<p>I took AP Calculus AB my senior year and am now preparing for college at a state university nearby. At the advising conference where we planned our courses the advisers told us that only people with a perfect 5 on their AP Calculus AB exam were eligible for Calculus II, and that even then it was a significant risk. At the conference I signed up (or was signed up, rather) for Calculus I, because my AP scores hadn't even come in for the decision to be relevant. A few days later (lovely timing) my scores came in and I saw that I had indeed gotten a 5 on my AP Calculus test and, weighing my options, e-mailed my adviser to switch me into Calculus II.</p>
<p>My reasoning was that I passed AP Calculus, taught by a very strict and demanding teacher, with flying colors, and the exam as well, and would have nothing to learn from Calculus I, and that it would also dampen my interest in math by being so pointless, leading into a big shock upon entry into Calculus II the next semester being much more difficult. I thought that the only thing that could be gained by taking Calculus I would be review, which I could do on my own throughout the remainder of the this month and the majority of the next. However, I'm a little hesitant due to the scaremongering done by the advisers at the conference (they went so far as to compare it to a shark attack in their PowerPoint), in addition to my dad's warning not to set myself up for failure.</p>
<p>So, my question to you would be, do they have a point, or is my reasoning the more valid? Is there anything I'm overlooking that would tilt the scales one way or another?</p>
<p>Unless you are really pressed for scheduling issues or trying to get other minors I would re-take calculus I. I took the BC exam my junior year (Got a 4) and forgot alot of calc when I went to college so I decided to retake it. Im glad I did, some of the stuff I’ve never seen before and was nice GPA booster. Although i didn’t any of the material in my upper level math courses so its really your call. I’d do it for the nice GPA.</p>
<p>Both parties here have points. In general, the AP curriculum at most schools doesn’t do as good of a job preparing students as the College Board would have you believe. There is such a wide range of quality in these classes that it is impossible to tell just how well you were taught. The exams do some of that, but there is a lot more going on than just the exams.</p>
<p>If we were talking AP Calculus BC and testing out of both Calc I and II, then I would say that you ought to really at least retake Calc II. With AB and Calc I, it is kind of a wash. Do you think you could get a 5 on the exam if you took it again today? In a week? In a month? You really should be that good at calculus without forgetting it. For the most part, the AP exams only cover the basic topics, so as an engineer, getting a 5 on it should be cake. I have no doubt that after taking Calc I 5 years ago, I could still go back and pass the AP exams with a 5. So basically, how comfortable do you feel with the material? I got a 5 on the AB exam and ended up taking an accelerated Calc I and Calc II class combined rather than retaking Calc I or jumping straight to Calc II and I loved it. I am so happy I made that choice. I did still learn stuff in my Calc I class, too.</p>
<p>Your point about boring yourself review is valid, however, so if you really feel comfortable with calculus, go ahead and go straight into Calc II. It is definitely a much harder course, so beware, but you really probably don’t need to do any summer studying. My advice would be to just use that time to relax and hang out with friends rather than reviewing. This is likely one of the last free summers you will have. Enjoy it.</p>
<p>Take Calc II and forgo Calc I with your AP credit, advisers love to scare pre-freshman making it seem that college is the hardest thing in the world, ect, ect. As long as you can manage your time properly and use your resources wisely you should do fine.</p>
<p>Go straight to calc 2. Just review calc 1 on your own during the rest of the summer.</p>
<p>Calculus demystified is a good book for review.</p>
<p>Wow, nice to get such quick responses!</p>
<p>MoonDoy: Well, I am a little pressed with my schedule. Even to the point of considering a transfer, because of the other thing they told us at the advising conference. They told us that Computer Science is literally impossible to graduate in 4 years. I understand that many people don’t graduate within the time frame they’re given, but to learn that the program doesn’t even allow an attempt is just unacceptable. I can only afford to go to college for 4 years, as I’m going entirely off of grants and 4 year scholarships.</p>
<p>Boneh3ad: If they offered an accelerated Calculus I class or a combination class I would be more than happy to take it, as it would truly be the best of both worlds, however, they don’t, only a class that goes in assuming you know no calculus at all. The reason that I considered reviewing is for speed reasons. Given unlimited time, I could retake the test and get a 5, but not within the time limits I was given then. Also, in calculus I, I never studied except for doing homework, only paying attention during class, and was always ahead of the curve of my class. The teacher had a 100% AP exam pass rate last year, too.</p>
