<p>I realize that somebody created a thread regarding math at Vanderbilt a few days ago; however, they were using terms such as honors calculus, so I would like to start a new thread with the proper terminology in order to help students who are debating which classes to take.</p>
<p>I am an incoming freshman who has taken AP Calculus AB. I believe that I understand the material fairly well, and I am sure that I scored at least a 4 on the exam, if not a 5. Math is my weakest subject, and my intended major only requires 1 semester of calculus, with 2 semesters being recommended. </p>
<p>With that in mind, should I, and students like myself take Calc 150 or Calc 155? I have seen threads from several years ago that strongly encourage students to avoid 150 at all costs because it was standardized while 155 was not? Those threads were from a few years ago, so I wonder if that still holds true today? Which class is better for a non math/non premed major, who is not the best at math.</p>
<p>For others reading: If you’re only taking calculus for your degree requirement, you might as well take Calc 140. It’s basically baby-calc for all the random majors requiring one semester of calculus. It would be an easy A for anyone with a calc background. Calc 140 is basically an easier version of 150A (thus the equivalent of half of 155A). If you wanted a second semester, you could move on to 150B.</p>
<p>I don’t know what all this is about 150 being standardized and 155 not being standardized. I’m pretty sure both courses are standardized. Either way, students regularly struggle in both- whether in 150 because its standardized or 155 because it’s just difficult. You may want to seek out other students; I went straight to Math 175 so I didn’t get to experience these courses, but just know from friends.</p>
<p>Also, if you want more insight into these courses, find out who teaches them via the enrollment system, and then look the professors up on ratemyprofessor. Reviews there should give you a good indication of how the class/prof is.</p>
<p>My non-math or science major D took Calc 140 after getting a 3 on the Calc AB AP exam–she loved Calc 140 and thought it was easy. We’re glad she didn’t try one of the higher level Calcs where she would have had to struggle. It was nice for her to have one course that wasn’t that challenging her first term–the other courses were enough work.</p>