Why do Maryland public universities now give credit for a 3 on an AP exam?

[Anonymous]

I'm aware that the Maryland Higher Education Commission now mandates that Maryland universities give credit for 3's (not just 4's and 5's) on AP exams. I'm worried about the lowering of academic standards. Did the MHEC give a strong reason for this change? How do university professors feel about it? Please direct me to another thread if this has been discussed elsewhere. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Pretty sure it's the same for all public universities UNC, U MI, Cali schools, UVA, etc). It's the privates that want you to have a 4 or 5 and limit the amount of credits you can come in with. They want every penny from you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure it's the same for all public universities UNC, U MI, Cali schools, UVA, etc). It's the privates that want you to have a 4 or 5 and limit the amount of credits you can come in with. They want every penny from you

No, it's partly the money, and that's done via limiting the number of credits. The requiring 4 or 5 is to ensure course rigor and that the student actually learned enough material to take the next course in the sequence. Yes, Chem 102 is more challenging at a rigorous private school than at my State U that admits anyone who gets a 3.5UW gpa and gives credit for 3, 4, or 5. There are also some schools that only give credit for 5s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure it's the same for all public universities UNC, U MI, Cali schools, UVA, etc). It's the privates that want you to have a 4 or 5 and limit the amount of credits you can come in with. They want every penny from you

Nope. As a general rule, and only with very rare exceptions, UVA wants a 4. A 3 doesn’t cut it.

Once again falsely equating UVA with UMD.

http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/content.php?catoid=52&navoid=4102#Advanced_Placement_Program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure it's the same for all public universities UNC, U MI, Cali schools, UVA, etc). It's the privates that want you to have a 4 or 5 and limit the amount of credits you can come in with. They want every penny from you

Nope. As a general rule, and only with very rare exceptions, UVA wants a 4. A 3 doesn’t cut it.

Once again falsely equating UVA with UMD.

http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/content.php?catoid=52&navoid=4102#Advanced_Placement_Program

Was ogonna say this, it's typically a 4 or better at UVA. My DS got a 3 on the AP Spanish exam and didn't get credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure it's the same for all public universities UNC, U MI, Cali schools, UVA, etc). It's the privates that want you to have a 4 or 5 and limit the amount of credits you can come in with. They want every penny from you

Nope. As a general rule, and only with very rare exceptions, UVA wants a 4. A 3 doesn’t cut it.

Once again falsely equating UVA with UMD.

http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/content.php?catoid=52&navoid=4102#Advanced_Placement_Program

Was ogonna say this, it's typically a 4 or better at UVA. My DS got a 3 on the AP Spanish exam and didn't get credit.

At W&M, no credit is given for a score less than 5 for a few subjects (e.g., Biology, U.S. History).

https://www.wm.edu/offices/registrar/documents/catalog/prematriculationexamtable.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure it's the same for all public universities UNC, U MI, Cali schools, UVA, etc). It's the privates that want you to have a 4 or 5 and limit the amount of credits you can come in with. They want every penny from you

No, it's partly the money, and that's done via limiting the number of credits. The requiring 4 or 5 is to ensure course rigor and that the student actually learned enough material to take the next course in the sequence. Yes, Chem 102 is more challenging at a rigorous private school than at my State U that admits anyone who gets a 3.5UW gpa and gives credit for 3, 4, or 5. There are also some schools that only give credit for 5s.

A lot of colleges and universities, public and private, accomplish the same thing by giving credit for the AP in a class that doesn’t satisfy the prerequisite (and, for math, requiring a separate math placement exam). Basically this allows you to use AP/IB courses to satisfy distribution credits but not foundational courses in your major.

[Anonymous]

At UMD, I was told a 3 would satisfy a gen ed requirement, so your kid could graduate earlier or take additional courses in a major or minor.

The UVA booster is funny. “Equating UVA and UMD.” You made me laugh, UVA booster!

To get the latest info, google for the PDF on the UMD website that lists out what AP scores can get you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At UMD, I was told a 3 would satisfy a gen ed requirement, so your kid could graduate earlier or take additional courses in a major or minor.

The UVA booster is funny. “Equating UVA and UMD.” You made me laugh, UVA booster!

To get the latest info, google for the PDF on the UMD website that lists out what AP scores can get you.

Facts are funny I guess?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At UMD, I was told a 3 would satisfy a gen ed requirement, so your kid could graduate earlier or take additional courses in a major or minor.

The UVA booster is funny. “Equating UVA and UMD.” You made me laugh, UVA booster!

To get the latest info, google for the PDF on the UMD website that lists out what AP scores can get you.

Facts are funny I guess?

Facts:

https://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc/APGenEd.pdf

No 3s.

-dp

But, I guess 3 is a new thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm aware that the Maryland Higher Education Commission now mandates that Maryland universities give credit for 3's (not just 4's and 5's) on AP exams. I'm worried about the lowering of academic standards. Did the MHEC give a strong reason for this change? How do university professors feel about it? Please direct me to another thread if this has been discussed elsewhere. Thank you.

Did this pass? Not finding anything that says it passed.

[Anonymous]

This is a new thing. It’s being discussed in the UMD parents FB group. It only applies to new applicants. My kids didn’t get credit for 3s.

[Anonymous]

It's because it is essentially considered a "passing grade".

[Anonymous]

Keep lowering the bar. The MD way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm aware that the Maryland Higher Education Commission now mandates that Maryland universities give credit for 3's (not just 4's and 5's) on AP exams. I'm worried about the lowering of academic standards. Did the MHEC give a strong reason for this change? How do university professors feel about it? Please direct me to another thread if this has been discussed elsewhere. Thank you.

Did this pass? Not finding anything that says it passed.

Yes, it passed. Education Article, § 15-134, Annotated Code of Maryland

My department has advised our Provost about requiring a minimum score of 4 for certain gateway classes, which is permitted under the following:

(3) Policies and procedures required under this subsection may require a higher score on a prior learning examination than listed in paragraph (2)(i) of this subsection if the chief academic officer of the public institution of higher education provides evidence to the Commission that the higher score is necessary for a student to be successful in a particular course.