Using AP Credits @ Duke (Engineering)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Hello all, I've recently been admitted to Pratt and plan on pursuing a BME/Econ double major; on the other hand, the NAE Grand Scholars program I found on the Pratt website is really something, and would definitely pursue that If I find econ less attractive than I think it will be.</p>

<p>This entire post is based on my knowledge that Pratt students can utilize as many AP Credits as they wish - I'm asking these questions to figure out which AP tests i should and shouldn't take, and to figure out which classes I really want to focus on (this year) so I can be prepared for whatever I test into. </p>

<p>I want to do this with the optimal schedule; finding a schedule with the least stress/least punishing workload possible (that still puts me in a position to reach my lofty goals - I expect it to get very intense at certain points). In essence, I don't want to take any class I could have avoided that could have given me more flexibility in my junior/senior years.</p>

<p>So far I've decided that Im going test into (based on what I've read over the months here):</p>

<p>Econ 55D
Chem 151L</p>

<p>I'm debating testing out of into the following
Math 32 (Into 103 - I want to be sure I'll have a strong foundation in the fundamental aspects of calculus)
Intro Bio (Unfamiliar here - my decision is really based off the the necessity of the intro bio class as a part of the larger BME curriculum/if it gives me scheduling flexibility)
Physics 61/62 (into 63)</p>

<p>A general question about engineers fulfilling trinity grad requirements:
I already have a 5 on AP English Language - according to Duke this gives me credit for English 20, and could easily score a 4/5 on AP English Literature (taking right now) to get me Duke credit for English 29. I know I can't avoid writing 20 and am in fact looking forward to it. My question is whether or not I can use one/both AP credits to satisfy part of the Pratt requirement to take select classes in Trinity (rather than just placement)?</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Take as many AP tests as you can, place out as much as you can, and get credit for as much as you can. Trust me. Doing poorly on the AP test means nothing anyways, you might as well try.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>All AP tests that you score a 4 or 5 on (except for in cases when they don’t accept a 4 like Spanish language) will be on your transcript. For Pratt, you can place out of an unlimited number of courses, get unlimited number of credits for math/science/etc, and use two of the credits to fulfill your SSH (Social sciences/humanities) requirements, which are detailed in the advising handbook as seen below, but are essentially 5 total courses from 3 different areas, including 2 in the same department, and at least one being an SS.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.bme.duke.edu/downloads/Ugrad_advising_handbook_F09.pdf[/url]”>http://www.bme.duke.edu/downloads/Ugrad_advising_handbook_F09.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

</p>

<p>Yes, avoiding Econ 51 is definitely a wise decision. Honestly, Chem 151L is perhaps the only class I would NOT place into with AP credit unless you’re pre-med, which I doubt based on your BME/econ double major. Chem 151L does nothing to help you fulfill requirements, and why take orgo if you don’t have to? You need a lab chem component (and the AP test doesn’t give it to you), so most people who have AP credit take Chem 23L (which is what I did; Accelerated General Chem; Chem 21/22L in one semester). This gives you a lab component to fulfill the necessary requirement, but doesn’t necessitate you taking orgo. </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Avoid Math 32 if you can at all. It’s the most commonly failed course at Duke and is NOT equivalent to Calculus BC. I know many people who got a 5 on the AP test and did poorly in it (think C or worse). Duke math is much much harder than the AP test, and even if they were the same difficulty, getting a 70% on the AP test (for a 5), would not get you an A in a Duke course. You’ll be fine in 103, which is still hard and you better stay on top of it, but not as failed as Math 32 (probably mostly because more non-math/engineering people take 32, though). </p>

<p>Bio isn’t a huge deal, but I’d place out of it if I can. You have to take an upper level life science anyways as a BME major, so you’ll get some exposure to bio. You don’t need intro bio for other courses in BME; you’ll be fine.</p>

<p>Again, I’d avoid Physics 51/52 if at all possible and get AP credit.</p>

<p>Taking as many credits as possible, gives you *some *schedule flexibility which is really nice as an engineer, and you will NEED as a BME/Econ double major.</p>

