I understand that UMD offers AP credit, but it’s difficult to tell how many credits I would actually get. I’m planning on 5’s for Calc AB, Calc BC, Stat, Physics, and English Language. I saw that you get out of certain math classes, say, for Calc AB/BC, but are you also tested out of the classes that are prerequisites to that one, and how many credits would it end up correlating to if I got a 5 on Calc AB alone?
Thanks so much, this may be a stupid thread post, but PLEASE enlighten me on this information because I’m not the best with credits and transfer stuff.
They have their AP policy posted, but if you’re still confused after that (because some of the policy is definitely program/major specific) you should write those down and ask an academic advisor.
This is a list of AP classes that UMD offers credit for, how many credits, and what test grade you need to qualify for the credit. It also shows which GenEd the credit satisfies. http://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc/APGenEd.pdf
@piffthemagic_dragon For math, ALL students have to take Maryland’s math placement exam, regardless of your AP scores, SAT/ACT or SATII scores.
The highest class you can technically place “into” is MATH140. However, if you get a 4 or 5 on Calc BC, you get to sign up for MATH241 (Calc3). If you get a 4 or 5 on Calc AB, you get to sign up for MATH141 (Calc 2). Each of those math classes is 4 credits, so if you place out of one, you get 4 credits, but if you place out of both, you get 8 credits.
You get the number of credits for the class equivalent to the AP exam. So, while the AP credit for Calc is worth 4 credits, the AP credit for APUSH, for example, is only worth 3 credits, just as there are only 3 credits for English. Most classes are only worth 3 credits, but the more intensive math/lab sciences are 4 credits.
They will go over all of this when it’s time to pick classes at orientation, so no need to worry.
So my question is, how do they handle things at orientation in June, when AP scores aren’t available until July? The main one that will affect DD for fall is Calc BC. She has a 5 on Calc AB from last year. So will she register for Calc II and then have to drop/add Calc III (hopefully) when she gets her scores in July? Will she have that opportunity during the summer, or will the window for making schedule changes close for her after orientation, and then reopen in August shortly before classes begin? Just wondering how they handle it.
I think the way they handle that situation (of which class to sign up for w/o AP scores available) depends a lot on the advisers…I’ve seen both scenarios.
I honestly don’t remember how they handled schedule changes for incoming freshmen. However, after they matriculate, once their scheduling “block” is removed by meeting with their adviser, I’m pretty sure they can make changes from that point forward without any windows closing…@SoofDad, do you know more definitively?
How is UMD with dual credit classes? My son has a Western Civ and a US Government class that is dual credit (HS and college) through a accredited state university. We are hoping this will help fulfill some Gen Ed requirements.
(If it is relevant, he is in engineering and the University Honors program).
They are really good about it! Your son will need to request a transcript from the college that he is receiving the dual credit from, and have them send it directly to Maryland.
Those credits will then count towards total credits earned, and if they are approved to count as Gen Eds (https://ntst.umd.edu/tce/) they will be counted as such. If there is no direct equivalency, then he will just have the extra credits counted which will give him an advantage in the timing of when he gets to select classes. For the very first semester, all incoming freshman are on equal footing for pick time, as they select which orientation to sign up for (and thus how soon they can select classes). AFTER the first semester, class registration time is based on number of credits earned - the more credits you have, either from AP classes or transfer credits, the sooner you can sign up for classes. It is entirely possible that a first year student may get to pick classes before a second year student (assuming the first year comes in with a lot of credits and the second year did not come in with any). Hope I worded that in a way that makes sense…
Yes, @maryversity I understand. I think that this particular teacher switched from AP to dual credit classes because it does make it easier for the kids to get college credit. So you are saying it’s an advantage to send in all AP scores and dual credit grades? He got a 4 on his chemistry which doesn’t make it useful for engineering, I think. But it sounds like it will help him to send it in, anyway.
Yes, send them all. My son had two classes that he “transferred” to Maryland that neither counted as Gen Eds, nor as an elective toward his major, but it did give him a little more “seniority.” Note that you only receive credit once - either for the transfer credit (so no grade counted toward gpa) or for the class, if retaken at Maryland (grade will be counted toward gpa). http://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc.html
As for chemistry counting for engineering, I would check with the department directly, as in previous years, I seem to recall this being a debate and a student did report that it was accepted for engineering requirement. Of course, they may have changed their policy as it has been several years since that discussion…