you guys gotta explain this AP thing

<p>okay, so is there anybody nice enough to explain what on earth AP means? what happens if its not AP? ans what about sat I and sat II?</p>

<p>im canadian =)
so our school system is obviously different. we have applied (college / less advanced classes) and academic (university / more advanced classes)</p>

<p>AP stands for advanced placement, and they are known to be more rigorous courses and give students weighted credit, allowing a higher gpa to be reached. </p>

<p>SAT I tests on 3 subject areas: reading, writing, math (esp. important in college admissions along with gpa being the other major decisive factor)</p>

<p>SAT II I am not familiar with, but I think they are subject tests in things like US History, Chemistry, etc.</p>

<p>“College-level.”</p>

<p>ohhhhhh, okay, so now i understand what you guys mean when you say your gpa weighed or unweighed.
so AP is similar to academic, except to get into university, they ONLY take your top six academic averages (they have to be academic)</p>

<p>NOTE: in canada… university - basically the highest post-education system (basically your colleges)
college - easier and is similar to your community colleges</p>

<p>AP classes can be used for college credit at many universities.</p>

<p>

Really? I know some Canadians, and from what I’ve heard top schools like UBC, Toronto, and Waterloo are quite rigorous.</p>

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<p>yeah, they are, because they are universities.
UBC = university of british columbia
toronto = university of toronto
waterloo = university of waterloo</p>

<p>what im saying is that you guys call them colleges, we call them universities. thats the only difference.</p>

<p>US “colleges” are actually universities. People just call them colleges (because it’s easier to say IMO :)).</p>

<p>Technically a university offers post-undergrad degrees, while a college does not.</p>

<p>^^ I’ve got you. “Colleges” in the US theoretically focus more on undergrad, less on research (though the name is often used differently).</p>

<p>SAT1 is mostly required in all schools, or universities or colleges :P,
except if you’re an international student who have not attended to an english speaking school for the last…3 years?</p>

<p>the SAT2 is the subject test which you can choose to take or not. Some schools require that you take a certain amount of subject tests. This helps the schools to see what field you are familiar with.
I think the more you take it is the better.</p>

<p>*I heard that the Ivies don’t take AP credits…</p>

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<p>I think that a university has degrees outside one area (e.g. offers a mathematics degree and an engineering degree) whilst colleges have only one area of concentration.</p>

<p>Obviously, many institutes call themselves as colleges whereas they are really universities. On the other hand, universities like UPenn have CAS (COLLEGE of Arts and Science) because, though they are part of the university, they have a focused area of study.</p>

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<p>I know MIT (which isn’t an Ivy but has the academic reputation of one) does not accept AP credits. They have their own exam which students take for credit which I heard is similar to the AP exam of that course.</p>

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<p>Yes, Canadian college is what we Americans call “liberal arts colleges.” I don’t know why they added the liberal arts in front of it.</p>

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<p>To my knowledge they all do.</p>

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<p>[MIT</a> Freshman Class: Right Now - College Board Advanced Placement Credit](<a href=“http://mit.edu/firstyear/2013/subjects/ap.html]MIT”>http://mit.edu/firstyear/2013/subjects/ap.html)</p>

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<p>From what I understand Canada has a two-tiered system:</p>

<ol>
<li>Universities where research is conducted, and masters and doctorate degrees are offered.</li>
<li>Colleges, which are completely technical in nature and lead to vocational degrees or certificates.</li>
</ol>

<p>The United States is a bit more complicated:</p>

<ol>
<li>Universities very similar to Canadian universities, focused on research and granting masters and doctorate degrees.</li>
<li>Colleges, sometimes called liberal arts colleges, which only offer 4-year degrees. They are focused less on research and more on education.</li>
<li>Community Colleges, which offer both technical degrees and certificates, but also academic programs, allowing one to transfer to a University or Liberal Arts College</li>
<li>Rarely, private 2-year colleges.</li>
</ol>

<p>Canadians are serious noobs.</p>

<p>^Wow, straight to the heart of the issue.</p>

<p>Oh, you guys wish you rode polar bears to school. :P</p>

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<p>That’s actually completely wrong. A liberal arts college in the US is generally one that only offers undergraduate degrees and is almost always smaller than a university. LAC’s can be and are just as rigorous as a university. Canadian colleges are actually at a lower level than Canadian universities, similar to a community or junior college in the US.</p>

<p>I can’t believe I said “gotta”. </p>

<p>And jkaufman is right. Canadian colleges are at a lower level than Canadian universities.</p>