tyler8989

I just got accepted ED and am planning on majoring in bioengineering and premed at Rice. Right now im in Bio AP, Chem AP, Calc BC AP but am not sure if i should use the AP credit next year. I am not sure if I should just skip these classes at Rice because im guessing its going to be really important to make sure that i get a good foundation in calc, bio and chem. I know that taking the classes at rice will do a better job preparing me but do you think i will be fine with not taking them and using the AP credit?

pedrossi

I'll be having to make the same decision soon. By the time I graduate I'll have AP credits in Spanish, US History, Physics B, Physics C Mech + EM, US Gov't, Econ, English Lit, Comp Sci, and Calc. I also have 33 hours of dual-enrollment credit both with a local college and with RIT in New York, including 12 hours of Engineering credits.
I was accepted ED as well, and want to major in EE/CE. Maybe I shouldn't use some of these credits in order to have a better foundation?

It would be interesting to get some input from engineering upperclassment at Rice.

nose

I know it's exciting to think about, but you really don't need to worry about what classes to take right now. You won't be signing up for classes til next August. You'll get plenty of academic advising during O-Week. [FWIW, if you do AP out of premed requirements, it's generally recommended that you take upper level courses in those areas (Biochem, etc).] But like I said, no need to worry now.
Congrats on getting in, and enjoy senior year.

freespirit22

I was also accepted ED and am taking the premed route as well. By the time I graduate, I'll be eligible to claim over 50 credit hours at Rice (assuming that I make a 4 or 5 on all of my upcoming AP exams). Of course, I'll be retaking calculus, biology, chemistry, and physics at Rice just because I want a solid foundation in those areas, so that leaves me with like 30 credit hours to claim. I think that if you're going into medicine or engineering, retake the math and science courses at Rice and use your other AP credits (like U.S. History) to fulfill distribution requirements or other requirements for your major.

anxiousmom

DS is currently in ChemE as a freshman. Against my advice (ha ) he used his Chemistry AP credit, (which he took as a junior in HS), and signed up for Org Chem this semester. He doesn't feel like he made the wrong decision. He'll take Org Chem II next semester. Likewise, he went ahead and used his Calc BC credit, and signed up for "DIffE" at Rice. Again, he thinks it was the right decision. Like Nose says, though, you will have lots of chances to talk to upperclassmen and advisors at O-Week, and they will steer you right! (Just a note; while Rice may accept your AP credit, you will not get distribution credit for all of it, and distribution credit (12 hours in each of the 3 areas) is what you need to graduate.)

mathnerd4869

Do AP scores count toward the GPA?

Beef

I'm pretty sure they don't, mathnerd.

Clendenenator

AP does not count towards GPA.

It is a long way off, but for the most part AP classes do a fine job replacing intro level courses. You will be bored if you sign up for a class that you've already done fine in. The only thing that you'll have to watch out for is killing yourself in the first semester; you shouldn't start out taking a bunch of sophomore level science classes; it's better to pick and choose which ones matter to you.