How to Apply to College Using Advanced Placement Credit

Advanced Placement classes are a great way to earn college credit before you’ve even set foot on campus. With good scores on AP exams, you can place out of required college courses or start taking more advanced courses towards your major. With that in mind, it’s important to know which schools are more likely to give you AP credit. You don’t have to know where you want to go to school or what you’ll major in, especially if you’re a freshman or sophomore. But knowing which schools will accept your Advanced Placement scores can help you in the application process and save you money.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Idea of what you’d like to major in
• Idea of where you’d like to attend college
• Help from guidance counselor
• Help from parents or guardians

1. Consider the subjects you do well in. These may not be subjects you particularly like, but you have confidence in your grades. Make a list of these. Many colleges and universities will require you to take core classes in Math, Science and English. However, you may be able to place out of them.
2. Consider the subjects you enjoy. You’re most likely to major in a subject you like and do well in. Add these subjects to your list.
3. Review the list of Advanced Placement subjects. Identify the subjects on your list and consider taking these AP classes.
4. Find out what AP classes your school offers and the prerequisites for taking them. The earlier you do this, the better. You will need to take certain classes and maintain a certain GPA before you can be enrolled in your school’s AP classes. If your school does not offer AP classes you want to take, talk to your guidance counselor about taking them at other schools.
5. Make a list of schools you’ll likely apply to. Ask your guidance counselor to call the admissions offices of these schools and find out how many AP credits they’ll take. You may score well on five exams. One of the schools you apply to might take all five credits, while another may only take two. Also find out what score you need to receive on each exam to receive credit.
6. Determine your financial needs with your parents or guardians. There are fees for taking AP exams. However, there are fee reductions for students with financial needs.
7. Do well in your AP classes and on the exams by taking good notes, studying hard and using exam preparations.
8. Decide with your parents or guardians which colleges and universities you’ll apply to, keeping in mind the schools that will take your AP credits. You won’t make your decision based on this alone, but it’s an important factor.

Tips & Warnings

• Depending on how well you do on AP exams, it’s possible to enter college as a second-semester freshman or a sophomore. Not only can you graduate faster, but you’ll also save money on tuition. This is why it’s important to know which schools will accept all of your credits.
• Start thinking about which classes you’ll take in high school early on. It’s okay to plan while you’re a freshman. Get an idea of what prerequisites you’ll need to take for AP classes and work hard.