<p>If I receive a good enough score on my AP exam, and have sent it to Duke, am I forced to use the credit? For example, if I got a 5 on Calc BC and would be able to skip Calc I and II, but I want to take Calc I at Duke because I'm rusty. Would I be forced to use that credit at Duke though and not be able to Calc I?</p>
<p>You can still enroll in Calc I if you really want, but you won’t be given AP credit AND class credit. That is, if you have credit for Calc I and take Calc I, you will only get 1.0 credit (from the course, the AP credit gets removed).</p>
<p>You are not forced to use any AP credit. But as bluedog said, class credit will replace any AP credit. In addition, AP credits are not used for GPA calculations, class credits are. </p>
<p>As an aside, I really don’t think you need to remember a lot of stuff from Calc I/II, if you know the basics of derivatives and integrals you should be OK but it’s up to you.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. Will anyone know that I didn’t use my AP credit and am repeating a class I took in HS?</p>
<p>Im a senior but Im currently taking Calc 3 at a local university and we really haven’t used calc 2 at all. And in pretty sure were at least half way through the semester. Its most based on calc 1 stuff actually but I also heard calc 2 comes more into play at the end. If you want a high gpa, retaking calc wouldnt be a bad idea as it should be a lot easier but skipping ahead to calc 3 might also get you ahead so you’d have more flexibility with your classes.
Personally, if I get into Duke, Im only going to use my transfer credits for calc 3 if I get A. If I dont Im retaking it because I want a high gpa.</p>
<p>And as far as other people knowing…its not like theyd care if you chose to retake it and its more common than you think</p>
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<p>Actually, this is not really true. Based on my experiences, it is MUCH easier to get a 5 on the AP test than it is to get an A on a Duke calc course. The level of expectations is much higher at Duke. I knew people who got a 5 on the AP test who who struggled with Calc II. If you can skip a math course at Duke, I would highly recommend to do it.</p>
<p>Joeahn, there isn’t any generalized rule against you repeating a HS course. There are certain rules in Pratt concerning specific classes but I doubt you’ll run afoul of them anyway. </p>
<p>And I would second bluedog above. Both of us were engineers I think (at least that’s what I recall sorry if I’m wrong bluedog) and having taken the popular math courses up to diff eq. and having seen my friends who were all pretty smart do the same, I can say that even the most basic calc is very difficult in terms of the curve and the level of competition within the class. Considering many of the students are engineers or premed or both on top of being Duke students, you can imagine that the caliber of your peers will be much higher than the pool of students with whom you took the AP exam. And, usually the curves in Duke’s math classes are not as good as that on the AP exam.</p>
<p>^ yeah maybe you should listen to them. I really don’t know what the courses are like at Duke I just know people in college who dont use their AP credits in order to boost their gpa.</p>
<p>Not using AP credits will only boost your GPA if you are certain that you’ll do well. Considering calc II is one of the most failed courses at Duke, this isn’t a given even if you got a 5 on the AP. But what AP credits do is they allow you to avoid the GPA killers that the large intro courses usually are. So in that sense, they are oftentimes GPA savers.</p>
<p>Is calc 2 really that hard at duke? I took it at the university near me last semester which isnt as prestigious as duke but they have about an admittance rate of about 30% and its pretty well regarded and I didnt think it was that hard. But then again my calc teacher was one of the best I’ve ever had and I had a really strong foundation</p>
<p>SBr: I’m sure multivariable is also pretty had at duke too though right? Youre not saying multivariable is easier and curved easier than calc I, are you? Also what are these specific rules you are talking about in Pratt.</p>
<p>Joeahn, multivariable is pretty hard though slightly better than calc II. But as an engineer, if you have to take up to diff eq, one less hard class is always better. My advice is to avoid the hard math classes if you can and minimize the number you need to take if you can’t. </p>
<p>The one specific AP rule I’m thinking of I’m almost certain was one that was created after what I and some friends that I knew did our freshmen year. Pratt required that all students take physics 61+62 or 63 if they have AP credit for Physics C Mechanics and E&M. A lot of us had AP credits for both Physics C Mechanics and E&M which got us out of 61/62 but since we didn’t really want to take 63 for our physics requirement like we were supposed to, we all just took 61 (which was easier) again and used AP E&M credit for 62. We probably blew the curve on that class so after our year, they said that you couldn’t take 61 and use AP for 62. If you take 61 at Duke, you have to take 62 also. So that’s one specific rule that I can think of. </p>
<p>Note: you could still decline credit for 62 and not lose credit for 61 just not the other way around. </p>
