<p>[not sure of best forum for this, but as it could affect college selection posting here]</p>
<p>Do most colleges offer credit, or at least placement, by special examination? Do most charge a hefty fee?</p>
<p>Context: DD will finish AP Calculus BC and AP Stats at the end of this, her junior, year. She plans to study math in college. Most college routinely give credit for calculus through the AP test and/or the college's own placement test. But it seems they aren't well-equipped to deal with students who go beyond Calculus BC while in high school. (Harvey Mudd is one exception.)</p>
<p>So, how hard will it be to get higher level placement during orientation week? (Placement more important than credit, but credit would be nice too.) I don't want to see D's college career start with a placement battle. This makes me think that we should look for a college that "runs like butter."</p>
<p>I think placement could be relatively straightforward if she takes courses at a local college, but that would mean giving up up to 4 high school classes and/or after-school activities to fit the college class in her schedule. I'm looking at the CTY on-line option. I know it wouldn't result in transfer credit, but I hope there would be a way to avoid repeating the material as a college freshman.</p>
<p>I don't think any college charges for a placement exam. However, a year of post-Calc through CTY or the HS is not going to be accepted as the equivalent of a college course, and shouldn't be, for many reasons.</p>
<p>Look through the math department's offerings for a Multivariable course that is geared toward freshmen with high grades in AP Calc. Cornell offers this, and labels it "honors". Son had a year of multivariable in high school, but this course was far more challenging and really fit his needs. The bonus was that it was a small group of very dedicated students.</p>
<p>Placement beyond Calculus is handled quite informally at my college (Bryn Mawr). Students with an advanced math background usually talk to a member of the math department who then recommends a course.</p>
<p>My advising sessions was straight forward. Me: "I have taken linear algebra and elementary number theory in high school. Can I take abstract algebra?" Math advisor: "Sure. I don't see a reason why not." No questions asked as to where I took the courses, what material was covered exactly or if I would get transfer credit. I don't know how other colleges handle placement though.</p>
<p>S1 is at Mudd. Of the high level classes he had in HS, he received credit for BC (5s only), AP stat (5s only), multivariable, and Diffy Q. Credit for the latter two were based on review of the syllabi, which were sent in prior to orientation. Didn't get credit for his linear class or abstract Alg. (He took the advanced classes for dual credit and Mudd was one of the few schools that didn't automatically exclude them on those grounds.)</p>
<p>Note, however, that the credit in each case, including BC Calc, was for the equivalent one-quarter math class. Thus, he still had a year of the core requirements to complete.</p>