I’m a freshman at a local community college, and I’m trying to earn a 2-year degree before transferring to our state college. I need math classes to get that degree, and my ACT scores have placed me into their calculus class. I’ve always hated math and I’ve never been very comfortable with it, but thinking back I’m fairly certain that was my teachers’ faults. I’m taking Chem spring semester 2020, and I’ve been advised by everyone to not take chem and calc in the same semester, but the alternative is taking a different math I’ve already placed out of just for the sake of taking a math credit (ANY math credit). I’m not sure what to do, I feel like I may be able to handle the workload but everyone has warned me against taking these two classes together.
Thousands of engineering students take that combo every year.
An ACT score isn’t a reliable indicator of which math class you should take. You may just be a very good test taker. Talk to a counselor about which math class is right for you.
Yes, pretty much every first year engineering program I’ve looked at has 2 semesters of Calc plus Chem/Physics in either order.
If you haven’t taken a PreCalc/Trig class, you shouldn’t skip it and go right to Calc based on ACT scores.
What math classes have you taken?
What are you planning to major in? If you “hate math” then you may not be heading for a major that you need calc for. Have you taken stats? That could be a better choice depending on your major path. Often there are other options too, like a Logic class through the Philosophy department.
A strong ACT score does not in any way prove that you have the foundation for calculus. Most of what is taught in a typical pre-calculus class is not tested on the ACT. This seems like a dubious way of recommending a math level.