<p>Leighhopeful: you may not find it difficult, but I don’t know you personally. And Duke’s math teachers are very hit and miss. Except for multivariable, I had to basically self-learn in my math courses. However, given that I have known many people who went through those classes who are not dumb people, a good general piece of advice (advocated not only by me) is to avoid the lower math courses as much as possible. This should be helpful to most people. But you don’t have to take my word for it, if you feel you need to take these classes, you can give it a try. Pratt had a 15% transfer rate to trinity in my class (and in most years) after the first year, and given that there actually aren’t many engineering courses in the first year, it should give an idea of how effective these intro weedout classes are.</p>
<p>As an aside, I also took some college courses in high school at my state uni. Although it’s probably not as highly regarded overall as your uni, the departments that my courses were in were competitively ranked and well-regarded. And I can say that after having taken the intro courses (with the exact same content) at both universities in those departments and did well in both, Duke’s courses were way harder mainly because of the level of competition and the curve which required a lot more effort. Ranking-wise Duke and my local uni’s departments were in the same tier with Duke being slightly ahead.</p>
<p>SBR: what have you heard what Calc I is like? I’m sure it can’t be too bad since all the engineers and pre med people you are talking about that go to Duke will most likely have some calc credit and be taking Calc II or Multivariable.</p>
<p>Assuming you are an engineer since you asked about Pratt’s AP rules above, it’s a lot of work to begin with because calc I and II are the only lower math required by the engineering school that has laboratory and lecture components. It’s also difficult because many students will be taking these courses having taken calculus in high school. Given that multi-section math courses with block finals are curved to limit the number of high grades, it can get a bit intense. </p>
<p>Look, I’m just laying it out there. I got this advice when I went in. And placing out of math has always been advised by those I’ve talked to in the engineering school because it gives you flexibility down the road to do research, can save your GPA, and saves you from having to overload if you are premed or minoring/double majoring. Having gone through BME as a premed and done well, I agree with the advice. If you really want to take it then do so but I really don’t have much more to say in this area.</p>
<p>@joeahn If you end up being admitted that is a great reason to go to Blue Devil days. You can get first hand information from current undergraduates. Whether that question be math, writing courses, or what freshman seminar is good. I’m lucky to have a couple of kids from my high school currently at Duke that I’ve been able to get answers from.</p>
<p>I’m so confused SBR. How could taking Calc I and II first and second semester be harder than taking multivariable and Linear algebra first and second semester…</p>
<p>If you are an engineer you are required to take up to math 108. By placing out of 31/32, you’ll be done with math after three semesters. If you choose to take all 5 math courses, you’ll be doing math until first semester junior year. And it’s to do with curves and the level of competition. Sure, there will be smart people in 103/104. But the material is harder and therefore, the curve will be pretty standard. But they know that a lot of people in calc I/II will be retakes so they not only cover more stuff than on the AP exam but the exams will harder to better differentiate students and the curve will be harder. </p>
<p>Look, if you don’t believe me, take tennisforall’s advice, go to Blue Devil Day’s ask current students what they think. They may tell you differently, they may not. And if after all that you really feel like you need to take these courses, then do so there’s nothing stopping you. I can’t really give you an accurate idea of this on CC or by words because it sounds like for you it’ll be one of those you gotta experience it to really know it kind of thing. I can just say that my experiences doing retakes of gen chem vs. orgo and in math courses and as an engineer tells me that most people are better off skipping the intro courses as much as possible.</p>
<p>Ok thanks SBR. I’m just gonna send my AP Calc score to Duke and then decide what to do when I register for classes. I should send my scores to at least keep the option to be able to place out, right?</p>
<p>Of the people I’ve talked to and what I have seen posted I have never seen anyone suggest it is a good idea to take a course where you have AP credit. I may look at it a little different but I will have 32 chances at Duke as an undergrad. Why would I repeat a course when there are so many other opportunities out there whether they be research, an elective, or something in my major.</p>
<p>SBr: someone posted this about Ap credit for humanities and social sciences. “You do not have to decide which two to use - the registrar will figure out which ones best fulfill the requirements and - as you take courses, will swap them in and out for you as needed.” This sounds as if I am forced to use the credit</p>