Placing out of classes at Caltech

gsckmom
Tue, 13 Jan 2015 00:57:44 +0000

I am sure a large number, if not most, of the students at Caltech have some previous undergraduate coursework completed by the time they matriculate at Caltech, whether through AP courses, dual enrollment, MOOC or even self-study. What is the process for testing out of particular classes that students feel they have really mastered already? What is the culture and attitude about pursuing it? How commonly do students pursue this?

Please, please, please do not crucify me. I understand that Caltech is chock full of really bright kids who were all at the top of the heap at home and that most are now simply surrounded by peers, but it still must, at least occasionally, be true that someone really has mastered X or Y and would be best served by moving ahead.