The difference between a placement credit and course credit is that placement credit carries 0.0 course credit instead of 1.0 course credit.
Academic departments establish AP course equivalency policies for transcript notation of placement credit in their subject(s). Some departments only allow transcript notation of AP credit(s) retroactively, upon successful completion of one of their advanced courses, while others allow notation on the basis of the scores alone. Still other departments have policies that grant no AP credits whatsoever. Pertinent policies for each department are detailed at the bottom of this page.
Brown receives AP scores for most incoming students from the College Board in July if they designated Brown as a score report recipient earlier in the same year. Score processing and placement of corresponding AP credits on a student's transcript occurs during August for AP credit(s) that are not contingent on taking a higher level course at Brown.
Incoming students are expected to decline AP credit notations they do not want on their transcript prior to the end of registration period (the Registrar’s Last Day to Add a Course deadline) during their first semester of enrollment by going into ASK > Incoming Students > Test Scores. When an election is not made, the election by default is "Notation Accepted." Students who initially decline one or more AP credits by the deadline can later request AP credit notation (unless they registered for and failed the course to which an AP credit corresponds or dropped that course after the Registrar's deadline to add courses). Students are advised that they forfeit transcript placement notation if they take a more introductory level course at Brown. Students also forfeit the notation if they register for and fail the course to which an exam credit corresponds or drop that course after the Registrar's deadline to add courses.
For "Contingent" AP credit notation(s) and all other requests for AP credit notation(s) after the Decline/Accept period, students must request notation after satisfying the requirements for earning credit by going to ASK > Incoming Students > Test Scores. Follow the instructions here. No removal of AP credit from the transcript can be made after the Registrar's Course Add deadline in a student's first semester at Brown.
Students who wish to have AP credit notations reflected on their academic record must seek them and ensure receipt of all required documentation well before they graduate. The official academic record of all graduating students is sealed upon Commencement to reflect what was in effect upon degree completion. No transcript notations of AP credit — or of any other credit — will be made post-Commencement. Students should therefore carefully review their transcripts and file all requests for AP credit with the responsible dean in The College Office well before graduating.
Upon consultation (mandatory) with the responsible dean in The College, some students may be able to apply for advanced semester standing in their sophomore or junior year. Students with a semester of Advanced Standing from AP credits should remember that AP credits will not increase their course credit count; in order to graduate, they must still successfully complete enough courses to earn at least 30 course credits, and they must plan to do so in 7 rather than 8 semesters.