I am interested in taking multivariable calculus. However, the only way that I could accomplish this would be to take both Calculus I and II in an accelerated summer program. Does such as class exist online?
Doing well in multivariable is going to depend heavily on your foundation in Calc 1 and 2. I would be wary of speeding through them too quickly.
Then, would you recommend I take AP Calculus during the school year instead? (I will also be taking both AP Physics C classes)
MV calculus prerequisite is a full year (2 semesters or 3 quarters) of calculus so it’s highly doubtful any class could accelerate or squeeze a year of classes into one summer.
It’s probably late in the game now, but you could take Calc 1 this summer at a CC (assuming you place into Calc 1), then take Calc 2 and Calc 3 (multivariate) at the CC during the school year.
If you take AP Calc BC during the school year, you might be able to take Calc 3 at a CC the following summer but most likely a CC wouldn’t allow it unless you got your score back which wouldn’t happen until early July.
Actually, I will be a junior in September, so I may have the opportunity to take Calculus I that summer.
I’ve looked at a few colleges and they seem to offer each Calc class in one session, and have 2 sessions per summer. So yes, it may be possible for you to take Calc 1 and 2 next summer. Does your HS have an DE arrangement with any local colleges? That might be a place to start.
It is possible to take BC Calculus concurrently with Physics C, but sometimes it is easier to complete calculus first. If your school regularly has students do both then they might be coordinated.
I do not believe my school has any arrangements with local colleges, only dual enrollment classes taught by my school’s faculty. It is usually uncommon for a student at my school to be that far ahead to take Calculus 3.
The thing is, my school technically doesn’t offer AP Physics C; I would be taking it through an online provider (Virtual High School). The class description lists AP Calculus as a corequisite or a prerequisite, but I don’t know if that class will accelerate faster than my school’s BC class. Furthermore, I have heard that my school’s BC teacher is not the greatest at teaching calculus. This would make taking calculus before AP Physics C much more critical to me since I’ve heard that you need Calc 1 and 2 to take AP Phys. C (is this true?)
Yes you need Calculus either prior to or concurrent with Physics C.
When my kid took Physics C last year, there was a little bit of differentiation and integration and that was it. The Physics C course material is supposed to coincide concurrent to Calc AB theoretically, so taking Calc 1 should suffice as a prerequisite for Physics C.