Columbia College AP Credit Policy?

Hey everyone! I'm a high school junior interested in Columbia College, and I've already taken a good amount of AP classes. Does anyone know what their AP credit policy is like? Like, which AP exams do they accept and what score do I need to get to actually earn college credits there?

Hey there! Columbia College (part of Columbia University) does indeed accept AP exam scores for course credit, although the specific policy varies based on the subject. To give you an idea of the requirements, here's a breakdown of their general guidelines:

1. In order to be eligible for college credits, you'll typically need to score a 4 or 5 on your AP exams. There may be exceptions to this general rule, though, so definitely check the policies of the departments you're interested in, and feel free to reach out to the department head or the admissions office directly for clarification.

2. Columbia College accepts AP credits from a wide range of subjects, including history, math, sciences, languages, and social sciences. However, note that some subjects may give elective credits, rather than counting towards specific major or core requirements. Additionally, sometimes you may not receive direct credit for your AP coursework, but will instead be placed into a higher level of the subject.

3. Columbia imposes a 16-credit limit on the AP credit count towards your degree requirements. This limit means you can only use a maximum of 16 AP credits to help meet your distribution or major requirements in college. The policy exists because Columbia wants students to do the majority of their college coursework while they are actually in college - while AP courses have a college-level curriculum, the experience of studying in a college classroom under a college professor is still unique.

4. The precise credit allocation and equivalency for each AP exam are provided in detail on Columbia College's website. Make sure to review the specific equivalency table to understand what courses or requirements your AP scores may fulfill. It's also a good idea to check regularly for any updates, because policies can change from time to time.

In summary, yes, Columbia College will accept AP scores for credit, provided you've earned high scores of 4 or 5 in most cases. Be aware of the 16-credit limit when planning your Columbia course schedule, and make sure to review the most up-to-date policy on their website to understand which AP exams will help you meet your degree requirements. Good luck!