“Students admitted to the following majors are required to complete the Chemistry [and Math] Placement Exam, regardless of previous coursework or standardized exam scores.”* This is followed by a long list of majors, including mine.
When I click for more information on the chemistry exam, I see:
“The test is designed to identify students who would be at-risk in the introductory course at USC, CHEM-105a: General Chemistry.”
And for the math:
“The Mathematics Placement Exam is intended for students who have not taken any college mathematics and want to take mathematics at USC.”
Right, so . . . do I take these or not?
For context, I’ve already had general chemistry and math up to DiffEq. I’ll be calling USC on Monday to clarify, but if anyone here can offer some insight in the meantime (@zettasyntax?), I’d appreciate it.
@Aurora7 yeah that’s true, that happens to some people that have completed the writing, math, and a bunch of GEs, but no major related courses… also can happen to students who don’t necessarily make the cut for their majors, but the counselors like them enough to keep them on as undeclared.
No way I’m taking a placement test if I get in… shouldn’t have to anyways, but I suck at placement tests. I can catch up and refresh my memory quickly, but if I have to test on something that I haven’t reviewed in awhile, I’ll bomb it… took honors calc my junior year of high school and got C’s (I hated HS, that’s my only good excuse) so when I went to take my math placement for my CC last spring, I only placed in like intermediate algebra… reviewed for a week and when I retook them I placed in calc and did fine, but I definitely don’t want to go through that process again, especially at USC lol
@Amaryllis85 I actually contact my admission counselor about it and for me she said: “Additionally, I believe you are exempt from the math placement test since you completed the Calculus requirement for business majors.” so as long as you completed the prereq for your major you are fine.
@Amaryllis85 I had this same concern too before, I highly doubt you need too. Besides you’re probably good enough in Math and Chem to pass at the highest level. I hear it’s really easy. Also there is no way they will demote you to a lower level as a result
@Huytran91 well I think as soon as they receive and review your transcript, they will make a decision. They received my transcript 2 days ago, and today I was notified by myusps that I have a package from USC coming! Best of luck!
@Amaryllis85 I’m on the same boat as you. If I have to take a placement test before I register for classes, I want to be prepared for it. I will be following up with the orientation department on Monday to verify the validity of this. I don’t know why USC explicitly states that we have to take it if we’ve already completed the highest level math course as transfers
@Aurora7 Yes, it does come with a tracking number. It actually arrived at my local usps today at 2PM…so unfortunately probably won’t get it until Monday. If you’re eligible for it, it will notify you if you have any incoming packages.
@Aurora7 myUSPS is able to tell you if there are any packages on the way addressed to your address since the account is linked to your name and address, you don’t necessarily need a tracking number on your end to know if its coming or not. You can just see if there are incoming packages to your home
@alienman1234@stahboy@InTheNightSky95@Aurora7@AGoodFloridian@malpais So far are the only Viterbi applicants I know of on this thread. If there are anyone else, let us know, last year’s threads barely had any Viterbi students active. Also it’s alot better to suffer together rather that suffering alone :’)