CC requiring me to take Pre-Calc again, should I try to convice otherwise?

Parents Forum
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<p>I'm in a program called a Middle College where I go to the local community college for my Junior and Senior High School years. In it, students take college courses and high school courses taught in a college fashion.</p>

<p>When I went to talk to the program head about courses, she said I placed into MTH 163, which is pre-calculus. I took Math Analysis (same thing) last year at my high school, and got the highest grades despite only being a sophmore and not studying, and I was ready to go to AP Calc before I found out about the program.</p>

<p>I was told by two people, including the program head, that since it's a college course, it will be different and harder, but I looked at the online syllabus, and the only thing I didn't learn last year is matrices, which I already learned in Algebra II. I was also told I was the only person to place that high on the placement test, and now that I look back on it, I remember that we only took up to College Algebra on it, and not Trig which is supposed to be the highest math level on it.</p>

<p>Now for my question for you guys -- should I try to convince the program head to let me go straight into Calculus?</p>

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I was also told I was the only person to place that high on the placement test, and now that I look back on it, I remember that we only took up to College Algebra on it, and not Trig which is supposed to be the highest math level on it.

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<p>It sounds to me as though you are saying that a piece was missing from the placement test that should have been there? (like missing pages, a missing test module, a computer glitch if this was a computerized placement test?)</p>

<p>If so, yes, I would encourage you to ask for the opportunity to demonstrate that you have already mastered trig and any other precalc material that may have been missing from the test.</p>

<p>If you are a generally strong math student, an extra year of precalculus could feel like slow water torture, so I'd encourage you to politely advocate for placement in the most appropriate course.</p>

<p>One possibility: see the professor for the calculus course you'd like to take and ask him/her for permission to take the course. Placement test results can often be overridden if you have a brief discussion with the prof and demonstrate that you do have the necessary preparation.</p>

<p>(Professors are flattered by students who try to "talk their way into" their classes, when those classes are harder than the ones they automatically qualified for. I would, however, NOT mention that you achieved your high math analysis grades "without studying." Calculus is likely going to require some actual study and you should certainly promise to work hard, if permitted to enroll.)</p>

<p>You are clearly a bright student (highest grade in math analysis, highest score on the placement test) and therefore you are the kind of student the "Middle College" program would like to attract and retain, so I think you are in a pretty strong bargaining position, since if they don't meet your needs, you have the option of staying in your regular school program and taking AP calculus instead.</p>

<p>It IS very common for math professors to waive official prereqs and to use their discretion in making dispensations from placement test recommendations, so if you ask--in the right way--you have a good chance of success.</p>

<p>Be polite, deferential, respectful, AND persistent. Good luck!</p>

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<p>AP Calc AB is a year-long AP class. When the exam is passed (4,5) most credit given is for 1 semester of college calculus. AP Calc BC when passed (exam) is credited the second semester of college calc (calc II). If the college calc being offered is a 1 semester college course it is the credit equivalent but not the time equivalent. A high school AP course would take a year to complete but a semester calc course would move at a very different speed.</p>

<p>But it can be done. DS#2 is on block schedule (4x4) and completed AP Calc AB and AP Calc BC last year as a junior, and had completed pre-calc honors as a sophomore. He did receive all A's and scored 5's on both the AB/BC exam. He will be taking Calc 3/4 this year and some other math at our local uni. And I will make no comment on the homework situation!</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>Kat</p>

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A high school AP course would take a year to complete but a semester calc course would move at a very different speed.

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<p>I think it's not possible to generalize. Some college calculus classes cover less material at a slower pace than some high school AP calculus classes.</p>

<p>Many strong math students go directly from precalculus to AP calculus BC, bypassing AP calculus AB altogether. A BC calculus class for strong math students who've taken no previous calculus might well move at a pace faster than a community college calculus I/II class.</p>