How come Caltech doesn't take any AP credits?

thechc
Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:06:18 +0000

What happens is you get the math and CS placement tests to finish before early July, as well as a general chem “survey” which I believe gives you the option of taking a placement test if you know enough chem. For math and physics there’s also a required general placement test that decides whether you get placed in a “remedial” or “super section” of the class. When you arrive for orientation the week before school starts, you get the physics placement test.

Math 1abc is the first year of math, which covers general calculus with proofs! (1a), linear algebra (1b), and multi var(1c). I think the rule is you must place out of any two of these, or else you must take all 3. For Physics, a good number of people place out of 1a (mechanics), but only a few place out of 1b(EM). For CS, CS1 involves basic programming and abstraction, and CS2 involves data structures and OOP, although there isn’t any real point in testing out of these courses because they aren’t required (I think only for CS majors). CS1 is taken fall term, and CS2 is taken winter term.

It’s never a bad idea to retake a course because you can always learn something new, especially with the rigor of Caltech’s classes.