Summer Calculus

[walkingshoes]

Hi,

First post here.
My question is, should I take Calculus I and II this summer at a community college, or should I take Calculus I at a four-year (only Calc I is offered at the four-year during summer).

Doing the first choice, I'll be ready to take my prereqs this fall.
The second choice is similar, except that I'd have to take Calculus II, biology, and chemistry all at the same time in Spring '08 (I work full-time).

What's your opinion? Any words of caution?

*p.s. I'm only taking biology, chemistry, physics at a four-year institution.


Thanks

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[njbmd]

Hi,

First post here.
My question is, should I take Calculus I and II this summer at a community college, or should I take Calculus I at a four-year (only Calc I is offered at the four-year during summer).

Doing the first choice, I'll be ready to take my prereqs this fall.
The second choice is similar, except that I'd have to take Calculus II, biology, and chemistry all at the same time in Spring '08 (I work full-time).

What's your opinion? Any words of caution?

*p.s. I'm only taking biology, chemistry, physics at a four-year institution.


Thanks

Calculus is an ideal pre-med summer course. It isn't one of the MCAT pre-req courses and it does put you ahead for the regular term. If you don't mind that this course is going to move rapidly (you have to master the material faster) and are ready to spend those nice summer evenings working calculus problems instead of relaxing, then calculus is a good choice. Keep up and you should be fine.

 

[Beau Geste]

I took Calc last summer and it wasn't so bad. I ended up with a B, but could have got an A if I wasn't working and taking Calc. Lesson to be learned.

 

[Tired Pigeon]

Calculus is an ideal pre-med summer course. It isn't one of the MCAT pre-req courses and it does put you ahead for the regular term. If you don't mind that this course is going to move rapidly (you have to master the material faster) and are ready to spend those nice summer evenings working calculus problems instead of relaxing, then calculus is a good choice. Keep up and you should be fine.

👍 Excellent advice.

 

[IceMan0824]

Wasn't the question where the OP should take Calc I and II at a community college or just Calc I at her/another 4-year university.

It just seems to me like noone really addressed this issue.

P.S. I know I am likewise not addressing the issue.

 

[ShyRem]

I think since it's not a med school prereq, no one will really care where you take the class from. I think it's a fabulous class to take over the summer. I did - but not at a community college (there wasn't one near me). And no one said "boo" about it.

 

[walkingshoes]

I think since it's not a med school prereq, no one will really care where you take the class from. I think it's a fabulous class to take over the summer. I did - but not at a community college (there wasn't one near me). And no one said "boo" about it.

Thanks everyone for your input. Although I feel a quiet dissension among the posts, I do understand where it's coming from and why––I'll be more mindful next time.

Thanks again!🙂

 

[Med223]

Wait, dont a lot of schools accept a math department stats course? That would seem like an easier route and you dont have to have near the foundation as you do for calc. 3hrs is all I've seen that is needed and they will usually tell me: "Calc. or stats- pick one"

 

[Kateb4]

Wait, dont a lot of schools accept a math department stats course? That would seem like an easier route and you dont have to have near the foundation as you do for calc. 3hrs is all I've seen that is needed and they will usually tell me: "Calc. or stats- pick one"

I had the same thought. Do you need Calc for something? Even at a 4-year, not all science degrees require Calc. At my school we could choose to take Calc I or Stat. I certainly wouldn't take both if you aren't sure if you need them. I did take calc and am very good with math, but I wouldn't have if I had the choice (I was at a different university at that time).

If you do need one or both for some reason, go ahead and take them at a CC, like the others said, they're not pre-reqs so adcoms really shouldn't care where you take them.

 

[walkingshoes]

Hello!

The four-year requires Calc I for Chem I, and Calc II for ChemII.
I've never taken Calculus before, so I figured I'd get the most exposure
as possible, as early as possible.

My thinking is if I do an exceedingly difficult postbac,
I'll be better prepared if I make it through the prerequisites.
At the same time, if classes prove too difficult, I can say I tried,
and move along my life's path.

Or is this counterproductive?

Thanks for the input.

I had the same thought. Do you need Calc for something? Even at a 4-year, not all science degrees require Calc. At my school we could choose to take Calc I or Stat. I certainly wouldn't take both if you aren't sure if you need them. I did take calc and am very good with math, but I wouldn't have if I had the choice (I was at a different university at that time).

If you do need one or both for some reason, go ahead and take them at a CC, like the others said, they're not pre-reqs so adcoms really shouldn't care where you take them.

😀 😀

 

[RadMD1day]

I would agree with it not mattering where you take it. I would go on www.ratemyprofessors.com and check out the instructors for that course at both colleges and pick the one with the best reputation. If you are good at pre-cal then you should do pretty well with going really quickly through the material. I am not good at math AT ALL so I will be taking it at the four year i am transferring to in the fall. I actually had the instructor for one of my earlier math courses and really liked the way he explained things, so his rep is definately having a major pull.
Hope this helped! Good luck!🙂

 

[MIGLdr]

I would agree with it not mattering where you take it. I would go on www.ratemyprofessors.com and check out the instructors for that course at both colleges and pick the one with the best reputation. If you are good at pre-cal then you should do pretty well with going really quickly through the material. I am not good at math AT ALL so I will be taking it at the four year i am transferring to in the fall. I actually had the instructor for one of my earlier math courses and really liked the way he explained things, so his rep is definately having a major pull.
Hope this helped! Good luck!🙂

Best website ever.

