<p>My college offers Credit by exam. You sit for the departmental exam and get credit for the course without a grade if you pass the exam with a grade B or higher.</p>
<p>I want to take 21 credits but I don't want to pay for the extra three credits (worth 3.5k). So I was thinking about Credit by exam option for Calc III and Engineering Statistics. </p>
<p>Is it a good idea?</p>
<p>Do you already know all of the material, or would you audit the classes and then take the exam to save tuition? In my experience Calc 3 is one of those classes where it is easy to test well in but hard to grasp what's actually going on. Just studying for the exam might come back to haunt you later. Also think hard about whether you have the discipline to study regularly for a class that you are not held responsible for. If you did not pass the exam, would that set you behind in your major?</p>
<p>I tested out of discrete math for the purposes of a CS minor but I did not get credit for the course. Still glad that I did it because I knew all of the material already.</p>
<p>I am not acquainted with most of the material for Calc III. But I am 100% sure that I can get an A on the exam even though minimum of B is required because I can work hard by myself. </p>
<p>The only problem that I am aware of is that grade will not be factored into my GPA.</p>
<p>I wouldn't pay $3,000 just to get an extra A factored into my GPA. </p>
<p>I probably wouldn't have the discipline to study regularly for an extra class on top of a busy schedule, but if you do I would say go for it!</p>
<p>Thanks B@r!um for your advice. I think I will go for it after speaking with my advisor.</p>