should i take pre-calculus first?

[james07]

One of the prereq courses that's required is calculus, being that I never took this class in highschool would it be smart to take a pre-calculus course when I get to college?

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[ValeRx]

You won't be able to take calculus unless you've taken pre-calc. Unless of course you test into calculus.

 

[eightonesix]

Ditto. And even though majority of calculus is really algebra... it'll be better to take pre-calculus first (even though i feel like its harder than calculus)

 

[tootoo30]

Precalculus is usually a two class series: precalculus algebra and precalculus trigonometry. When it's broke up in two, it's not that bad, but when they combine the two into one class, it can be very tough. I would suggest taking precalculus first because alot of what you encounter in calculus builds off precalculus.

HTH

 

[pcproduct]

I didn't take Calculus in high school either. But if you're a fast learner you'll be fine. I felt like I didn't know a lot of the Algebra and Trigonometry basics when I started Calculus my freshman year, but a couple more hours of studying here and there remedied that.

 

[Okie7123]

I am of the opinion that your courses that are taken before pre-req's (in this case pre-calc) aren't a huge factor. I took the combined course. It does help somewhat in the calculus series but I had to retake Calc I. I Found that math experience in general helps (as calculus is very easy, it's the algebra to simplify equations that is hard, therefore, chemistry math and physics math helped me in retaking calc I.) In retaking Calculus I, I got B+ due to a flub by a project partner. In the end, the replacement didn't affect me becuase I am 2 for 4 on acceptances. You're worrying about the small things. Worry about the actual pre-req's....I screwed up my pre-calc based on laziness...C grade 😛

 

[jfm5958]

If you are good at math in general, calculus shouldn't be too difficult to jump into. However, If you struggle at math like me, pre-calc might be the way to go. It helped me a lot in calc, and I ended up pulling an A- in Calc I... ugh I still need to take Calc II.

 

[PharmDKid89]

It's best if you do pre-calc first so that you'll be comfortable when you take Calc. It will also help you alot also and you won't struggle that much. That's what I did and I got an A- in Calc also..

 

[james07]

thanks guys. I'm just glad I only got to take analytic geometry & calculus 1. I'm not the the biggest math fan but I can handle it. but I'm definently going to take pre-cal

 

[TTUMike]

thanks guys. I'm just glad I only got to take analytic geometry & calculus 1. I'm not the the biggest math fan but I can handle it. but I'm definently going to take pre-cal

I wouldn't waste your time in precal. I took calculus without it and did fine. The only reason they let me take it was because I am a postbac. I would dive right into calculus if you can considering they will teach you everything you need to know.

 

[PharmPrincess]

Unless it is required (or tested into) to take pre-calc before calculus I, I wouldn't do it. Calculus I is different than pre-Calc and the only time I ever saw pre-calc stuff was actually in Calc II. That being said, unless you don't think math is your strongest, then take pre-calculus before calculus I.

 

[Electrode]

Wouldn't you need pre-calc for PCAT purposes? I am in a calc class this semester, without doing pre-calc.

Does Calc. I cover the topics you will need to tackle in the "quantitative analysis" part of the PCAT?

 

[GlamDoc]

Calculus I = derivatives & antiderivatives.

Sounds simple from the outset, but boy do they go in depth. Personally, I thought Calculus I was not as difficult as Pre-Calculus. But it might be wise to take the latter anyway. Rather safe than sorry... and it does have a "pre" before it. 😀

*shudders* Pre-Cal.

 

[nateandjenny]

I wouldn't bother. You are just going to slow yourself down. Calc is not that hard. You will do fine if you take it with out pre-calc!!

 

[rphfan2009]

I had this similiar question about pre-req math courses. I have not taken a math class in the last 10 years...I never took calculus in high school or college. i know that i am going to definitely take pre-calculus--should i take an intermediate algebra class as a refresher before this though?? I was always a "B" student algebra wise in high school and college. What do you guys think??

 

[fhx06]

I had this similiar question about pre-req math courses. I have not taken a math class in the last 10 years...I never took calculus in high school or college. i know that i am going to definitely take pre-calculus--should i take an intermediate algebra class as a refresher before this though?? I was always a "B" student algebra wise in high school and college. What do you guys think??

I would say any response would be biased based off of our own experiences and aptitude with quantitative material, but what you can do is always take a look at the text books available for each of the classes and browse through the first few chapters to see if you can easily understand the material. Outside of using the trig as a basis for understanding the derivatives of various trig formulas and revolution around a plane, I don't think I used much Pre-Calc in Calc I.

 

[Lotus89]

Ok here is the deal, if you are good with math, or feel comfortable with it then you can just try calculus first, but if not then take pre-cal right now
I am doing pre-cal right now, even though i did AP calculus in high school and (dumbly) didnt take the AP test for it to count. So when I went to college I didn't try when doing the placement tests and had to start at trig.....ugggggg and trig is horrible, especially when i did high school calculus and got an B+ in it....but oh well.....
The placement test at your school will determine whether you can take calculus first....

