<p>are there place exams during the first week of orientation? and, if so, which subjects are they in?</p>
<p>Yeah, there are placement exams during orientation. They're usually in the languages (which can range from a written test to a consultation with a prof), math, sciences, and I think music as well. I think last year they were all on the same day...but I know most of my friends only did tests in languages (as did I), since there's a mailed take-home math placement test and there aren't quite as many people taking science/music exams.</p>
<p>You really should check with each department for updated information. It will probably be mailed to you in orientation packages.</p>
<p>Most credit and placement is handled based on AP or IB exams as follows:</p>
<p>Swarthmore</a> Registrar</p>
<p>Math has a placement test that you may need to take depending on your AP testing. This is best done in the take-home exam mailed to you over the summer. Here's the detail:</p>
<p>Department</a> of Mathematics and Statistics</p>
<p>There are credit and placement options for foreign languages. For example, "x" number of years of study of a language in high school plus maybe an AP score threshold satisfies the language requirement at Swat. Also, testing may be necessary to place you into the appropriate level at Swarthmore. I have no idea the details of how this works or the testing during orientation.</p>
<p>There are placement options in the sciences -- difference sequences of courses depending on your AP scores and/or whether you are a potential major. As far as I know (at least in Physics) these options are hashed out over lunch with the faculty or in advising sessions. There are open house type sessions with all the departments during orientation week when first-years can meet and greet professors and get this kind of stuff sorted out.</p>
<p>I'm sure that music has performance evaluations, but again, the department would be the best source of information. </p>
<p>I can't think of any other departments that would have testing during orientation.</p>
<p>My main advice would be to skim through the course catalog and jot down any departments that are potential majors for you, along with the first year courses necessary for a major. That way, you can go into your first year with a goal of preserving as many major options as you can.</p>
<p>You want to go into registration with six to eight courses in mind for fall semester, so that you can quickly go to your backup options if a course doesn't work (lotteried, wrong time slot, etc.). </p>
<p>I would strongly recommend making your own hard-nosed evaluation of the quality of the writing instruction at your high school, giving serious consideration to the intro college writing course if you have any hesitation about your writing skills. A solid writing foundation will make your four years at Swarthmore more pleasant.</p>
<p>If in doubt or borderline on math placement, drop down a rung.</p>
<p>How about the swimming test? Still on???</p>
<p>The swim test is definitely still on. :]</p>
<p>forgetmenots,</p>
<p>which language exam did you take?</p>
<p>I took the French Lit (My AP score placed me out of the grammar one), and the Russian (that was just talking to one of the Russian profs, it wasn't any sort of test).</p>
<p>so do u think a 4 or a 5 would be grounds to place out of grammar?</p>
<p>capricho,</p>
<p>Not sure about a 4, but I know a 5 got me out of the French language placement test last year (and into the lit placement test, like forgetmenots). Based on the lit placement tests, students are either placed in French 4 or French 12.</p>
<p>I found the link that should answer all of the questions, department by department:</p>
<p>Swarthmore</a> College :: Advising Handbook :: III. Placement, Credit, and Registration</p>
<p>"A Mathematics and Statistics information packet and two mathematics placement examinations are in the June academic mailing. These examinations should be completed by most students and mailed back to the Department of Mathematics and Statistics."</p>
<p>I definitely never received this, though it's now July. Did anyone else?</p>
<p>The French information sounds daunting...so, if I have a relatively solid foundation in French grammar but none to speak of in lit, I can still place out of bare-bones intro classes? I certainly hope so.</p>
<p>thanks id. trees- i never received that packet either...</p>
<p>The link was one page in a much more comprehensive Advising Handbook:</p>
<p>Swarthmore</a> College :: Advising Handbook :: Advising Handbook</p>
<p>It's basically everything your faculty advisor needs to know about academic requirements and registration and advising you.</p>
<p>It's last year's guide. I wouldn't lose any sleep over a "June" academic mailing. I'm pretty sure Swarthmore will be fully prepared with plenty of academic work for you guys when you arrive in September!</p>
<p>Trees, basically what they do with the tests is if you have no AP score (a 4 or 5 places you out of this), you take a grammar test. If you score high enough (or however they do it), they have you take the lit test. I had no foundation in lit, had a high enough AP score, took the lit, and was placed in the pre-lit but post-drill-grammar class, French 4. You'll be absolutely fine.</p>
<p>That's great to hear, Forgetmenots! I'm still waiting on that AP score...eek!</p>
<p>Did you end up taking French much further? In my head I'll take another semester, end up there for a summer or something, and become fluent...and then I can take Spanish and learn that too. But somehow I don't think it quite works that way...</p>
<p>I took five years of French in school, took AP, took one semester of a real French course at Swarthmore (French 4), then took French conversation (French 7 - just a speaking course, no assignments, half credit, pretty neat). I really don't like literature courses, and all French courses past French 4 & 7 are literature, so I don't think I'll be continuing French at Swat, although I hope to do a summer program at some point so I don't lose my French completely. I also just had a bad experience with that prof - my only bad experience so far. PM me if you want to talk about it more, I feel like I'm intruding on the board. :]</p>