<p>Heres the situation:</p>
<p>A math prof Im good friends with has offered to do a reading course in abstract algebra with me next year. Im pretty stoked about this, especially because he says well go a lot deeper than the normal class. The question is, how does Caltech view reading courses? Are they going to look at my transcript suspiciously, wondering how much work actually got done?</p>
<p>Also, because of money issues the course is going to be registered as 2 units(as opposed to 4), is this a problem?</p>
<p>In terms of admissions, just have the prof (if he's not doing one of your letters of recommendation, but it sounds like he should be anyway) write a note substantiating what you did. Caltech will read your application carefully enough that that will be more important than whatever it says on your transcript about the reading course.</p>
<p>In terms of the possibility of Caltech credit for your work, Caltech doesn't take transfer credit under any circumstances--except in the case of students actually transferring from another university. You can get credit or placement based on your performance on internal Caltech placement tests. (This also means that the number of credits the course is for probably isn't likely to affect anything.)</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice Joe. He's doing a recomendation letter for me, so I'll ask him to mention the class. </p>
<p>As far as credit for classes goes, do you think someone taking classes at a state university(cal poly) would be able to pass the corresponding tests at Caltech? I take all my classes very seriously, but is the disparity in rigour (Caltech classes vs. Cal Poly classes) going to be too great?</p>
<p>I'd say there's a decent chance that you would be able to pass out of something if they've been rigorous, proof-based classes.</p>
<p>Personally I wasn't able to pass out of anything--I'd taken calculus in high school like the rest of the Caltech world, but the Ma1a placement exam (and the class itself!) kicked my butt pretty good.</p>
<p>Joe or anyone else - anybody have any experience with taking classes at UC Berkeley (Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra & Differential Equations) as a high school student and then trying to pass Caltech's advanced placement test? I'm just curious, my son's in his room now reviewing before he finishes off the advanced placement tests for Caltech. As his mom, I'm just curious as to how he might do. His grades at UC Berkeley have been all A+. He also took a course in writing proofs called "Transition to Upper Division Mathematics" at UCB - another A+ and the instructor told him that he'd "destroyed the final and shouldn't bother with intro math classes or he'd be bored and destroy the curve for everyone else." I know nothing about mathematics at this level. I'm just more curious than anything..anyone have experience with UCB & Caltech's level of math?</p>
<p>I think your son should attempt the tests and see what happens. I imagine that he'll be able to place out of Math 1abc after reviewing the relevant material, especially if he has experience with writing proofs from his transition course.</p>
<p>He should also take the 2a (diff. eq.) exam.</p>
<p>The "worst" thing that could happen is that he won't place out, but there's certainly no harm in trying.</p>
<p>Ben would definitely know better than me about something math-related, but I'll just agree that someone getting A+'s and "destroying" finals in proof-based classes at Berkeley should be able to test out of the first year of Caltech math without much trouble.</p>
<p>Thanks! I think I'm just being a nervous mom! Every time I read about how rigorous Caltech is I start to wonder how he'll do - and I know - every one says, if you get in, you can do the work! Thanks again.</p>
<p>How are the tests for algebra and analysis put together? Do they tend towards knowing the major theorems and how to prove them, or you've-never-seen-it-before-now-what-are-you-going-to-do-about-it homework type problems?</p>
<p>They are just the finals for the courses, and the finals resemble the problem sets for the courses, which can be found on the Math Department website.</p>