To op,
The one important thing that helped me do well in Calc (I got A, B in I & II respectively) is not to get too hung up on the actual math part. When I explain this to people, they think I'm mentally ill or something lol, but the honest truth is that manipulating equations and plugging numbers into a calculator or equation is a very EASY thing to do. The hard part is always understanding the problem and its context and apply the correct math to it.

 

[Johnny_D]

I took calc I at a community college and my science pre-reqs at a four-year school. It doesn't matter if you take it at a community college or not. I still got in. It just matters how well you do in the course. That is the only course I would take at a community college though.

 

[TeChNiQuE5]

I am contemplating almost the same exact thing. I do know that whether you take it at a 4 year college vs a CC doesn't really matter.

What I am not sure of is how I will handle the content in a summer course. I have been an A/B student in math, more towards B. I looked up the professor and all said it was a hard course and her tests were hard and what not, but can that mainly be said because it is Calculus and that's a given?

 

[saylorsdad]

I know from experience "I taught as an adjunct at a four year university's math department" that it can matter where you take your calculus. The matter comes down to hours and if it transfer's. Make sure you check with your four year college, I've seen students take a three or four hour calculus 1 and 2 "total of 6 or 8 hours". They then transfer in and have to take calc 3 since our calc 1 and 2 were five hour courses "total of ten hours".

Hope this helps.

 

[lizzied2003]

hi walking shoes

just curious what was your math preparation?

did you take pre calc or are you jumping right and in to just calculus.

I seem to be stuck on this theory that i need precalc first but am really not convinced.

sorry to turn your question into another question.


thanks.

 

[walkingshoes]

Hi lizzed2003,

I started out with algebra I, then algebra II, coll. algebra/trig., and I'm currently enrolled in precalculus. By the looks of it, I'll be exempt from the final exam because I'm doing well.

But, before all this, I did register for calculus I (assuming I'd learn everything along the way). Bad move. I lasted two days. With a bruised ego, I eventually spoke to an advisor and took a placement test.

Advisor: So, it says you should be placed in pre-algebra.
Me: Oh.
Advisor: But I think you can do int. alg. at least.

Truly a lesson in humility! It's been uphill since then, straight A's in every class.

Good luck

hi walking shoes

just curious what was your math preparation?

did you take pre calc or are you jumping right and in to just calculus.

I seem to be stuck on this theory that i need precalc first but am really not convinced.

sorry to turn your question into another question.


thanks.

 

[walkingshoes]

Tech,

Speaking of class difficulty, I think a lot may have to do with how the instructor makes the tests. I doubt precalc is as hard as calc (from what I've heard), but these tests could be 10x more challenging if the instructor wished to do so. Sometimes I wonder if I'm learning everything for the next courses.


Saylor,

Thanks. You know, I never considered that, in terms of credit hours. 5 credits for calc. Yikes!

I am contemplating almost the same exact thing. I do know that whether you take it at a 4 year college vs a CC doesn't really matter.

What I am not sure of is how I will handle the content in a summer course. I have been an A/B student in math, more towards B. I looked up the professor and all said it was a hard course and her tests were hard and what not, but can that mainly be said because it is Calculus and that's a given?

 

[saylorsdad]

yep my school placed a big emphasis on calculus, it isn't that bad by going five days a week you don't get swamped with work, just enough each day to cover the material and you go a long way by the end of the year.

 

[blueperson]

I have the problem where the state school (in VA) doesn't offer anything at night and one in Maryland does but there is no reciprocity and I have a two-hour commute home at 10:30 at night four nights a week (and work a demanding job). Is it possible to take one or two at a community college (in state and at night)? If so, what? I took stats as an undergrad and two more in grad school, however, schools such as Minnesota require calc. Should I take calc or begin my physics sequence? I hope to take the MCAT in spring but have yet to take Physics I and II, Organic II and Gen Chem II. I took Gen Bio and Micro. I've taken Gen Chem I and Organic I. Since I work 60+ hour weeks (decreased from 80), I have to take things at night. If I don't take anything over summer at all, I'm in a bind with applying next summer.

I'm afraid to take something at a community college. A college dean told me that med schools look down on community college classes because they are easier. I told that to a classmate and he said that the dean also wants people to take classes at her university and pay tuition. Any advice?

 

[blueperson]

Took Pre-Calc first quarter of undergrad (in 1991) and got a D. Retook for a C. Now, 16 years later hope to take calc. Is this a bad idea?

hi walking shoes

just curious what was your math preparation?

did you take pre calc or are you jumping right and in to just calculus.

I seem to be stuck on this theory that i need precalc first but am really not convinced.

sorry to turn your question into another question.


thanks.