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Parents & Students FAQ's

May my daughter/son take only one or two of the courses in the PLTW program?

The simple answer is, "Yes." The number of courses a student may take depends on the courses offered in the school, the student's interest and success in PLTW courses, and his/her life's goals. If a student were to enroll in just one course, s/he would learn problem-solving skills, as well as math and science skills, which would be helpful in many school courses.

Are PLTW courses challenging?

Students who have done well in their math and science courses and who like to use computers will find these courses intellectually stimulating and manageable. Each course has something special to offer all students because it is, depending on the course, a hands-on daily experience in problem-solving skills, in electronics, robotics, and manufacturing processes…(More)

My daughter is interested but wonders if the courses are "for boys." Are they?

Experience has shown when PLTW courses are introduced that girls, as well as boys, sign up and do well in the courses…(More)

Do colleges accept PLTW courses for admission?

Colleges vary in how they accept or recognize PLTW and AP courses. PLTW has agreements with a number of area colleges who will accept certain PLTW courses for credit.  All courses count as far as the total number of high school units students have completed. Some colleges waive the entry or first-year course(s) in engineering and enroll students in the second year college course. All of this depends on the college. You are invited to consider the Exemplary Student Recognition Program that can result in transcripted college credit from RIT. See the "Certification" page.

Will other colleges/universities accept RIT transcripted credit for PLTW courses?

Each college establishes its own policies. Depending on program requirements, a college may accept some or all of the RIT transcripted college credit. PLTW encourages the following:

  • Consider RIT and PLTW National Affiliates or colleges which offer incentives/ scholarships specifically to students in PLTW courses, such as, Clarkson University;
  • Ask the admissions department of other colleges/universities if they accept RIT transcripted college credit. The key points to remember are:
    • Many PLTW courses parallel the same courses at RIT and some other institutions.
    • The tests that PLTW students take to earn college credit were designed by faculty from National Affiliate Training Centers and PLTW and meet our quality standards.
  • An increasing number of colleges and universities are becoming National Affiliates of PLTW, which indicates their commitment to the quality standards of our program.

Does PLTW offer for home schooled students a package available at either the middle or high school level?

PLTW researched the viability of offering a home schooled version several years ago. The average home schooled family spends less than $500 annually on their child's education, far less than what would be required on a computer alone for our course work. There was simply no market to make it feasible. The rigor of our curriculum, the necessity of instructional training and the nature of project-based instruction and assessment made it an impossibility.