Do these colleges force you to take unrelated courses?

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Columbia SEAS
Cornell
Dartmouth
Hopkins
Lehigh
UPenn
Virginia
Penn St
Brown</p>

<p>I intend to major in Biology or Engineering, and while I understand that English will probably be a requirement, what about subjects such as History or a Language? I’m asking because I’m contemplating whether it is worth it to study for APUSH and Latin if I never receive credit for those tests anyways. I’ll definitely study for Bio (Taking SAT II, so might as well), English, and Calculus AP tests, for forgoing APUSH would be a relief. Furthermore, next year I intend on taking Chem and either HumanGeo or Econ. Now, I won’t be taking the SAT II in Chem, so is it worth it to take that AP test just to skip an Intro Chem course? I feel like Intro Chem or whatever I take would probably help, both GPA wise, and lab-acclimation wise. Finally, are AP credits in HumanGeo/Econ not necessary in a Science/Math related major?</p>

2

<p>My teacher went to UVa and majored in bio and chem and said that she the only unrelated classes she took was english, calc, stats, and physics.</p>

3

<p>Most schools have distribution requirements or something of that nature. Of those on your list, I know that Brown does not, and Dartmouth does.</p>

<p>The policy of each school regarding use of APs to satisfy requirements and/or get placement will vary. </p>

<p>You really need to go to the web site of each school and look it up.</p>

4

<p>I think you have two questions-- what do the schools require and can you use AP to meet the requirement. You can find answers to both questions on the schools’ web sites. Search “graduation requirements” and “advanced placement.” Some schools (most?) have a chart showing what AP credits can be used to meet which graduation requirements.
It would also be worth looking at the department web site for your intended major. They often have a graduation planning worksheet.</p>

5

<p>I felt the same way you did when I graduated from high school. I was interested in how much coursework I could get away with not having to do. I took AP credits, I took courses at the local community college, I took language placement tests. I got a lot of credits and realized that they weren’t the same as having taken the counterpart courses. Case in point, I was able to get out of taking the general biology only to find that the students who did take it were more advanced than I was in the later courses. Science is taught in a cumulative fashion in college. Keep that in mind.</p>