 

[Jdario86]

You should definitely take pre-calc if it's a required pre-req for a pharmacy school. In general, most schools don't require pre-calc but i know schools like UACP does. If you've never taken pre-calc or calc in HS, then u should take it. Personally, I thought calculus was a lot easier than pre-calc. If you have taken pre-calc and calc back in HS or tested out from taking pre-calc, just take calculus.

 

[rphfan2009]

Ok here is the deal, if you are good with math, or feel comfortable with it then you can just try calculus first, but if not then take pre-cal right now
I am doing pre-cal right now, even though i did AP calculus in high school and (dumbly) didnt take the AP test for it to count. So when I went to college I didn't try when doing the placement tests and had to start at trig.....ugggggg and trig is horrible, especially when i did high school calculus and got an B+ in it....but oh well.....
The placement test at your school will determine whether you can take calculus first....

I am dead set on taking Pre-Calculus regardless and then Calculus I.

Here is my high school history: Algebra I, Algebra II, & Geometry...as for College, I only took College Algebra. I was always a "B" math student--both high school and college. I am just worried because I have not taken a college math class in 10 years.

I don't think that I am going to have to "test" in...the school I am going to is going to let me go whichever way I want, whether its all 3 classes or just 2. They don't really care what I do.

 

[fenixtnlfan]

I had this similiar question about pre-req math courses. I have not taken a math class in the last 10 years...I never took calculus in high school or college. i know that i am going to definitely take pre-calculus--should i take an intermediate algebra class as a refresher before this though?? I was always a "B" student algebra wise in high school and college. What do you guys think??

I would do what fhx suggested. Look at some books and work out some problems to see how you feel. It's kinda hard for us to take a stance one way or the other as we don't know the amount you remember. Personally I think it would be better to be overprepared than go into pre-calc and calc underprepared.

 

[Lotus89]

I would do what fhx suggested. Look at some books and work out some problems to see how you feel. It's kinda hard for us to take a stance one way or the other as we don't know the amount you remember. Personally I think it would be better to be overprepared than go into pre-calc and calc underprepared.

true true, but then again, even if your doing ok doing a few problems out of a book, taking the actual class can make or break the way you do in calculus.
Like you could skip through a book and feel ok with a few problems and take the class and fail (or get a C) it....and vice versa
I agree with you too, but then again, the actual class is different than doing self-study....

 

[luckyphooey]

Yeah I don't think you should take it unless you feel you really have to take it because you are not so strong in math. You are just slowing yourself down. Take Cal 1 and get it over with, it is not that hard. When I took Cal 1 and even Cal 2, they don't just jump right into the material, there's always a week or two for refreshing built into the course. Good luck!

 

[prone2xl]

I only took business-calculus- I think some med schools may require me to take calculus, but I'm gonna hold off until then.

 

[rxlea]

can you guys give me some tips on how to get into calculus without taking precalculus at a community college ? I'm a postbacc and have taken everything up through organic chem, physics I&II, anatomy and phys, everything basically except this damn calculus... I hate to have to take this pre-cal first and have to delay my calc till next semster because I know I can handle it.

You need to take the math placement test. If you perform well, you can skip pre-calc and go straight into calculus.

 

[phathead]

Precalculus is usually a two class series: precalculus algebra and precalculus trigonometry. When it's broke up in two, it's not that bad, but when they combine the two into one class, it can be very tough. I would suggest taking precalculus first because alot of what you encounter in calculus builds off precalculus.

HTH

My pre-calc classed SUCKED. At least a 30 problem assignment given nightly and due the next day 5 days a week

 

[tm79602]

I just took calculus and physics this summer in order to fullfill my prerequisites for my pharmacy school this fall. I suggested that my husband take the classes with me. Now, my husband has been out of high school for 8 years and he is in the military. He is not as book smart as I am, but he was able to get B's in both Calculus and Physics this summer and summer classes are 8 weeks. If you feel like you need to take precal, go for it. It all depends on the type of teacher you have as well, because we had a teacher that literally explained everything. I think what also helped my husband is the fact that I was there to help him. Good luck!!🙂

 

[phathead]

I just took calculus and physics this summer in order to fullfill my prerequisites for my pharmacy school this fall. I suggested that my husband take the classes with me. Now, my husband has been out of high school for 8 years and he is in the military. He is not as book smart as I am, but he was able to get B's in both Calculus and Physics this summer and summer classes are 8 weeks. If you feel like you need to take precal, go for it. It all depends on the type of teacher you have as well, because we had a teacher that literally explained everything. I think what also helped my husband is the fact that I was there to help him. Good luck!!🙂

And on my side of the coin, my calc professor explained nothing.

To each their own

 

[XxAlbertoxX]

Well, Pre-calculus is NOT a pre-requisite at my school (Purdue) to Calculus I...... It's optional....

 

[jdel]

I would recommend taking it. It will help you with all the trig that's in calc (althought there was a small part for me)
Aswell as the max and mins, finding those (help you with concavity and stuff like that)
Hope this helps.