<p>There are a couple courses which I'm more or less proficient in, but for which haven't been able to take the official AP tests, for various reasons. Since these courses are close with what I'm thinking of majoring in, I'd like to get a headstart without having to sit through classes that I can already test out of. I really know next to nothing about how U of R deals with this, so forgive my ignorance, but is there any way I could test out aside from AP credits? Thanks.</p>
<p>AFAIK, there are no placement tests given to gain advanced standing. (Exceptions might be in foreign languages and ASL.) You need to show credits (IB, AP or college transcript) to get advanced standing.</p>
<p>Your best course of action would be to contact the department where you want advanced standing and ask the departmental advisor. (Or the dept secretary since she will know the policies for the individual depts.)</p>
<p>FWIW, some departments don’t allow advanced standing even if you have AP or IB credits.</p>
<p>I checked the advisor’s handbook for UR.</p>
<p>You can request a placement exam for MTH 161 and MTH 162 (Calc 1 &2). The physics dept may allow credit by exam under special circumstances for 1 semester of introductory physics.</p>
<p>No other dept allows credit by exam.</p>
<p>It also appears that UR doesn’t accept CLEP credits for undergraduates either.</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification WOWM, I was indeed thinking of placing out of the introductory Calc classes. The other was music theory, but I guess I’ll just have to sit through those.</p>
<p>Here’s the details:</p>
<p>[Credit</a> by Examination : Center for Academic Support](<a href=“Credit and Placement by Examination : Advising Handbook : College Center for Advising Services : University of Rochester”>Credit and Placement by Examination : Advising Handbook : College Center for Advising Services : University of Rochester)</p>
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<p>Now I’m wondering though, if I’m hoping to be a math (or at least math-related) major, would it be better to place out of the MTH 161/162 sequence and get a head start, or just go through a tougher math sequence?</p>
<p>If you want to be math major, you probably need to think about taking the 170Q series—and you really, really, really shouldn’t even think about trying to place out it.</p>
<p>The quest series is a proof-based approach to mathematics and very different than anything you’ve done in high school–or even in most college calc classes.</p>
<p>The 170 series collapses 5 semesters of math requirements into 4 semesters. Math majors need to complete either MTH 160-161-163-164-235 or MTH 170-171-172-173 before moving on to their upper level requirements and electives.</p>
<p>The Q series is also quite popular with CS and physics majors.</p>
<p>Placing out of courses usually has more risk than reward. Beware.</p>
<p>If you are interested in majoring in math (or a related major), you’d want to be in the 170 sequence, as WOWM mentioned. Both my sons went through that sequence and enjoyed it. Apparently, the math department has two profs who teach the 170s and each prof stays with the same group of students through the sequence. DS2 did place out of the 171 and 172 courses because he took calc I & II at another univ. He said that 171 and 172 might have been harder than the last 2 but at the same time more fun.</p>
<p>FWIW, UR has LOTS of muscially talented students. So music theory classes may not be an easier course even though you have had AP.</p>
<p>There is a music theory placement test given during Orientation Week and you will need to take that to determine which level Music Theory class you place into.</p>