I am an international student from India and was recently accepted to LSA at UMich. I’ve not given any AP exams, nor plan to. Will doing so put me behind my peers when I join UMich? (Planning a Computer Science major)
I also wanted to ask whether UMich administers departmental exams which I could take once I start attending, through which I could place out of introductory courses. If anyone studying there could give me more specifics about these exams than the ones listed on the website ( which are quite vague, to be honest), I would be grateful!
I do not believe that there is any problem here at all.
First of all, congratulations! Michigan is a great university with a very strong computer science program. You will be able to pick up a good winter coat and good boots and gloves when you are in Michigan.
I was in a similar situation many years ago. I attended a high school that did not offer any AP classes at all, and attended a university in the US that like Michigan is very well known and very rigorous. One consequence was that I needed to take calculus as a freshman. This was a very good class, was very well taught, and had the advantage that compared to many freshman classes it was relatively small – the majority of freshmen had taken AP calculus in high school and therefore skipped this one class. You may be in a similar situation in which you will need to take (or retake) calculus as a freshman. If you have already had some calculus then you probably should contact Michigan directly and ask them how to know which level of calculus to start with.
It is possible that you might have a small number of classes freshman year which are a bit easy. This issue will end relatively quickly in your time at Michigan. It will get academically demanding at some point, probably before the end of your freshman year.
I had one single class as an undergraduate student which was very difficult, and which was taught by a professor who was really bad. I had to drop the class. If I had come in with AP credits I would have still been ahead of the number of credits needed for graduation. Since I did not, this put me one class behind the requirements for graduation. Because of this I took one extra class my last semester – which was quite a grind. However, what I should have done is what both of my daughters have done more recently but for different reasons: They have both taken classes for credit over the summer. Some have been normal classes taught at the normal pace over most of the summer. Some have been intensive classes where other than sleep and eat all that you do 24 hours per day for seven days per week (which we call 24/7) is work on this one class. The result is that they got credit for a full class in a very small number of weeks. In terms of the total number of credits earned this put them ahead of the pace needed to graduate in four years.
I have heard stories of students who took AP biology in high school being required to take “Freshman biology for biology majors” as premed students in university. Another student I know well who took the same class without ever having taken any AP class found that she was just as well prepared as her classmates who had taken AP biology. I am not sure precisely how this happened (perhaps the “normal” biology teacher that she had was very good). I suspect that you will in most or all cases similarly find that you are able to keep up with the course work and that your high school in India did prepare you very well for Michigan.
You might have a very small number of classmates who graduate in 3 1/2 years rather than four years due to having come in with AP credits. You almost certainly will find some other classmates who cannot handle 5 classes at once and take 4 classes at a time instead and graduate in 5 years. None of this will be an issue for you. You can take the normal number of classes at once and graduate in 4 years, and if you find that one class is too hard and you fall behind again do not worry about it – you can catch up with a summer class or with an extra semester at the end.
Congratulations and no problem. Students come in at every level imaginable.
Do your own thing and don’t worry about the other people.
They want you to come in ready for Calc 1. They are nationally known for their Calc curriculum (read : hard ?).
Michigan told you with your acceptance they think you will do well. Now the fun begins…
Email your department and see if you can place out. I don’t think so. Freshman year for many is not a cake walk especially in your field. It’s not an easy school but well worth it if your willing to put in the work. Work/Reward is great at Michigan.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate you guys taking out the time to compose such informative replies!
My calculus game is very strong currently, because I’ve prepared really well for the JEE, the most rigorous course in India!
I also wanted to ask whether UMich Limits the number of credits I can take per sem?
Think 18 semester but just email them. It’s alot and what my son did his while freshman year. You will meet with your advisor before picking classes and they will guide you
I always suggest go slow your first semester.
Um… the OP only said that he’s “not given any AP exams, nor plan to.” He didn’t say whether he has taken any AP or comparable classes.
“My calculus game is very strong currently, because I’ve prepared really well for the JEE, the most rigorous course in India!”
You can take AP or IB exams without taking the classes. Taking the exam will give you college credits for the introductory courses, not just placing out of them.
“My calculus game is very strong currently, … the most rigorous course in India”
Are AP exams available where you live? If so then you might want to take the exam. As @GoBlue81 says, you do not need to take the AP class to take the exam.
You should ask admissions at Michigan how to place out of calculus. They must have seen this issue before, and they will be very familiar with how strong the most rigorous courses in India are. I would ask them even if AP exams are available since they might accept the exam that you are already planing to take in India.
Otherwise it sounds like you are very well prepared to do well at U.Michigan. This is a great university overall and for computer science.
I know they have placement/place out tests for at least some courses, like languages and chemistry (I know kids who have placed out based on both - without having done AP but really good students).
I think it varies by department so you can figure it out over the summer. Just make sure to work closely with advisers.
Congrats and Go Blue!
Thank you so much! I wanted to ask whether you get credits for passing out out place out tests or does it just make you eligible to take a tougher course instead?
