It’s not always an easy decision and definitely not one size fits all!
My S23 is an engineering student and used all of his AP credits to skip as many first-year courses as possible; this turned out to be a great decision for him (faster progress in his degree, more engaging courses for him, excellent grades).
Some friends attending the same university had varying results. One decided to retake courses for which he had AP credit… and then regretted this decision as it slowed his progression, and due to the curved grading in these classes, didn’t end up helping his GPA either. A different friend used AP credit to skip ahead in math, but wasn’t as prepared as he thought and decided to drop back early in the semester; this was initially stressful but ended up working out OK.
It varies so much by school, it seems. My D22 got 21 credits satisfied by AP, but only AP Bio and Latin counted toward her “distribution” credits (the core classes required). Everything else counted as an elective.
She did get credit for both Calc 1 and Calc 2 with her BC Calc score – but only as elective credit. Thankfully she didn’t have to make any decisions about that because there was no math required for her major.
ETA – and yes, she could have graduated this past May after three years, especially with study-abroad credit earned in the summer – but she didn’t want to leave! She’s kinda coasting this year and taking fun classes (and completing a second major, just for kicks) and applying to grad schools.
It’s really school by school what they will let you use it for. Some schools also have different courses credited depending on your exact score. I think most don’t let you use it for courses required for your major. D19 ended up not actually using any of her APs (I think she did 5). C26 is considering not bothering with the calc and physics AP exams as they prefer to do the courses at college (I’m not entirely clear but I think some allow just the credit to be used but others require a higher level be done if you use the credit; but there’s also the issue that sometimes MArch programs that require calc or physics for entry don’t recognize credit for AP for them and want to see the class on a college transcript). They might do the macro one to get credit for a GE. I think they need to decide pretty soon to avoid paying the late fee (whatever they call it) for registration.
I’ll just mention another strategy used by STEM students at some universities with a reputation for harshly graded weed out classes…
When S23 visited UW Seattle, he was told that the smart strategy for any first-year courses you couldn’t skip out of (with AP or other credit) was to take the equivalent course at the local community college, so that you wouldn’t risk your GPA on a weed out course!
(This was one of the things that made UW fall off his list.)
Since then, we’ve heard about this strategy being routinely used by students at other universities, too.
Our high school sends a lot of kids to Georgia Tech, where the first couple Calc classes are horrible weed-outs. So the BC Calc teacher has made it her mission in life to make sure all of her students get a 5 on the exam to get out of both classes.
If D26 lands there, she’ll still have to take Linear Algebra, I think? Unsure what else. (Provided she scores well on BC Calc. She did get a 5 on AB Calc, so she’ll get out of the first class, at least.)
ETA – oh, and Tech doesn’t give any credit for AP Physics 1, which irritates my kid to no end because she suffered through that class and scored well on the exam.
Re: credit cards - we did not put D24 on our credit card. Instead, had her get a secured credit card (where you put a certain $$ amt in an account). That’s worked out fine so far.
D26 absolutely is going to use her AP Calc AB score to get out of Calculus. And the colleges on her list all give credit for it AND the major she picked at those schools don’t require 2nd semester Calculus, so she’s pretty thrilled to be totally done with Calculus. Woo!
U of A’s math department has a local reputation of being really hard, to the point where students will often plan on repeating Calculus at Pima Community College over the summer because the instruction is better there for Calculus. Students will also take Calculus during a regular semester in addition to their other classes at U of A just to avoid taking Calculus 1, 2, 3 at U of A.
It looks like her AP scores will get out of 4 categories of GE classes at the colleges she’s applied to. Depending on which college she ends up attending, it’ll result in graduating 1 or 2 semesters early. D26 will be taking on a student loan each year. We’ve told her that if she graduates early, whatever the tuition would have been for those 1-2 semesters, we’ll give that to her to help her pay down the student loan.
I don’t remember what credit card D22 has, but it was a “first” card aimed at students – and there was fine print that said if you had parents who give you allowance, you can count that as a source of income. So that’s what she did.
We trusted her, though, because this is a kid who has hoarded the allowance we’ve given her since she was 5, and we knew she would manage her money wisely. And she has (except for a few aforementioned trips, but YOLO. She doesn’t carry a balance as far as we know).
S25 and D26, well, that will be another conversation.
We think D24 got the “offer” because she has a Chase card. Her first card’s credit limit was $500 (which of course is ridiculous).
She got a credit increase to $1500? Now she’s been pre-approved for the Chase Preferred card.
When she showed me the option of the Preferred vs the Sapphire, I said go for the Sapphire, why not. The Sapphire is actually a decent deal because as a college student she has the time to use the endless amount of stupid credits they offer to justify their annual fee.
S23 has a Chase card (he opened it in freshman year), and he is constantly receiving emails from them now encouraging him to buy a house and telling him that he is pre approved for big loans (up to a million bucks!?!)
S23 wanted a credit card for college and we said no way!! He would have had it maxed in 5 minutes. D26 is a lot better with money but she has a Greenlight card that we can add money to- that is good enough for now.
Toured Ithaca yesterday. D26 had kind of written it off because it’s not really close to any big cities and it’s going to be a challenge to get in. However we loved it! Her father is especially enthusiastic because he really doesn’t like the idea of her going to college in downtown Pittsburgh
So we sat down and looked at S26s EA choices and decided to go regular decision. Just couldn’t justify 400k in tuition where his 529 had 100k in it. Plus he wasn’t dead set on going to any specific school. But at least he’s almost done with all his applications.
For credit cards/personal financing stuff for D26- we are waiting to see where she ends up.
The possible international aspect may change up things.
She does currently have a checking account with a debit card- so far, extremely responsible with her money- so not worried on that aspect.
For AP and skipping classes. Depends on where she ends up. I assume she will use the AP credit to skip Calc 1. Not sure yet about 2 if she goes to Colorado school of Mines.
Limerick doesn’t take any AP classes for credit and RIT has placement tests to see where you should start . So time will tell.
Unless there are some unexpected negative outcomes on all of these application- she has no plans for any other.
Her top safety school is already secured with an acceptance- so she ‘should’ be fine even if all outstanding applications deny her.
6 total.
I have to say- I really wish she had a few more- but that is my anxiety talking.
She had Steven’s on her list (as #7) and finished the application but decided not to apply?! I thought that was strange and she never told me why. Just something along the lines of ‘not feeling it’. But that was the only school that needed the CSS, so I was not totally disappointed
. So time will tell.