Using AP Credits to Meet Requirements
1. You may earn credit toward your college and/or major requirements by the scores you achieved on the Advanced Placement (AP) tests. The equivalency of AP scores to Cornell credits is summarized in the Cornell University Courses of Study. Having AP credits gives students flexibility in developing their Cornell programs. By meeting some basic course requirements with AP credits, students can take more electives, have more time to get involved in research, graduate early, or free up a semester to study abroad. Check college limits on the use of AP credits.
2. To receive AP credit, you must arrange to have your scores sent to your college registrar. After the registrar receives your AP scores, Just the Facts will include them. The registrar will make a preliminary decision about how your AP credits apply to your intended degree program. You may need to meet with your college registrar at some future time to adjust how the AP credits are applied to your degree requirements. You can change how you use your AP credits as your degree plans change.
3. Students vary in how they choose to apply their AP credits towards their degree requirements. You are in charge of how you use your AP credits, and you will need to meet with your faculty adviser and college registrar to discuss how you wish to apply your AP credits toward your degree requirements. Career interests, areas of interest outside your major, study abroad plans, and graduation timelines will determine the best way for you to use your AP credits. You can take some time in getting it figured out.
Once you have chosen your major and understand the course requirements, you will be in a better position to make final decisions. In general, you can use AP credits in subjects that are elective for your major (such as history or language) and for which you do not plan to pursue advanced study. For courses that are important in your major or career goal (such as chemistry, biology, and math), you may choose NOT to use your AP credits. Some students forfeit their AP credits and take the introductory course at Cornell because they want to have a thorough review at the introductory college level in preparation for advanced courses. Students who skip the introductory math and science because they have AP credits rarely take sophomore level math and science courses as freshmen. Instead they take introductory courses in other subjects that will apply to their degree requirements.
4. Chemistry Students with AP credit in chemistry may apply it toward the introductory chemistry requirement. However, some students take Introductory Chemistry to become familiar with the material covered and pace of chemistry at Cornell.
5. Biology For students with AP biology credit, AP test scores are interpreted according to the guidelines for biology majors. Students may apply AP biology credit to the requirement for introductory biology.
Exam Score 4 or 5
The Advisory Committee on Introductory Biology makes the following recommendations regarding AP biology credit:
- Students with a 4 should take either of the 2 semester sequences of Introductory Biology (BIO G 101-104 or BIO G 105-106).
- Students with a 5 should take the first semester of either Introductory Biology course (BIO 101-103 or BIO 105) and continue with the second semester if they earn a C+ or lower in the first semester. A student who earns a B- or higher and feels confident in second semester’s subject matter can decide to discontinue with the sequence.
Exam Scores of 5: Students may elect to accept up to 8 advanced placement credits in biology and be permitted exemption from all introductory biology courses. The Bio department recommends considering taking half a year of introductory biology at Cornell--especially the lab courses.
Exam Scores of 4: Students will receive 4 advanced-placement credits in biology and must fulfill the introductory biology requirement by taking additional intro bio (e.g. Bio G 101-104, Bio G 105-106). Advice from the Bio department to AP4 students for choosing the appropriate course: Students should choose course work from Bio G 101-104 or Bio G 105-106 to obtain additional instruction in areas in which high-school instruction was lacking or less rigorous. The lecture and laboratory courses are coordinated and will cover the following subjects:
| Fall (Bio G 101 and 103)
* Biochemistry |
Fall (Bio G 105 includes lab)
* Biochemistry
|
| Spring (Bio G 102 and 104)
* Genetics |
Spring (Bio G 106 includes lab)
* Genetics |
Examples:
• If you are confident that your background in molecular biology and physiology (or other Fall topics) is very strong, but believe you need additional review of genetics, development, ecology, or evolution, you would choose to take the Spring semester only.
• If you believe your laboratory skills need reinforcing, you would choose to take the laboratory course each semester.
• If you are unsure about your preparation in biology, the Bio department recommends considering taking the whole year of introductory biology at Cornell--or at least the two lab courses. This will give you an opportunity to compare your own background with the level expected here at Cornell and will provide you important instruction in scientific methodology.By taking the Fall semester you will be able to decide, based on how much review you needed, whether to take the Spring semester or not.(Taking both the Fall and Spring semester courses would result in forfeiting your 4 advanced-placement credits.)
Exam Scores lower than 4: Students receive no advanced placement credits.
The Bio department will answer questions at the
Freshmen who are using AP biology credit toward the requirements should NOT take advanced biology courses in the freshman year. These students may take other courses in math, psychology or courses to fulfill college distribution requirements.