<p>Viciouspoultry: Yeah, that’s what I was considering. This speech was geared towards college freshman, the majority of whom intend to stay in dorms and get involved with the heavy sports and Greek culture at the school, none of which I am doing. If necessary, I could devote every waking moment to classwork without being very resentful, though I doubt that that will be necessary. If I can’t get a C in a class that I have the ability to devote my full attention to, then I have bigger problems.</p>
<p>That is really odd. Most engineering programs are 4 years unless you do a MS/BS which some schools offer that in 5. Is your college ranked pretty well in CE? If so I would stick it out. Transferring is a nice option, you can go to a 4 year program, get a co-op and graduate in 5 years. Co-ops are great, gives you money and makes you extremely desirable.</p>
<p>I’m going to the University of Kentucky, which is really better known for its medical schooling. That was another reason I was considering transferring, because the curriculum seems to be a lot more bloated than the curriculum offered by another school equally distant from me. I’d rather not go to a technical school, which is the only in-state schooling available that really specializes in computer science, so I was thinking that if it’s between two schools that have CS majors of equal renown, I may as well transfer to the one that allows me to finish in 4 years, since that extra year isn’t going to win me any extra attention. Which is part of why I wanted to go ahead and take Calculus II, as it would put me ahead so that any credits that need to be made up for the next school’s requirements would be easier to arrange. Also, so far all of my classes are transferable to the new school, just out of sheer luck, and it also happens to be the school that more people I’m familiar with are going to.</p>
<p>What other schools in Kentucky even offer Engineering? The only other school I can think of is a very unimpressive school. Unless I am forgetting something, if you want to stay in Kentucky, then UK is the way to go.</p>
<p>Well which school are you thinking of? There are multiple in-state schools.</p>
<p>I just thought of another. I suppose the only two I know of that have Engineering are Louisville and Murray State. I know a bunch of people who went to Murray State. 100% unimpressed…</p>
<p>It was neither of those, it was Eastern Kentucky University. They are both listed as tier 1 schools. I’m also not planning on pursuing a career in-state, so would perceptions between 2 state schools be all that important when compared to a potential $18k debt to attend UK an additional year?</p>
<p>I honestly believe that that whole AP crap is nothing more than that. Ive seen alot of people who had AP and went straight to calc 3 their freshmen year. a week after, the realized how hard it was and dropped down to calc 2. Then ended up not doing so well in calc 2 since they barely knew calc 1. So they pretty much had to restart from calc 1.</p>
<p>I dont say that to scare you, but I will say be absolutely sure you want to skip 1 and go to 2. I honestly wouldnt and just use it a a grade booster. If nothing else, use it to meet new people since that class is probably going to be huge</p>
<p>I know that I WANT to, but being “ready” just seems to subjective. I personally feel that I’m ready, but the way that people keep hounding me about whether I’m ready or not makes me second-guess myself.</p>
<p>Well, people hound you because historically, there are a lot of people who think they are ready and aren’t. Some people are, some people aren’t. That is life. Chances are, you will be fine based on everything I have seen here, but you never know. Generally, people are much more likely to bite off more than they can chew than the other way around, and college counselors are aware of that.</p>
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<p>So which one you talking about, bonehead and why? I liked UK, but I’m glad I transferred for engineering. </p>
<p>OP, go ahead and take Calc II.</p>
<p>What college did you transfer to, DontPanic1?</p>
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<p>I already answered that in post #11.</p>
<p>Murray State is the craptastic one I was talking about. I knew a bunch of people who went there. All the smart ones transferred out, seeing how ridiculous it was. The ones that stayed are mainly a bunch of buffoons.</p>
<p>I don’t know enough about Louisville to comment on it. I can say I have heard nothing negative about it though.</p>
<p>Just keep in mind that I know I might be forgetting a school or just unaware of one.</p>
<p>Go to Calc II…so long as you understood everything in AP Calc, you’re ready.</p>