Getting admission into your goal university can be a tussle, especially when you are torn between choosing the right school for your field of study and getting your application accepted. Your parents, siblings, friends, teachers, academic counselors, and your high school administration (if you are in your senior year in high school) would be involved. Everyone who gives their opinions would probably want you to take sides, but in the end, your advanced education is your decision. Therefore, you can decide to take the Advanced Placement (AP) Test to broaden your chances of getting into college. In this article we shall see Which Universities do not accept AP credits?
Not all universities across the United States accept AP tests, although most of them do if the student’s AP score is high (between 3 and 5). Schools like Brown University, Dartmouth University, Caltech, Harvey Mudd College, and Amherst College in the Top 100 according to US ranking do not use AP for college credits. Although Brown University uses AP scores for college placement. Every higher institution has rules guiding AP placement and application of AP credits scored in an AP exam.
AP Examination
Since the Advanced Placement (AP) examination is a test to get students started on some college courses without entering college yet. The grade mark for the AP examination is from 1 to 5 and students are expected to do their best. Policies and regulations are guiding the AP credit course and examination.
Conditions for taking AP Examination
- Any student taking the AP course or examination must be in junior year of high school, senior year or must be out of high school for a maximum of six months.
- The students must pay a certain AP fee to their coordinators, depending on where they are taking the program. Sometimes, your high school can charge you higher than the official amount.
- Students can take the examination digitally or on paper, depending on their examination center. Those who are yet to graduate from high school must take the AP examination in their schools.
- To take the AP examination, your testing device must be a PC or a laptop, as the exam would not run on a mobile phone.
- The student must complete the AP program and basic study of approved college courses before proceeding to take the assessment.
- During the test, every form of cheating is prohibited and if any student is caught, his or her examination is automatically canceled.
Schools that do not accept AP credits
Brown University
Brown University does not allow AP test scores to be added to the course credit, as a placement credit only carries 0.0 credit. Although, it is also important for students to verify with their various departments, in case there is a change in the rules. No AP credit would count even after the students have taken American History or History of Art and Architecture. Although students can use those credits for advanced studies. No AP credit would be awarded in any form for English language and Literature, Chinese Studies, Human Geography, International Relations, Political Science, Japanese language, statistics, Sociology, and many other courses.
Amherst College
Although Amherst College acknowledges the students that have done well in various International pre-college examinations, they do not accept AP scores for college credits. Some departments within Amherst College may also allow the student to progress without going through the elementary courses they did during the AP program. This means that the students would start getting credits from other courses instead of the basic lesson, so they can not depend on their AP scores when trying to boost their GPA.
Dartmouth University
Dartmouth University use to grant AP credit before, but they stopped. Now, students who have gone through the AP program and scored between 3 – 5 can get placement in the school and even credits on the various elementary courses but those credits would not be added to their results. This means that the AP credits of students do not count when the school is trying to compile results or cumulative GPA for graduation. They would use other college credits to calculate your cumulative academic grade. But if you need your Dartmouth transcript, your entrance AP credits would appear on it.
Caltech
No, Caltech does not accept AP credits for admission, as they prefer their students to gain credit for Caltech courses. Since the AP program covers general introductory courses in various faculties, Caltech does not mind if you know something about the basics of what you want to study. But for Maths and Physics, the preliminary courses become tough quickly, while the students are still in their first year. So, Caltech gives certain placement without credit for some courses but does not give any credit not placement to those that did Maths and Physics during their AP program.
You need to pass Caltech first-year courses to gain Caltech credits, although it varies by department.
Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College recognizes the effort of students who have taken advanced placement courses, as it shows their willingness to learn. However, they do not give credits for AP program scores because their introductory courses, especially for science students go beyond the general preliminary classes. So, students who are in their first year must pass Harvey Mudd’s introductory courses to gain credits for their GPA. Some departments in the school may offer direct placement for higher-level lessons without giving credits for AP scores.
Conclusion
In the top 100 universities in the United States, according to the US ranking, more than 90% of higher institutions give credits to students who have taken the AP program and were well qualified. Top schools like Havard take students who scored five but schools like Caltech and Harvey Mudd do not give credits for AP scores, as their freshman courses are more advanced compared to other schools.
FAQs
Do universities across the United States grant AP credits for students to gain admission?
Yes, many universities across the United States grant AP credits and placement to students who have taken the AP program. Harvard University only gives admission to students who scored 4 out of 5 in the AP examination. Most higher institutions only give credits and admission to students who scored between 3 – 5 in the Advanced Placement examination. Some schools also accept AP credits for transfer students, depending on the test score and the courses taken in the program.
Should high school students take AP examinations?
High school students or fresh graduates can take AP examinations to help them prepare for college. Aside from using the AP scores to get level credits, the AP examination also helps students get ready for what they may see in college, especially in their freshman year.