<p>What exactly does it mean to be granted waivers but not credits? How are waivers and credits different? Calc BC gives you credit but Micro and Macro gives you waivers…right? Can anyone explain? I’m interested in applying for dual degree and the requirements are Math 104, Econ 001 and Econ 002. I have a 5 on Calc BC which exempts me from Math 104 (correct?) and am thinking of self-studying Micro and Macro. </p>
<p>Hypothetically, if I have 5’s on all three, would I be able to take any class that I want to set myself up for a nice GPA until the end of freshman year? Or would I still have to take a math course (whatever comes after 104), econ classes above 001/002, etc? </p>
<p>Also, if I decide not to self study Micro and Macro, or if I don’t end up getting 5s on them, how hard are econ 001 and 002 at Penn? I heard that these classes are not curved, and that what you get is what you get. Is that really the case? Does that generally make it harder or easier?</p>
<p>Credit means that you can use it towards your total number of credits you need to graduate.</p>
<p>Ex. If you have Math 104 credit from Calc BC, if you were to use the credit, you wouldn’t need to take 104 at Penn and number of credits you have would be at 1 from the start before you took any classes.</p>
<p>Waivers just mean you don’t have to take that class. However, no credits are given. So if you have 5 in micro econ, you don’t ever have to take Econ 001 (smart idea), but you instead have to earn 1 credit somewhere else.</p>
<p>A class being easy/hard - what you normally hear is just a load of bs. Ignore that all because a class being easy/hard depends entirely on you.</p>
<p>So, can I earn that 1 credit by taking any class that I want? Or does it have to be in the line of economics…also, what makes you say that it’s a “smart idea” to get Econ 001 out of the way?</p>
<p>So if I have a 5 on BC, I don’t have to take any math class my freshman year? How 'bout macro/micro? If i have 5s on those, I don’t have to take any economics classes my freshman year? So, I can pretty much dabble in any class that I want?</p>
Yes you can dabble and take really easy classes to get a 4.0, but you are spending 40k for tuition. Which is 5k just for each class you take. Is it really worth it?</p>
<p>I do agree with you though, I’m going to SEAS and if I decide to dual-degree with Wharton, all I have to do is use AP credit to get out of hard classes(Calc, Econs) and take easy classes to have a 3.8+ gpa.</p>
<p>Why wouldn’t it be worth it if I can take easy classes that interest me rather than taking cutthroat required intro classes? Also, I never said I was trying to get a 4.0.</p>
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<p>Can you substantiate your statements with personal experiences/anecdotes? I’ve heard different things.</p>
Sigh… Common sense!
Scenario 1. Take Econ 001. Many moons later, find out there’s this super interesting course available. But… oh no! Can’t take it because my so-and-so requirements have already been filled and I have to fill my other requirements!
Scenario 2. Skip Econ 001. Many moons later, fill that credit with the super cool class.</p>
<p>
Depends on YOUR MAJOR LIKE I SAID. Hence, the “super lucky.”
Getting good gpa at Penn is freaking hard. Get over it. You’ll experience it first hand when you come here.</p>
<p>One advice: stop listening in too much about what you hear about blah blah blah and do some research of your own. Chances are only a fraction of what they say will apply to you.</p>
<p>… your posts in this thread are mad annoying. </p>
<p>So 5’s in Micro/Macro will get you waivered out of econ001 and econ002. That doesn’t really do too much for you. Wharton kids take Econ-10(or the honors section FNCE103 which I took and really liked) which combines micro and macro. If the waiver does anything for you, it could help you transfer to wharton by avoiding a bad grade in an econ class. Even if you’re a college econ major you’ll probably want to just take econ1/econ2 and get a solid grounding. </p>
<p>a 5 in BC is such an awesome thing to have. I took AB, and I spent a semester in 104 getting my butt kicked. it was like getting punched in the face repeatedly every time I opened the textbook. avoid 104 at all costs. If you’re in Wharton, a 5 in BC satisfies the math requirement.</p>
<p>So if you have AP credit for econ001/002 and you take econ101 can you use that to fulfill the society sector? Or do you just take econ001 again and never go to class except for tests and just use it as a GPA boost?</p>
<p>Eh, don’t presume that you can use ECON001 as a GPA boost because you did well on an AP test. The midterms are occasionally ridiculously difficult.</p>
<p>Also, this talk of requirement classes is just confusing to me. The College doesn’t have any single class that is required. If you want to do certain majors, certain classes are required, but if you are a biology person, you will never have to take an economics course, nor will you ever have to take a history course. The opposite is also true. I fulfilled my science requirements with astronomy 001, PSYC001 and a course called “Energy, Oil and Global Warming,” none of which were all that hard or presumed any knowledge of any science at all!</p>
<p>The primary reason people use AP courses at Penn is to avoid taking intro classes. If you are interested in economics and have a waiver from ECON001 and 002, you can take ECON101 fall semester. You would be with mostly sophomores, but the class would be more challenging, and if you choose to do an ECON major, you’d have more flexibility with regard to course selection as a third and fourth year student when you can eliminate two courses required for the major.</p>
<p>Similarly, if you take AP Spanish and test out of the language requirement, you would only need to take a few Spanish courses each semester in order to be able to study abroad in a Spanish speaking country, and you will avoid up to four courses.</p>
<p>As for using ECON101 to fulfill society, ask your premajor advisor. It isn’t listed as one of the courses that fulfills the requirement, so don’t make that presumption.</p>
<p>I’m trying to do the same thing. I want the option to apply for a dual degree with Wharton, so I’m self studying Micro and Macro this year. The short answer is: yes, it will work if you have a 5 on BC, Micro, and Macro. And yes, you can take classes that you think would be easier to try and boost your GPA as a Freshman. As to how easy they are, and if they guarantee you a good GPA, who’s to say.</p>
<p>any other recommended AP’s to take to get out of any other classes or GE requirements of fundamental or sectors other than BC, and the two Econs, if you are a Biology major?</p>
<p>Foreign language. Straight up. Even if you don’t get a 5, you will be able to test into a higher level language so you can finish the requirement earlier</p>
<p>This is true, but I believe you can get a credit by getting a 5 on the test, which could give you more freedom in course selection. For example, if you want to graduate early, you would be able to avoid taking one class, and that could be a big difference maker. I never considered early graduation before last year, and the lone AP credit that I entered Penn with was the difference between me being able to take 4 courses last semester and having to take 5 courses in order to graduate a semester early.</p>