I’m applying for Penn State Altoona as a student, and I’m told there is a good chance of getting in. Unfortunately, I probably have a math deficiency for the courses required; I was told this can be rectified with prerequisite courses that I’d have to take for my intended major. I was wondering, however, if these prerequisite courses would be taken concurrently with my first year before I can “officially” declare a major, or if I have to take them before I start my first year. If anybody knows the answer to this, I’d appreciate it greatly.
No one declares a major until end of sophomore year, so no worries there. Some of the lower level math classes (Math 4 and below) can be taken as remedial math classes and they will count towards your GPA but not as a degree requirement. They are basically a stepping stone to get to the math you need for your major. Once you are accepted, you will take a math placement test called the ALEKS test, which will determine which math you start in.
When you say a math deficiency, do you mean to get into Penn State (meaning you haven’t taken enough math in high school?) or a math deficiency for the major you want? If it is the former, your acceptance will tell you what you need to do to complete that requirement, which for a commonwealth campus is usually just starting with a lower math. If it is the latter, then you will be placed in the math class you test into and you will work towards your major that way.
What major are you applying to?
If you’re concerned about the level of math you have taken in high school, don’t worry about it. If you are accepted and decided to attend, you will take the ALEKS math test to determine which math class to place you in. If your major demands Math 140, but your ALEKS says you should take Math 22, you will be fine. There is this whole chart that takes you through the math classes.
Click this link for information about math classes: http://advising.psu.edu/aleks/understandyourscore.html
However, if you don’t have enough math classes in high school for Penn State’s admissions requirements, that is a different story.
How does it work for the latter? I have a GED some I’m not 100% I even meet admission requirements, but I recall being told there were different requirements for adult students.