-meds.
And if you like physics, than it might be a different story. Not my D’s favorite</p>
<p>Calc based not needed for MCAT</p>
<p>Algebra-based physics is fine for the MCAT. In fact, it’s what most pre-meds take.</p>
<p>Most CCers seem to think taking non-calc version of physics should be fine as a premed.</p>
<p>However, I think at least one half of premeds at DS’s college take calc version of physics. DS also took the calc-based version. He thinks it is more fun. This version is sometimes called the version for engineering majors.</p>
<p>There is another more advanced math based version of physics intended for physics majors. See the “beauty” of playing premed game here? The premeds really do not need to compete against the students who are the “best” in physics at their schools. The unpleasant side is that they often need to compete against those students who are the most zealous about grades.</p>
<p>One famed physics professor at the flagship state school once wrote on the newspaper that this is a waste of the best brain power in this country from his point of view. He is not in the medical school admission office though. So none of those “grade-efficient” premeds would listen to him.</p>
<p>D is taking the harder series of Physics but many of the premeds in her school are taking the easier version. Personally I think the harder version works out better if someone is aiming for areas like radiology where a lot of technology is involved.</p>
<p>^This is a good answer. D. has mentioned that heart and lungs require physics, while kidney require Chem. However, she never mentioned that she did not have enough physics background after taking the easier one. Academically, she definitely preferred kidney, while majority of her class preferred heart/lungs. She is not considering any of these for her specialty though. And rads have been ruled out also.<br>
However, frankly, I do not believe that any of the UG academics are of much help at Med. School.<br>
I would say, take it for fun if you enjoy it, take easier one if physics is not your thing. Med. Schools does not care a bit, not the slightest. Your academics at Med. School will not be affected one way or another. You will not remember much by the residency time anyway. You will learn everything you need for your specialty during your residency.</p>
<p>For engineering majors, at my son’s school (JHU) there is no choice but to take the calculus based Physics classes. He had to take the calculus based physics.</p>
<p>
For non-science majors, depending purely on AP credits without any advanced science coursework would be detrimental. </p>
<p>As evident from the questions asked on this forum, at many undergrad schools the pre-health advisory seems to be minimal and that leads to catastrophes like you mentioned above. </p>
<p>At, my son’s school (JHU) there is/was a clearly defined guidance on course work for kids with AP credits. According to them the following schedule would be acceptable to most medical schools (they always have special notes for CA publics):</p>
<p>Biology:</p>
<p>No AP Credits: Biology 1 w/lab, Biology 2 w/lab
1 AP Credit: Biology 2 w/Lab, Cell Biology w/Lab
2 AP Credits: Cell Biology w/lab, Genetics or Dev Biology w/lab</p>
<p>Chemistry:</p>
<p>No AP Credits: Intro Chemistry 1 w/lab, Chemistry 2 w/lab
1 AP Credit: Chemistry 2 w/Lab
2 AP Credits: Biochemistry w/lab</p>
<p>Chemistry:</p>
<p>No AP Credits: Physics 1 w/lab, Physics 2 w/lab
1 AP Credit: Physics 2 w/Lab
2 AP Credits: Biophysics w/lab</p>
<p>Math:
Take 1-2 semesters of college math (calculus and/or statistics)</p>
<p>English:
Take 2 semesters of courses offered by English department</p>
<p>D2’s school requires all pre meds regardless of major (yes, even if they aren’t science majors) to take calc-based physics in order to receive a committee letter.</p>
<p>Also bio majors may NOT use AP bio credits. (AP Bio score of 5 is a pre-req for the one of the intro bio classes.)</p>
<p>kal,
The way AP credits are treated is very different from UG to UG. Also, some AP classes are not as good as regular - depends on your HS.
At D’s (state public UG), pre-meds were strongly advised to take the very first Bio despite of 5 on AP exam. The reason - this weed out killer class covered AP material in first 2 weeks, then it moved on to provide sufficient background for all other Bio classes. It derailed many valedictorians in Honors. Good thing that most usually took it in first semester of freshman year. Those who fell out of pre-med track did not waste much time.<br>
On the other hand, D’s HS did not offer AP Chem. Guess what, she ended up being hired on a spot as an SI to Gen. Chem prof. and taught many who had AP Chem in HS. She was very successluf at that, praised by prof. many times for raising grade in his class and received a medal for that at graduation.
OK, I like to brag, but the point is that usage of AP credits very much depends on the UG and how many of different levels of class are affered and the rigor and philosophy of your HS. Science teacher at D’s HS who she praised many times, simply did not believe in calling classes “AP”. It was a very small private school (33 kids in D’s class) where teachers are given more freedom since they are trusted as a very high caliber instructors, many with previous experiences teaching at 4 y colleges.
Another side is to check with adcoms of Med. Schools on your list. D. did that and received her answers very quickly. There were no geussing games in regard to her AP credits. But she had questions in regard to AP credits for Math and English.
There is no GENERAL rule about AP credits.</p>
<p>
Really? 
Seriously, why wouldn’t you? I am sure you worked hard in molding her as a successful young woman. Nothing wrong with enjoying the fruits of your hard work.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Ya don’t say? At least it’s not about yourself.</p>
<p>Don’t worry though. I think my dad might be even worse. Literally never misses a chance (and will create them if necessary) to mention i’m an MSTP student.</p>
<p>^If I were IWBB’s dad - here is my monologue. </p>
<p>Despite increasing vegetable prices, one must eat plenty of them to stay healthy. If you get sick though, don’t worry. Just try to stay alive. my son gets out in a couple of years. He is so good he goes by Double Doctor IWBB, because you know, he just stayed in college forever to learn a lot more and they pay him to stick around as a student.</p>
<p>Not only will he diagnose your ailment but if he finds a new disease, he will take it to the lab and find you a cure.</p>
<p>my parents prefer “Doctor Doctor,” otherwise that was pretty much spot on.</p>
<p>What do you know - I wrote doctor doctor first and changed it! :D</p>
<p>Doctor Doctor, from New York, New York (if I am not mistaken) - that rhymes pretty well, IWBB. :D</p>
<p>Does that make me “the doctor so nice they’ll hood me twice?” :D</p>
<p>Did you consider spying?</p>
<p>[spies</a> like us - doctor - YouTube](<a href=“spies like us - doctor - YouTube”>spies like us - doctor - YouTube)</p>