calculus 1 with bad teacher over summer?

[shaq93]

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I am going to be an entering freshman at U of AL as a psychology major this fall and Ive taken Bio103 with lab and Mth112 (precal with algebra) at a local community college already and did well. I was going to take cal1 this summer at the same cc but when I went on ratemyprofessor.com, the teacher that teaches cal1 had a horrible rating (here is the link http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=596279). Anyways, to take cal1, mth113 (precal with trig) is a prereq but I think that I can take cal without mth113 if they look at mt ACT score. Would you guys take cal1 this summer with a teacher that has a bad rating as the one in the link? If i dont take cal, I'll probably take mth113 or english because most of the med schools that Im looking at only require a year of math, not specifically calculus, and I dont think you need cal as a psychology major.

 

[aSagacious]

A couple points:

1) Never trust a statistic generated by a sample size of 9

2) Math is very much a self-help discipline. Rarely did I rely on the professor to learn the material. Instead, buy the solution manual and do as many problems as possible. If there is a help room, take advantage of it.

If you are pretty good at math (which your previous A suggests you are) I'd say go ahead and take the class. If there is a particular alternative professor you have in mind that only teaches during the regular school year, then I'd say go with them (there really is no rush for calc, just squeeze it in wherever it is convenient).

 

[curt656]

It all depends on how good you are with algebra. The concepts of Calc 1 are pretty basic, it's the algebra within the calculus that gets tricky.

I just finished Calc 1 with the worst math professor I have ever had. He had a heavy cuban/russian accent and was condescending towards everyone. I taught myself and got an A, so if you have a good head on your shoulders there is no reason you could not do the same.

 

[kcin]

People that whine about bad professors in the basic maths/sciences are lazy bums. The onus is on you to read your books and do problems. Listening to some random guy lecture isn't going to cut it when it comes to learning the material.

I second what Curt said. I spent a lot of time teaching myself algebra (didn't go to high school) so I had a very solid foundation. It was the best thing I could have done for calculus/diff eq/etc, so brush up on that before you start and you'll do fine.

 

[PressPforPi]

A couple points:

1) Never trust a statistic generated by a sample size of 9

2) Math is very much a self-help discipline. Rarely did I rely on the professor to learn the material. Instead, buy the solution manual and do as many problems as possible. If there is a help room, take advantage of it.

If you are pretty good at math (which your previous A suggests you are) I'd say go ahead and take the class. If there is a particular alternative professor you have in mind that only teaches during the regular school year, then I'd say go with them (there really is no rush for calc, just squeeze it in wherever it is convenient).

Agreed.👍

Don't jinx meh though because I'm doing the same thing except in Maymester lol

 

[Juicec]

There is nothing to difficult about calculus, especially 1. As a few of the above mentioned its the advanced algebra within it that becomes difficult from time to time but in most early calculus courses you don't even touch on it. Its just basic derivatives and minor integrals. I'd take it, but just learn by yourself.

 

[shaq93]

Thanks for the responses. I am leaning towards still taking cal1 but I had a question. Is there anyone that has been admitted to medical school that hasnt taken a cal class because a lot of med schools dont require it and I dont need it for a psychology major?

 

[2sk0ol4c0ol]

Having a bad teacher is no reason to drop/postpone a class. Well, unless it's a bias super-conservative nut-case philosophy of religion professor, you have no reason at all to postpone it.

Like many of the post say the math/science subjects really are more self taught than learned.

 

[aSagacious]

Is there anyone that has been admitted to medical school that hasnt taken a cal class because a lot of med schools dont require it and I dont need it for a psychology major?

I can't say that I'm in this situation, but I'd advise against it. Skipping a relatively easy class like calc 1 would be a silly reason to exempt yourself from a good number of schools. Why needlessly restrict yourself?

 

[BadHorse]

Thanks for the responses. I am leaning towards still taking cal1 but I had a question. Is there anyone that has been admitted to medical school that hasnt taken a cal class because a lot of med schools dont require it and I dont need it for a psychology major?

Just take calc. Adcoms look closely at your pre-reqs, and having an "easier" pre-req than 99% of applicants might color their impression of you in a way you don't want.

 

[shaq93]

Cool, thanks guys. Has anyone taken cal without precal with trig?

