For those of you that have taken Calc II...

[HristosKaran]

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This semester I'm taking Physics 2, O. Chem 2, Bio 2 and all the labs. I'm also taking Calc II. Its only been the first week of school but I'm starting to consider dropping the class. Although I don't want to b/c it will put me behind, I looked to see who is going to be teaching it in the summer and its the best professor at my school. Should I drop the class and take it over the summer?? Is it doable?? My calc teacher at the moment is "strict" to say the least. I'm not particularly bad at math, but I want to spend as much time as possible on O. Chem.

Thanks for the input.

 

[nimotsu]

I would focus as much as possible on OCHEM... you're not going to be using calculus that much (unless you take a pchem course.. even then it's not that substantial). If you are an engineering student, then get a solid math background, though.

Remember, calculus is not on the MCAT! OCHEM and the other classes you are taking are on the test.. so focus on what's important.

Calculus II is not a hard class as long as you take a systematic approach to doing the problems (i.e. do your homework and attend the lecture)

 

[HristosKaran]

Cool, my real question is, should I postpone it till the summer, is that possible?

I would focus as much as possible on OCHEM... you're not going to be using calculus that much (unless you take a pchem course.. even then it's not that substantial). If you are an engineering student, then get a solid math background, though.

Remember, calculus is not on the MCAT! OCHEM and the other classes you are taking are on the test.. so focus on what's important.

Calculus II is not a hard class as long as you take a systematic approach to doing the problems (i.e. do your homework and attend the lecture)

 

[nimotsu]

Cool, my real question is, should I postpone it till the summer, is that possible?

If you parents want to pay for summer school and you don't underload this semester (below 12 credit hours at most institutions is part-time student, which causes insurance coverage to change.. it costs more), then go for it. Talk to your advisor about it... they would know the most.

 

[werd]

that sounds like quite a bit, if you really think you'll take the semester on the chin i'd postpone calc til the summer. on the other hand, that load totally pales in comparison to med school... get your feet wet now and the ocean might be less of a shock later 😉

 

[Mizuno]

Umm speaking from my personal experience, Calc II was the hardest math course I ever took. I'd take that sucker by himself during the summer while you do something constructive of course: working, volunteering, etc.

 

[Anne O'nymous]

Cal II in the summer is totally doable. I actually didn't find that it wasn't too bad of a class. Everyone moans and groans about series, but if you keep an open mind about them, they're not bad and quite interesting.

 

[angel5]

Whoa, that sounds like a lot...especially with Ochem in there. I would take calc II during the summer.

Angel

 

[ShyRem]

I remember my first day of Calc II. The professor made a speech about if you're taking more than 16 hours you need to dump some or you won't do well in the class. He went around the room asking how many hours everyone was taking. The answers were usually 13, 14, 16. One girl said 18 and he said "dump some". She didn't and sure enough she failed the class 'cuz she couldn't put the time in and wasn't "getting it". The professor got to me. I said "21 credits". He started laughing. He turned away and started pacing, laughing... every once in a while he'd look back at me and start laughing again.

I got an easy A in that class (actually there was usually an extra credit problem on each exam so I ended up with 103% overall). The professor still says I was abnormal. One of my friend who was taking only 12 credits struggled with the workload and prayed for a C. And, yes, my prof was pretty strict.

So I would say if you're really good at managing your workload and math comes pretty easily to you, go for it. If you are like most people who have to really work at math, drop it.

 

[1SwtWrld]

Umm speaking from my personal experience, Calc II was the hardest math course I ever took. I'd take that sucker by himself during the summer while you do something constructive of course: working, volunteering, etc.

Same thing my roomate said who is a math major.....postpone if you can.

 

[RDickerson]

God's greatest invention were summer classes! I've heard SO much bad things about Calc II, I hear it's a LOT harder than calc I. I also agree with what was said above in that Calc II is not on the MCAT, you need to focus on O Chem as much as possible, and don't slack in your Phys II or Bio II...

So... I'd go summer all the way. Personally, I'm using that strategy for a lot of my core classes, seems to be working alright.

 

[dz88]

Do medical schools care about Calc II, can't I just repeat Calc I and get an easy A? Do the top medical schools want Calc II?

 

[dz88]

Is it okay to repeat all of my previous AP's? Will med schools look down on them?

 

[_ian]

I'd definitely drop it. Calc II isn't necessarily a hard class, but it is the hardest in the calculus sequence, and having those other courses is plenty of work.