<p>Having received no responses, cross-posted here :-(</p>
<p>Folks from the Class of 2009:</p>
<p>What are your opinions on using or not, AP credits in various subjects?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>father91: APs do not reduce # of classes you need to graduate. At P you can use them to place out in some of the distribution requirements. For example, my S used them to place out of chemistry (distribution) and take advanced math.</p>
<p>However, there are many who repeat them - just to make it easier on themselves.</p>
<p>you can also use them to place out of the language req. completely (or maybe you have to take a dept. placement test too?)</p>
<p>Wait, so if I get a 5 on the AP Bio exam and a 5 on AP Calc AB, I need to take only one science and no math (as a history major, that is)?</p>
<p>That would be awesome, since the thought of taking Calc II at Princeton University really intimidates me (what with the whole A Beautiful Mind thing).</p>
<p>Am I confused?</p>
<p>Sorry, jmarsh, but you can't use APs to get out of your requirements, except for foreign language. If you do well on AB calc, you can take a more advanced math class (Calc 104 vs calc 103, I think), but you still need a QR.</p>
<p>Fortunately, if you are (like me) mathematically and scientifically challenged compared to nearly all the rest of my classmaes, there are courses specially designed for non-science/math majors who need to fill requirements.</p>
<p>I'm a class of '09er, a Chem E major, and I used a lot of my AP credits--in fact, I can graduate a year early if I want to, but I decided against it. The way I used them was to place into higher levels but also to not take classes--as an engineer with 5's on both Physics C E & M and Mech, I don't have to take physics here. With a 5 on AP Chem, I skipped intro to chem (201) and turbo chem (215), and went straight to organic chemistry (303/304). And with a 5 on BC Calc, I skipped basic calc (103/4), and went right to multivar (201) and linear algebra (202). Talking with other engineers, this is how most people used their AP credits.</p>
<p>Hmm...about the graduating-in-3-yrs thing, anyone know someone who's done it? How do they like it?</p>
<p>What (other than missing a year of a great school) would be the disadvantages do doing so?</p>
<p>Four accepted AP courses (usually requires a "5') allows you to graduate 1/2 a year early. 8 allows you to graduate a year early From the Princeton Website:
Students who have been granted sufficient advanced placement to qualify for advanced standing may apply to the Committee on Examinations and Standing for graduation in either three or three and one-half years. Students must submit applications for a year of advanced standing no later than the beginning of spring semester of the freshman year and must use the advanced standing prior to the start of the junior year.</p>
<p>Students eligible for one year of advanced standing may apply to become second semester sophomores in the spring of their first year of residence, or first term juniors in the fall of their second year of residence. The Committee on Examinations and Standing will review the academic records of all applicants to determine the appropriateness of graduating in three years and to verify that the minimum grade requirement established by the committee has been met. The committee may rescind advanced standing if, in its judgment, the student has not made satisfactory academic progress. Students who apply for one year of advanced standing will normally have completed the writing requirement, the foreign language requirement, and all prerequisites for concentration in a department before the start of their second year of residence.</p>
<p>Students eligible for one term of advanced standing may apply to spend one term of their sophomore year away from the University. The Committee on Examinations and Standing will review the academic records of all applicants to determine the appropriateness of completing the degree requirements in three and one-half years of residence and to verify that the minimum grade requirement established by the committee has been met. Freshmen who expect to be away in the fall term of the sophomore year should meet with their residential college dean or their director of studies by April 1 to discuss their plans; those who expect to be away in the spring of the sophomore year should discuss their plans with their residential college dean or their director of studies by December 1 of the sophomore year.</p>
<p>My child tells me that some students don't "cash in" their AP credits and just take the comparable Princeton courses either in the hopes of getting a good grade and/or because they think taking the advanced course without having taken the Princeton equivalent of the AP course will be too hard.</p>