3

<p>I was looking at Math 32 past exams, and it is not as difficult as you say. I think a basic understanding of BC should be enough to get at least a B in it. You just need a bit more creativity than the AP exam.</p>

4

<p>

</p>

<p>I didn’t say it was impossible, just that if you can pass out of it and have to take Math 103 anyways, you might as well skip it. Taking it again won’t help you. It’s not the difficulty of the problems either…It’s the curve of the class that makes it a relatively commonly failed course (obviously, *most *people do not fail). Exams can vary GREATLY from professor to professor within the semester so looking at a sample isn’t necessarily indicative of what you’re going to see, but the final exam is the same for everybody (i.e. it’s a block final). The final exam may only be something like 30-40% of your final grade, but it determines how many people in your class get an A, B, C, etc. For example, if only 10% of your class gets an A on the final, your professor can only give 10% of your class final semester grades of an A. They do this in an effort to normalize the grading scales from professor to professor. That isn’t to say that the 10% who got an A on the final, get an A in the class, though, as homework and other exams certainly play a role. At least, that’s how it worked a few years ago. (Although I skipped Math 32 straight into 103. Just heard this from many friends who regretted decision to take 32.)</p>

5

<p>Oh, gotcha. Thanks for clarifying.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the great feedback, especially concerning the chemistry lab requirement that slipped past me!</p>

<p>Another thought - after looking through major requirements and the like, I noticed a Statistics component in both BME and Econ, which can both be fulfilled with same class (Stat136 I believe). I’m taking AP Stat right now and assume testing out would be advisable given my plans, and the rather simple nature of Intro Stats-my easiest class at the moment. </p>

<p>In regards to General Chem rather than Orgo - I’m very interested in drug delivery and tissue engineering; and know my greatest area of interest to be at the intersection of industry/technology with biomedical engineering and prescription drugs/new medical treatments in their entirety. Given this new information do you still recommend General Chem over Orgo? And would my interests be better suited in a molecular biology class? I do admit having a class focused a subject I spent two years taking would be what sounds like an easier transition than a comparatively tough Orgo class. </p>

<p>Math - Great insight here. My final decision will most likely be based on a recommendation from a current Duke freshman who I went to school with, and what he would do if had to choose again.</p>

7

<p>1) I actually looked at the requirements for both econ and BME. You should take stat 113 instead of math 136 for several reasons. Math136 actually has two pre-requisites (linear algebra - 104 or 107 - and math 135/stat 104). So if you want to take 136, you’d need to take the extra 135/104 class before that. Stat 113 on the other hand, only requires math 103 and is good for both econ and BME. Also, according to the BME undergrad handbook, Math 136 is really only a viable option for math majors/minors. In fact, the handbook says all BME single/dual major students must take stat113 except math majors/minors. </p>

<p>2) I don’t think either gen chem or orgo will be helpful given your interest in drug delivery and tissue engineering. But you do need to take one of those. I’d recommend gen chem. If you want classes that are helpful for that stuff take the biomaterials BME courses (215, 83, etc), the BME tissue engineering course, the BME transport course, developmental biology, and maybe molecular biology. I work in a BME lab that does drug delivery and tissue engineering and those are the courses that I have taken or would if I had more time. </p>

<p>3) Regarding math, do whatever you are comfortable with but I’ll just note that as an engineer, you’ll have to take math 103, 107, 108, and a stat course and none of those require any BC knowledge except for stuff like u or trig substitution for 1 chapter in math 103. And as an engineer, you definitely want to free up as much space as possible during the latter years for advanced work rather than having to slog through a ton of pre-reqs. Also, as I noted above, the statistics courses all require at least one 100-level math and basically one course can really slow you down a semester or more in some cases. </p>

<p>Also to the poster above, past tests always look easy when you are just browsing. But given 50 or so minutes and knowing that it counts for 20-30% of your final grade or so, you’d be surprised how much the pressure can mess with your head. That and yeah, the curve and variability between profs can do funny things to even the best of students.</p>