<p>I have recently declared my new major and will be starting calc I this summer.
I must choose whether to attend my local university or CC for these foundation courses. The biggest factor for me will be which will provide a better foundation, although cost is a factor. Because of my unique situation- 90+ hours with A.A. already awarded before changing majors from nursing to science to engineering- I can no longer get aid at my CC, but only at the university.
Other factors- the university is an hour commute minimum each way with calculus being scheduled only in 50 minute blocks up 4-5 times a week; the CC is half the distance with class 2x/week.
Calculus I is the only course I can take for my major this summer; calc 2 and physics are the only courses I can take for the fall unless I want to take a programming course out of interest.</p>
<p>I am posting this looking for opinions because I am concerned about the foundation I may receive if I take the calc/physics series at the university. This is contrary to what many people would think, but my local university seems to curve almost all their courses (in physics I read that a D grade was curved to an A) while also offering faculty that teach temporarily (grad students) and don't seem all that serious about the material.
In contrast to my CC, the courses are not curved at all and the professors have been teaching for years and know how it is best taught. </p>
<p>I know a course is what one puts into it, but I am also very serious about becoming very strong in these core areas. Registration opened this week, and I am not sure which to stick with. I've also been advised to start the series where I plan to finish it due to textbook/curriculum differences.</p>
<p>I realize I may be stressing the foundation too much...my boyfriend is in his 2nd year of upper level engineering coursework and is telling me that later engineering courses do not ask you to pull out detailed calculus rules and tricks. He tells me this, but he also has a very high engineering gpa and thinks having such a meticulous foundation at CC was key- the classes are almost all curved and he has come out at the top with almost all A's.</p>
<p>One additional difference- the university does not permit the use of graphing calculators on calculus exams. To me this seems bizarre, because during my trig/precalc courses at CC you were expected to work with it and could lose points if you didn't (with certain exceptions e.g. unit circle stuff where it wasn't allowed).
I don't really understand the purpose of this, and I would be lying if I said it didn't seem a little bit intimidating- probably because I like to double check my own calculations on exams if there is time, especially if testing anxiety happens.
So another question- I wonder how calc is taught differently with vs without a graphing calculator? I realize that this question is best answered by those who have taken both forms, but I figure it's worth putting it out there.</p>
<p>Sorry for the length, but I would love any advice. Thanks.</p>