Advising FAQ - Online Testing
Advising Notes for Online Testing
These notes are not intended to replace the one-on-one advising meeting you will have with your advisor at your PittStart session, but rather to attempt to address many frequently asked questions prior to your arrival to help ensure the smooth operation of your advising session. We strongly urge you to make note of any questions which arise from reading through this FAQ and bring them to your PittStart advising session.
Questions:
Q: I tested into MATH 0200, Preparation for Scientific Calculus, but have already successfully completed calculus while in high school. Why do I have to take MATH 0200?
Q: I placed into Math 200. Why can't I take Physics? Is this going to delay my graduation?
Q: If I already have Pitt credit from College in High School and plan to use it, do I still need to take the placement test(s)? OR If I already have Pitt credit from College in High School and plan to use it, do my placement results matter?
Q: I took all honors classes in high school, and had planned to take all honors courses at Pitt, but I didn't place into any. Can I take them anyway?
Q: I took honors-level courses throughout high school; should I take honors-level courses as a freshman engineering major?
Q: If I score a 4 or a 5 on my AP calculus and/or physics tests, does my score on the math placement exam really matter?
Q: What is the significance of the English Placement Test?
Q: Why doesn’t the written portion of the new SAT count? In other words, why do I need to write another essay?
Q:
I plan on applying to medical school with my Engineering degree. Is the Engineering chemistry the right class to take?
Answers
Q: I tested into MATH 0200, Preparation for Scientific Calculus, but have already successfully completed calculus while in high school. Why do I have to take MATH 0200?
A: Algebra, trigonometry and calculus are the building block classes for all engineering course work. Although you may be proficient with your calculus skills, we have found that students who lack a strong foundation in their algebra and trigonometry skills fail to succeed in the intensive math and science engineering curriculum. Calculus may get you into a problem in your physics class, but algebra and trigonometry are what you will need to get out of the problem. Chemistry also relies heavily on a very solid understanding of the workings of algebra and trigonometry. We have discovered that there is a nation-wide problem with students’ understanding of algebra and trigonometry which jeopardizes chances for college-level success in math-intensive courses. Therefore, in order to increase the chances for your successful completion of the Freshman Engineering curriculum, we insist that you take the Preparation for Scientific Calculus course, if you place into it. You may negate the effect of this placement by taking a preparation for calculus or pre-calculus class at a local community college PRIOR to the start of your freshman year and earning a C or better. Then you can start on sequence with your peers in engineering. This is by far the best option financially.
Return to top
Q: I placed into Math 200. Why can't I take Physics? Is this going to delay my graduation?
A: PHYS 0174, or Physics I, is a calculus-based physics class, and therefore MATH 0220 is a pre- or co-requisite for PHYS 0174.
You have a couple of options:
- Take a preparation for calculus or pre-calculus class at a local community college PRIOR to the start of your freshman year and earn a C or better. Then you can start on sequence with your peers in engineering. This is by far the best option financially.
- If you cannot take a class during the summer prior to college, you have a number of opportunities to make up MATH 0230 and PHYS 0175 after your freshman year: you can take those classes at Pitt’s main campus in the summer after your freshman year, you can take equivalent classes elsewhere with prior written approval during the summer after your freshman year, or you can choose to make those classes up in the fall of your sophomore year. Most students choose to make up these classes during the summer between freshman and sophomore year. NOTE: these classes CANNOT be taken at a community college after you have started classes at the School of Engineering.
Return to top
Q: If I already have Pitt credit from College in High School and plan to use it, do I still need to take the placement test(s)? OR If I already have Pitt credit from College in High School and plan to use it, do my placement results matter?
A: The answer to this question is a little complicated. Yes, the results matter. We will still use the results to help with our conversation about preparedness for classes. As mentioned above, mastery of math concepts, more than anything else, affects student success in engineering. If your College in High School grade differs greatly from your test result, that is a starting point for a thorough review of your actual understanding of the material.
Return to top
Q: I took all honors classes in high school, and had planned to take all honors courses at Pitt, but I didn't place into any. Can I take them anyway?
A: Honors classes at Pitt need to be viewed a little differently from honors classes in high school. The Honors versions of calculus, physics and chemistry all assume a solid understanding of the material that they cover. The courses are available if you have an INTENSE interest in a subject area and ALREADY have a VERY GOOD grasp of the material. These classes will cover less material in greater depth than the regular, Integrated Curriculum (IC) versions of the courses. If you are not EXCITED by a subject, it is probably not worth the extra time and energy required from those classes. In addition, you do not receive any extra “points” or “credits” for choosing to take the honors versions. You are taking honors courses at Pitt for the pure love of learning and the thrill of an academic challenge.
One way to think about the engineering curriculum is that it is an honors curriculum all by itself. There are not many other programs that would require you to take physics, calculus, chemistry, engineering computing/programming, and an humanities/social sciences elective all in one term. The standard Freshman Engineering Curriculum at Pitt is highly challenging on its own merit.
Return to top
Q: I took honors-level courses throughout high school; should I take honors-level courses as a freshman engineering major?
A: See the answer above.
Q: If I score a 4 or a 5 on my AP calculus and/or physics tests, does my score on the math placement exam really matter?
A: Yes, your scores still matter because it helps you and your advisor get a picture of where your mastery of the material really stands. If you scored a 4 or 5 on the AP exam, but did not do well on your placement test, there will need to be a very frank discussion with your advisor at your PittStart session about your understanding of the material. You should also take this opportunity to do some serious thinking for yourself to consider how you would rate your mastery level of the material. Did you earn that 4 or 5 by truly understanding the material or did you earn it because you learned how to take the test well, and, in your “gut” you know your understanding does not match how you tested? That is something that only you can know.
Return to top
Q: I plan on applying to medical school with my Engineering degree. Is the Engineering chemistry the right class to take?
A: No. If you are even thinking about applying to medical school (completing the pre-med requirements), you should be registering for CHEM 0110. Please follow this link for more important information from Pitt's Pre-Med Advisor: http://www.careers.pitt.edu/staff/subjects/health.html There are two publications in particular that will be of interest - one called "Pre-Med At Pitt" and the other called "Information for Freshmen". There is also one for current high school students. We will be asking you about your pre-med intentions at PittStart.
Return to top
Q: What is the significance of the English Placement Test?
A: If your verbal SAT score was under 600, then you need to take the English Placement Test. Depending upon your performance on that essay, you will be placed into one of four different composition courses, or you will not need to take any further composition classes for your Engineering degree (note that if you pursue a dual degree with Arts & Sciences, you will be required to take at least ENGCMP 0200 for the A&S degree requirements). You may be placed into ENGCMP 0100 with 0101, ENGCMP 150, ENGCMP 152 (for English as a second language), ENGCMP 0200 with 0201 or exempted from further English compositions classes.
This is not a punishment! You will be expected to write at a college level and will be graded accordingly in your classes. In order to give you the best chance of receiving the best grades in your classes, the University of Pittsburgh requires that you take the above classes, should you test into them.
Please note that although these classes are required for graduation, should you test into them, they do not count toward your “W” or humanities/social sciences elective requirement. See http://www.engr.pitt.edu/students/electives.html for the complete policy.
Return to top
Q: Why doesn’t the written portion of the new SAT count? In other words, why do I need to write another essay?
A: The University of Pittsburgh as an organization has decided not to use this test at this time. We are waiting to see longer-term results prior to integrating this test into our placement/admissions systems.
Return to top
Navigate
Prospective Students
School of Engineering Video
|
