Math Placement at Wellesley

Colleges and Universities A-Z Wellesley College
1

<p>What happens when you don't want to further your math career? </p>

<p>I am currently answering the questionnaire that we are required to fill out, and I suddenly realize that I don't want to continue math. I've taken AP Calculus BC as a junior and I scored a 4 both on BC and the AB subscore, which means I am able to receive credit. Secondly, as a senior I've taken Multivariable Calculus and Matrix Algebra both of which I have college credit for. And the problem for me is, I don't want to continue math. I have no passion for it. If I take Math, it would be to retake Calculus to refresh my memory or even Multivariable or Matrix.</p>

<p>If I do well on this test, would it make it impossible for me to take a lower level course than what Wellesley places me in? Would I still be given the opt to take Calculus?</p>

2

<p>The math exam doesn't force you into any given class. For the most part, I think its primary purpose is to help incoming students understand the department's stratification of courses.</p>

<p>As far as I know, you can place into one course and choose to take something less advanced. Your AP classes won't count toward your distribution requirements, and you do need to take courses in math modeling and problem solving, but this doesn't necessarily involve courses from the math department. Certain courses in the natural sciences will also count toward that requirement.</p>

<p>eta: If you recieved any high school credit along with the college credit in your senior-year math class, you cannot transfer it to Wellesley. If it was strictly college credit, you should be okay. (You've probably already asked about it, but better safe than sorry.)</p>

3

<p>The main point of the math placement test is to sort out people levels of calc and recommend a course. Even if you put "I dunno" for all of the answers, send it in, get placed in 115, the dept will take one look at your AP credit and suggest 205 (mutlivariable)</p>

<p>You will forfeit your AP credit if you choose to take Math 115 or Math 116, since your AP credit physcially transfers to those classes. The form they give you even says it. The credits you receive, however, are in effect 2 blank units for use to either graduate earlier or make up for taking/passing four credits a semester. No distribution is given, and if you choose to major in math (which you aren't doing), you must take eight units, including the usual 305,302,206 and 205. But you don't really care about that.</p>

<p>While I don't know what kind of credit for Multivariable, I have my doubts about the matrix algebra. Wellesley only takes the theoretical Linear Algrebra classes for major credit from MIT so they were that picky. But you don't really care and it doesn't matter unless you want to be a major and you want to see where to start.</p>

<p>You do have to fulfill the "mathematical modeling" requirement. You need three math or science credits. 1 math, 1 lab science, and 1 that is either a math or non lab/(or another lab) science. The people unlike you who won't touch calc with a ten foot pole and have less passion for math than you do get out of taking something that says "math" via Astronomy, Physics or Computer Science. There are probably some more departments by that nature.</p>

<p>You may be able to retake Multivariable if you like. I know you know longer like math, but there ARE many exciting classes that you won't have taken before, and are at your level. There's differential equations, combinatorics, number theory and the 251 topics course with is Mathematical Biology. (old topics include computer systems, game theory, cryptology)</p>

<p>Here's the current catalog (which has been around for a while, but not linked to on the students' page when it was registration time.):
<a href="http://www.wellesley.edu/DeanCollege/CCI/proposed0607.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.wellesley.edu/DeanCollege/CCI/proposed0607.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>