 

[kcin]

Cool, thanks guys. Has anyone taken cal without precal with trig?

You will want to have a working knowledge of basic trig. Most likely you can learn what you need in a few hours, depending on how tedious your professor wants to make the class.

 

[SN1]

I am going to be an entering freshman at U of AL as a psychology major this fall and Ive taken Bio103 with lab and Mth112 (precal with algebra) at a local community college already and did well. I was going to take cal1 this summer at the same cc but when I went on ratemyprofessor.com, the teacher that teaches cal1 had a horrible rating (here is the link http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=596279). Anyways, to take cal1, mth113 (precal with trig) is a prereq but I think that I can take cal without mth113 if they look at mt ACT score. Would you guys take cal1 this summer with a teacher that has a bad rating as the one in the link? If i dont take cal, I'll probably take mth113 or english because most of the med schools that Im looking at only require a year of math, not specifically calculus, and I dont think you need cal as a psychology major.

Calc I is easy dude. Plus you are going to have to go up to at least calc II to get your degree.
That teacher looks horrible though, try to find another teacher.

It is better to have a good understanding in precalc with trig before you go into calculus. But the trig in calculus I isn't too bad. You mostly need them for derivatives and integrals. Calculus I is mostly algebra.

 

[shaq93]

Calc I is easy dude. Plus you are going to have to go up to at least calc II to get your degree.
That teacher looks horrible though, try to find another teacher.

I think for psychology you only need stats but I dont know. Also, unfortunately that teacher is the only one teaching cal1 this summer and I dont want to take cal this fall at U of AL.

 

[Cerena]

Had a horrible calc teacher :S
Did Calc II, got an A-. You can still do well in calc! Practice, practice, practice! Oh, and patrick JMT helps too:
http://patrickjmt.com/

I swear by his videos. They are great.

 

[SN1]

Had a horrible calc teacher :S
Did Calc II, got an A-. You can still do well in calc! Practice, practice, practice! Oh, and patrick JMT helps too:
http://patrickjmt.com/

I swear by his videos. They are great.

I watch his videos alot too

 

[shaq93]

If I do take cal1 this summer, its going to be monday-thursday 12:30-3:00pm for about a month. Does that sound too crazy?

 

[kcin]

If I do take cal1 this summer, its going to be monday-thursday 12:30-3:00pm for about a month. Does that sound too crazy?

quit being such a drama queen. calculus I is simple

 

[looma]

I am going to be an entering freshman at U of AL as a psychology major this fall and Ive taken Bio103 with lab and Mth112 (precal with algebra) at a local community college already and did well. I was going to take cal1 this summer at the same cc but when I went on ratemyprofessor.com, the teacher that teaches cal1 had a horrible rating (here is the link http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=596279). Anyways, to take cal1, mth113 (precal with trig) is a prereq but I think that I can take cal without mth113 if they look at mt ACT score. Would you guys take cal1 this summer with a teacher that has a bad rating as the one in the link? If i dont take cal, I'll probably take mth113 or english because most of the med schools that Im looking at only require a year of math, not specifically calculus, and I dont think you need cal as a psychology major.

I took calc 1 the summer before my freshman year, and the professor had a bad rating on ratemyprofessor.com. I ended up liking the professor, got an A, and took calc 2 and 3 with him. Just take it and study hard if you're not very good at math. It's actually easy if you did well in precalc.

 

[SN1]

If I do take cal1 this summer, its going to be monday-thursday 12:30-3:00pm for about a month. Does that sound too crazy?

If you don't work like 40 hrs a week while taking other classes, I think you will be ok.

I once took a class with a professor that does NOT have a good rating but still ended up with an A. I believe only 5 % of class got A's. If you truly want it you will get it. Your professor will be able to see that. No matter how bad he/she is.

Unless of course, he/she is a straight up fool

 

[shaq93]

Ok, Im gonna do it, thanks yall

quit being such a drama queen. calculus I is simple

Ive never taken calculus before so Im just trying to make the right decision; Im not being a drama queen. Im pretty sure you have been in the same situation

 

[shaq93]

I just found out that in order for me to take physics 1 at the University that I want to attend, I need to have mth113 (precal w/ trig) and I heard that people who dont have a little background in trig while taking physics tend to struggle. So now Im not going to take cal 1 this summer after all!!!! Thank You Based God lol