<p>Hi guys. At the college I'm attending next year, I would most likely place into Calculus II, since I took the equivalent of Calc I in high school (AP Calc AB). The problem is, I don't really remember much fo Calc I - literally, at all. I took it junior year and I did pretty well, but then I took stats this year and all of the calc pretty much just fell out of my brain...oops. </p>
<p>Anyway, my question is: will Calc II completely ruin me if I take it without remembering too much from Calc I? Or is it conceptually different, so I would be okay as long as I'm a strong math student? I've heard both. I remember the basics of calc - limits, derivatives, etc. - and I'd really rather not repeat it, but Calc II and III are requirements for my prospective major.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Usually I’d want to take the class over, especially if you’re going to a good school. But if you really are good at math, and you’re planning a long, intensive track (engineering?) where you’ll want some courses out of the way to start, then I’d just buy a calc book and read up on it during the summer.</p>
<p>Just because you don’t know Calc I now doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared by the time fall semester starts.</p>
<p>Get a cheap book like [Amazon.com:</a> Calculus for Dummies (0785555861855): Mark Ryan: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Calculus-Dummies-Mark-Ryan/dp/0764524984/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275010588&sr=8-4]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Calculus-Dummies-Mark-Ryan/dp/0764524984/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275010588&sr=8-4)</p>
<p>Oh, and to answer the last part of your question: no, Calc II won’t ruin you if you study up a bit. But college math might ruin you if it turns out you’re not as good at math as you thought. It really depends on how good your high school was, and how good your college is.</p>
<p>Thanks. I’ll be most likely majoring in bio or chem, so calc is definitely a requirement. I’ll definitely look into Calc for Dummies, though; it’ll probably help a lot to refresh it.</p>
<p>Usually, most professors will go over a brief refresher during the first few classes of the semester–so that may trigger your memory a bit.
It’s not 100% that they all do this, but a lot tend to.</p>
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<p>Your situation is a lot more relaxed than I thought–neither bio nor chem typically require calc to get started on the intro classes…Chem shouldn’t really require calc until physical chem, which is typically after intro and organic. </p>
<p>With that information, you should be able to retake Calc I IF you’re not comfortable with the material. Only physics/engineering majors would be worried about that delaying their graduation. Still, I would read up over the summer and then decide–you don’t want to take easy courses for no reason if you’re ready; you’re paying for the education this time around =).</p>
<p>Oh good, thanks! That’s a bit of a relief. No, I don’t have to take it to get into intro classes - I just know that I have to take it at some point (although I wish I didn’t…bleh). I’ll get Calc for Dummies this summer and figure out what I remember. :)</p>
<p>Did you take the AP Calc AB exam, do well, and send it to Carleton? If you did, you won’t be allowed to take Calc I.</p>
<p>I couldn’t take Calc I or Intro to Stats at Carleton because I’d done well on the AP exams. I wouldn’t worry about it too much–just about everybody else in Calc II will be in a similar position, and the Math Skills Center is a great resource.</p>
<p>Yes - I sent the AB exam results to Carleton last year, and I did well enough to place out. I also sent AP stats this year. I didn’t realize that I wouldn’t even be allowed to take it, but that definitely makes it a lot easier for me! Also, I’ll probably be paying the Math Skills Center a visit.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, mflevity! I’ll be seeing you next year. :)</p>
<p>I took my placement test and was placed into Calculus I. I’m not suprised since I took Ap Calculus my senior year and I myself would feel more comfortable retaking the course than to go onto Calculus II or even to be placed in a class below Calculus I would be a nightmare.
I suggest that you do whichever is more comfortable.</p>