Okay so I have reviewed the website thoroughly and I still have a few questions. Basically my main question is: Are the General Education Requirements and General Elective Requirements different?
UChicago says the maximum number of General Elective Credits from AP Exams possible is 6, which I can attain. However, if I get those 6 credits, can I in addition place out of the General Education Physical Sciences/Biological Sciences/Mathematical Sciences introductory courses with adequate AP Credit if I do not plan on majoring in one of those areas?
US History (5) = 1 General Elective Credit,
AP Chemistry (4) 2 Quarters 10000 Level PHSC General Ed Credit,
AP Literature (4) 3 Quarters General Elective Credit,
AP French Language (3) Competency Requirement,
AP Biology (5) 1 Biological Science General Education Credit,
BC Calculus (4/5) 1 Mathematical Science General Education Credit
About to take:
AP Statistics (1 Mathematics General Education Credit)
AP Physics C Mech + E&M (Max 2-3 Physical Sciences General Education Credits)
AP Micro/Macro Econ (2 General Elective Credits)
In essence, I think the OP is right. As I understand things, AP credits can be used either (a) to satisfy General Education requirements in the Math/PhySci/Bio complex or language competency, or (b) to receive college credit for a general elective, i.e., non-major, non-Core course. The same test cannot be used for two purposes, but different tests can be used for up to five of the Math/PhySci/Bio core requirements and up to six general electives. (Note that only one biology credit can get awarded by AP test, and at least two biology credits are necessary to meet the core.) Language tests can be used to satisfy the competency requirement, but without getting credit towards a degree.
So, yes, it looks like a student can receive the equivalent of a full year of credit for AP tests (11 courses), with some caveats. Basically, that student would be blocked from any math or science major, or economics.
@JHS Can you clarify this? As you said, you could get up to 6 elective course credits with AP. In addition you can use other AP’s to get credit for five of the physical/math/bio gen ed requirements.
How does doing this block a student from a math, science or economics major?
The way I understand it, instead of 42, such a student would require only 36 courses ( if you knock off 6 electives) to “technically graduate” if they take other math/science pre-req courses required by the above majors, instead of the introductory math/phy science courses recommended in the gen-ed requirement. I understand that their degree might be “weak” because they graduate without any interesting depth electives in their major, but they could technically still get a math, science or economics major right?
Maybe I was misreading things. But I know if you want to major in biology, chemistry, or physics, you need to take the full intro biology, chemistry and physics introductory sequences, which I think means you can’t use AP credit to satisfy them. Similar with math – you can’t major in math without taking at least Calculus 153, and I don’t think you can get into that automatically if you are using AP credit for 151 and 152. (And you need Calculus 153 or 163 in order to complete any physical science major, I believe, and maybe bio as well.) As a practical matter, if you think you may want to major in math at Chicago, it would probably be a mistake not to take Honors Calculus161-162-162 (unless you placed out of them).
So, bottom line, a kid who majors in math or science is going to find it very hard to use AP tests to pick up 5 general education credits. One or two, maybe, but not 5, and quite possibly none. He or she could still use the 6 elective credits, of course. But in the real world, that translates into possibly shortening college by one quarter, not three. (It could be two, but only if you put a lot of pressure on yourself by taking 4 major courses as lot of the time.) Eleven credits, including almost all of your Math/PHSC/Bio core and language could really represent a full year.
I just read through the links the OP posted but I didn’t see where it says that one must take the intro classes for the bio, physics, and chem majors? Where are you guys getting that information? Is there no way to jump into the more interesting classes sooner/right away?
I just looked at the main science major pages, and they are all different. Each one has different rules about AP or examination credit for required introductory courses. My statement above was based on former requirements that have changed. The new rules are anything but simple and straightforward, though, and whoever drafted the Biological Sciences page deserves some sort of horrible punishment for utter failure to be comprehensible.
Yes @JHS is right. You have to read the fine print and discuss with your advisor because there is some wiggle room but for math, science, comp sci, and econ majors there are different rules on the use of math/science/stats/econ AP tests. For science majors you can’t get into the upper level classes for your major but you do not re-take a basic intro class you take an intro series specific to people majoring in that science so it’s a much different experience than what someone taking the basic science class for core credit gets. Getting AP credits for most people means having more space in your schedule to do things like double major not try and graduate early or take a lighter class load.
If DD qualifies for 6 general elective credits, does that mean she only needs 36 credits? Which if she did 4 courses each quarter, she could graduate in 3 years?
Not saying it will go that way but given the cost of attendance, interesting to think about graduating at least a quarter or two early or only taking couple of classes/quarter the last year to save some on tuition
It’s not a stupid question at all. The answer is clearly “yes,” with the qualification that if she is writing a senior thesis it may be tricky to work out. I think you wind up either effectively accelerating so that you are there three full academic years and have a traditional, full-time senior year, or taking isolated quarters off second- and third-years, or having some sort of part-time registration. But don’t discount the non-financial cost. Forty-two courses is the minimum, but most students take 45+. Thirty-six is a much less rich educational experience. And three years is a short time to build relationships with faculty and advisors who can help with the next step.
You can also take a leave for at least a quarter (upon approval) during college besides the last quarter which allows part-time status.
So in theory a student can save a quarter and 2/3’s tuition in your scenario. I have seen some students doing that. The rationals may not be cost related but opportunity related.
@ihs76 It is definitely possible if she gets the 6 credits but if she does not have foreign language credit add back in 3 courses which they don’t even count in the 42. So many people double major and/or study abroad it seems pretty rare to be even thinking about trying to graduate early.
My D took a quarter off to prepare for the MCAT, just like in your scenario, she was able to graduate earlier but choose not to. There are few caveats you should be aware.
If she is still staying in the dorm at the time she took the leave, she needs to move out and there is no guarantee she will be able to get back when she resumes, either to the same dorm or no dorm space at all. My D had her off campus apartment so this did not affect.
If you choose not to waive the USHIP health insurance, then for that quarter, she won't be covered.
