All incoming freshmen have to take placement tests before NSO. Does anyone know how this works for the Math exam if you are going into the Computer Science Major and have AP Calculus test credit? Im under the understanding that I will not have too much trouble on the exam considering my background in math. However, if I dont end of placing high enough to get placed in Calc 1 but I have AP credit to skip it, what happens? Also, being in a field that does not require foreign language credits, do I have to take the foreign language placement test?
When you log onto the OWL site (the site where you take the tests) only the tests you are required to take will appear.
Hopefully you’ll see this, but if not, maybe someone else will find this info useful as well. The math placement exam is required to be taken by all incoming students, regardless of major. If you have AP credit, you will still have to take the placement test, however, you’ll automatically be opted into higher level math. Calc AB covers math 131, and Calc BC covers bother 131 and 132. Math 131 is Calc 1 for engineers and Math 132 is Calc 2 for engineers. I think both of these courses are required for comp sci majors as well. If you’ve gotten AP credit for one of the calcs already, then don’t even worry about the math placement. It’s extremely easy and only covers stuff up to pre-calc in high school. Very few people fail this, but if you somehow manage to fail, you’ll still be able to take higher level math courses, it just isn’t recommended. It’s the English placement that you should be more concerned about, because unlike math, if you do poorly on this, you’ll be required to take the lower level English class (ENGLWRIT 111 if I remember correctly) in conjunction with the regular college writing (which basically means an extra class that doesn’t help with your major at all).
My son is an incoming computer science major, and he just took the online math placement today. Students are allowed 2 hours to complete the exam, and he finished in about 30 minutes with 100% correct. For anyone that already took calc, you should find the math placement test quite easy.
My son (comp sci major) won’t have his AP calculus score until early July but will be attending NSO
In mid June. Thoughts on how they’ll handle the math scheduling?
clgmama, that is a great question. My son took AP Calc BC in his junior year of high school so he will not have any issues with math scheduling, but I totally get your concern as most kids take their APs in their senior year. At the admitted students day (YouMass Days), they told us that the incoming freshman sign up for their classes during New Student Orientation which may occur before AP test results are known, but I would expect that the advisors have a lot of experience with this issue.
Don’t expect that at all. My sons advisor during NSO was terrible. He switched his schedule around when he got home. I suggest putting both classes in his schedule-he can always drop one. And there is nothing that says you can’t say no to an advisor or change it later. Don’t let an advisor push him into classes not necessary for him or his major.
Bucky, thanks for the advice. It is good to know that it is not too difficult to change the schedule after NSO.