Frequently Asked Questions About the Mathematics Advisory Exam Results
Congratulations on your recent admission to the University of California, Riverside!
- What does my MAE placement mean?
Students who receive a summer placement of "Precalculus" normally enroll in a Precalculus course in Fall 2007 as their first college mathematics course. Students who place into Precalculus should complete Precalculus and then proceed to courses in Calculus. They will continue taking additional Calculus courses until they have completed the mathematics requirements for their major. All majors in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences require at least two quarters of Calculus to meet graduation requirements for their majors.
When you participate in the Bear Facts Orientation you will be able to meet with your academic advisor to answer any questions you may have about your placement results and you will be able to enroll in the appropriate Precalculus course for Fall 2007.
Congratulations! Your placement also means that you are eligible to join one of our CNAS Freshman Scholars Learning Communities for Fall 2007. Participation in CNAS Freshman Scholars is the easiest way to create your Fall 2007 course schedule, a great way to get your academic career off to a solid start, and opens doors to undergraduate research and valuable faculty mentoring relationships. You can find more information regarding the CNAS Freshman Scholars Program at [Insert updated link here]
- What if I have Advanced Placement (AP) credit for Math?
Since AP results are usually sent out to students in early July, all students needed to take the MAE while still waiting for their AP scores to arrive. Remember, in order to receive AP credit for Mathematics, students must receive a 3 or higher on the AB or BC Calculus AP exam. Merely taking the AP Calculus course in high school or taking the exam does not grant AP credit, only receiving a score of 3 or higher on the exam grants AP credit.
If your AP score is 3 or higher, your AP score will supersede your MAE results. Your academic advisor will discuss your placement into the appropriate class for Fall 2007 with you at Bear Facts Orientation.
- I took Calculus in high school, how can I be placed in Precalculus in college?
Many students who do well in high school mathematics courses do not remember all the mathematical skills that are crucial to success in college level Calculus courses. Your MAE results show that you would benefit from reviewing these concepts before proceeding to Calculus in order to ensure academic success in your first college mathematics course.
- Can I start taking Precalculus this summer, before I attend UC Riverside in the Fall?
Precalculus will be offered through the UC Riverside’s Summer Bridge Program this summer. Completing Precalculus during the Summer Bridge program is a great option for students who live close to UC Riverside since once you complete Precalculus, you will be able to enroll in Calculus for Fall 2007. Please feel free to discuss this option with your academic advisor during the Bear Facts Orientation. For more information on UC Riverside’s Summer Bridge Program for 2007, please see the following web site: http://www.summerbridge.ucr.edu
Many local community colleges offer equivalent Precalculus courses during the summer, but students are not always successful in finding a class that meets the Precalculus requirement and also fits into their summer schedule.
- What if I don’t feel confident enough to begin with Precalculus in Fall 2007?
If you do not feel you are ready to begin taking Precalculus courses in Fall 2007 but would rather review Algebra topics prior to enrolling in Precalculus, please talk to your academic advisor during the Bear Facts Orientation. Your advisor will help you find the course that is most appropriate for your Fall 2007 enrollment.
- What can I do if I still have questions?
Please e-mail questions to the CNAS Academic Advising team at cnassaao@ucr.edu.