<p>It depends on the school/program you are applying for. Weinberg students apply AP credits in three ways. </p>
<p>The first is the distribution requirement - there are six distribution areas and you are required to take two classes in each distribution area. That means you need 12 distribution classes. Of the 12 distros, you may use AP credits for two classes - reducing the number of classes required for that requirement to 10.</p>
<p>The second is the degree(s) itself you’re working towards. If you were an economics major - as I am - you would look at [this</a> page](<a href=“http://www.econ.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/degree/major.html]this”>http://www.econ.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/degree/major.html) and [this</a> one](<a href=“http://www.weinberg.northwestern.edu/advising/freshmen/credit/apib/2012-2013.html]this”>http://www.weinberg.northwestern.edu/advising/freshmen/credit/apib/2012-2013.html) together to figure out which requirements are fulfilled. You can use as many as apply to your degree program, with no limits, provided the AP credit counts for a class for the program. Keep in mind AP classes generally work as introductory courses in whatever field.</p>
<p>Third would be how many credits out of the 45 you’ve satisfied - like you pointed out - but that one matters the least, mostly because you’ll get pretty close to 45 for your distribution reqs/degree reqs anyways. There are some intricacies in how that works - read [this</a> section](<a href=“http://www.weinberg.northwestern.edu/advising/freshmen/credit/apib.html#APquarters]this”>http://www.weinberg.northwestern.edu/advising/freshmen/credit/apib.html#APquarters) and [this</a> page](<a href=“http://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/graduation/Undergraduate_Residence_Requirement.html]this”>http://www.registrar.northwestern.edu/graduation/Undergraduate_Residence_Requirement.html). It is in fact capped at 12 credits. On the other hand, this could become more important and relevant if you decided to finish your degree/distros within the first three years and wanted to graduate early, in which case your AP credits would get you there.</p>
<p>
</p>