Hi! I did really well on my math placement exam. Enough to be on MAT21 but I don’t want to be placed under such rigor my freshman year especially since i will be taking chemistry which i find to be EXTREMELY hard. I’m a good student but i want to take it chill my first year. Is it possible that I can get a lower math class like MAT16 or MAT17? or will I automatically be placed in MAT21??
What Math series is recommended for your major? If Math 21A is not needed for your major, you do not need to take that series.
You don’t really get “placed” into classes. If you score too low, you have to take catch-up classes. But if you scored high, just sign up for the math class you think you need. As Gumbymom said, it depends on your major. If you’re a bio major, for example, you’re not supposed to take MAT21A – it’s the wrong series.
Don’t worry about it. Sign up for the math series recommended by your major.
Don’t worry. You don’t have to take MAT21, it’s just an option if you want to. You’re allowed to take any math class you want since you scored high on the test 
When you go to orientation and sign up for classes, you can sign up for MAT16 or MAT17. You get to choose, that’s one of the perks of college! Most freshmen sign up for MAT16. If you’re pre-med/bio major/sciencey type of major, they usually take MAT17. MAT21 is typically for engineering students or students who want to go higher up in math.
Thank you all so much for your answers, they were very helpful. I’m an animal science major, so I registered for MAT16.