Do you need a 5 on AP Chemistry in order to test into freshman orgo?
If you’re thinking of going premed, you should know that medical schools require one year of General Chemistry at the college level – and no matter what a specific college allows you to do, getting a 5 on the AP Chemistry exam does NOT count towards those requirements. So, premeds usually take General Chemistry their freshman year and Orgo their sophomore year, as most colleges won’t let you take Orgo until you’ve passed General Chemistry with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
For additional information about premed at Yale, see: http://ocs.yale.edu/content/premedical-studies-yale-college
Yale requires a placement exam to get into freshman Orgo. I’m not totally sure if they use the score in combination with your AP score or not, but even with a 5, you must take the exam and do well to be placed into Orgo. Also, apparently many premeds take freshman Orgo, though I’m not sure how this works with the Med school requirements as Gibby mentioned.
AP scores are mainly used to give students a preliminary placement into the different levels of general chemistry. To place into freshman orgo (or change your general chemistry placement), there is a placement exam that is administered during orientation. Generally, if you have a 5 on the AP, you should have no problem placing into orgo.
There are actually quite a few premeds (including myself) who are in freshmen orgo. Passing freshman orgo with a B or better gives you acceleration credit which most med schools accept in place of the year of general chemistry.
@OrchidBloom thanks for the info!
No problem @swim1128 !