<p>I was accepted to Duke and I was wondering if I should use AP credit to place out of Math 31 and 32 and go directly to Math 103. I heard that Math 31 and 32 are not easy grades, even to those who have had a year of BC Calc, and that you should use AP Credit to get a year ahead in math because Math 103 is just as difficult. Is this true? Imput from current Duke students would greatly be appreciated.</p>
<p>It depends. What do you want to major in? What do you want to do? </p>
<p>If you are an engineer, I would highly recommend going into 103, since you have to take 5 semesters of math without AP credit. If you are an econ major, I would recommend going into 102, since it’s the “econ” majors class. If you’re going to be a math major, you should be going into 104, since that’s the math major intro class. If you want to be a pre-med/science major, you really don’t need any more math above the AP level (though you still need QS credits). </p>
<p>Although I personally used college credit in lieu of 103, several of my friends who took it as a dual-enrollment course in high decided not to. Many of them now regret that decision since 1) it’s a relatively hard class 2) a great number of your classmates will be retaking the class 3) it’s curved rather harshly. However, if you buckle down and study enough, you should be fine.</p>
<p>I will possibly be an economics major. The reason I dont want to enter Math 102 is because if i decide to change my major to something else quantitative like math or physics, Math 102 wont help whereas math 103 works for basically any major. Did you see any major differences in difficulty between Math 31/32 with Math 103 or even Math 102?</p>
<p>I am currently a freshman at Duke, and I strongly recommend placing out of as many math classes as possible. Math here is extremely difficult, and you want to take as few semesters of it as possible. Math 32, from what I hear, is the worst math, and you definitely want to place out of it. One of my friends took BC Calc in high school, scored a 4, and then took retook 31 when she got here. Received a C+ in the class. I am an engineer, and I placed out of 31 and 32, and it was the best decision I made. 31 and 32 will be hard, won’t help you in any of your upper level math classes enough to justify retaking the course, and will just lower your GPA. Trust me, take 102 or 103.</p>
<p>The tests are hard.
The curves are harsh.
The students are smart (everyone used to be amazing at math in High School)</p>
<p>Stay away from Duke math, or skip as many classes as you can. I got 5 and 5 on AB/BC, but only managed to pull a B+ in Math 32. The class was totally miserable and time consuming. To make the matter worse, at least when I took it, some sections were taught by departmental instructors/graduate students. </p>
<p>The material is more difficult, but trust me Math 103 is an exponentially easier class. TAKE MATH 103 (or equivalent)</p>
<p>So is the math major really harsh at Duke or does it get better after these intro classes?</p>
<p>Stay away from math 103 unless it’s absolutely necessary. It was by far the most difficult and frustrating class for me, and I took it with one of the best professors (now retired) and managed to do OK on the final. </p>
<p>Try some other classes first to see what major you want - if you decide on econ, do the math 102. If you really want engineering, that is the only way I would ever recommend math 103. I rushed into math 103 and there was really no need since I wound up being a psych major anyway.</p>
<p>*My point is not that Math 103 is easy; it is just easier than Math 32. Skip Duke math classes unless it is absolutely required. All the Duke math classes until upper level, junior+ for math majors, have harsh curves.</p>
<p>Ok, thanks btw did you guys think that Math 103 was much harder than Math 102 for Econ Majors?</p>
<p>what if i place out Math 31 but not 32, is that even worse since 32 is too hard? Should i force my self to get there credits at another school in the summer?</p>
<p>^I’m in the same situation. I took Calc AB my junior year, got a 5, but haven’t touched any hard math since (did AP Stat this year).</p>