I got a 5 on my chemistry AP test, should i accept the college credit when i go to university?

Question

I plan on going to medical school but the prerequisites make me take multiple chemistry classes. So if i accept the AP chemistry credit when i go into college, won't i have to take a more difficult and advanced chemistry class thus lowering my GPA because i would have forgot my chemistry knowledge from highschool? Should i just retake the chemistry class in college so i can refresh my memory or should i just accept the credit?

Answer 1

I had the same delima but with Calculus. I figured a refresher course my freshman year wouldn't hurt plus.

A. It's a class that won't be too stressful (if you know the material it makes it easier)

B. You're almost guaranteed an A in it unless you slack off

C. It counts towards your GPA therefore raising it (most schools accept AP credit toward your graduation requirements but they don't figure it into your GPA so exempting out of the class won't add an A to your GPA)

D. You might get in over your head with an advanced class because sometimes what they teach at college is a little different than high school (i came across that in Calc 2)

Best choice i made was not to accept the credit and take the class. But hey that's just me!

Answer 2

Hmm.  You want to go to medical school, but you are afraid of taking a more advanced chemistry course...  Well, depends on your undergrad degree.  What is required?  What about post-grad - what do they require to be admitted into the program?  Might as well accept the credit for your AP class, then that's less credits for you to worry about and pay for in college. :)  And you are going to med school - get used to challenging yourself early on, and unless they've changed the scoring for AP classes, you did well on the exam!!  You shouldn't have anything to worry about...

Answer 3

Because you're pre-med, and chem is a med school pre-req course, this is a different answer than I'd give you if you had a 5 on your AP English exam.

Most med schools will require you to take a more advanced chem class to make up for the one you took the credit for. And since some of those pre-med chem classes are NOTORIOUSLY (and purposefully) difficult to do well in, if you suspect you'll forget this knowledge, it'd be best to take the chem class.

This is something you're going to want to discuss with your university's pre-med advisor. You can call this advisor to discuss even before you enroll, so do so.  

Answer 4

I'd accept the credit. It would be one less class you'd have to take. Theoretically, yes, you'd take the next higher level of chemistry, but if you were able to get a 5 on an AP test, you should be confident enough to be able to take on this next class. Plus, would you really need an entire semester to refresh your memory?

Good luck.