<p>I have been hearing many inconsistencies in the threads that cover the Math classes so I thought I would make another one to clear the air. I have taken Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-cal, and Calculus in high school. The calculus class at my school covers a lot and is no joke. I feel like I've learned a lot in the class. I have heard that Math 150A has standardized/department-wide? tests and that 155A has the tests made out by the actual professors. As long as students with an average calculus background study/ go to office hours, and understand the content/homework problems do you think that the student can make good grades (an A) in 155A? How much faster does 155 go than 150? People say that these chemistry/calculus classes are "weed out" but does that just mean that the kids that were "weeded out" didn't use their resources? Oh! And does anyone have any professor to reccomend? I've already used college confidential, but the more advice the better!</p>
<p>To sum up the mumbo-jumbo, should I take math 155 or math 150? Why? and any professor reccomendations? Thanks so much! :)</p>
<p>DISCLAIMER: I didn’t take 150 or 155. You should try to ask other current students if you can get a hold of them somehow. Maybe try asking on the Facebook group, I know there are few upperclassmen hanging around in there, and they might help/refer you to others. </p>
<p>I recommend 155. You aren’t going to see new material in either class assuming you’ve covered BC material. You have to know calculus like the back of your hand to get an A in 155. You’ll probably get a B. But that’s fine because the standardized tests tests are so bad in 150 that you’d probably get a B there as well and still have to take an additional semester of math (170) to cover everything covered in 155.</p>
<p>If you’re already comfortable integrating you should take 155. In summary, if you HAVE to take one of these classes… both classes have very difficult exams, but 155s are a little more fair because they aren’t standardized. 155 has harder material though, so if you aren’t great at calc, the fact that exams are more fair won’t be helpful, and 150 will probably suit you better.</p>
<p>You’ll quickly learn at Vanderbilt, especially if you’re doing math/science, that there is nothing wrong with a B. I was a kid in highschool who was offended if I didn’t get an A on a test and never got less than an A in a class. Now, I’m quite pleased to get a B in a tough class.</p>
<p>As for professors… Rafter is a GREAT teacher but is notorious for difficult tests. Chance and Bova tend to get good reviews. Can’t really speak for the others. Take a look at ratemyprofessor (and after you take these courses, do the world a favor and submit a rating for them as well).</p>
<p>150/155 and Chem are weed out classes because people who don’t put effort into the classes get C’s or D’s, and are so not used to those grades that they are led to change their major or drop their pre-med aspirations. The classes are really great to get you to start actually trying and putting in effort, which is something a lot of us didn’t have to do in highschool. The material for Chem and 150/155 is not very different than their respective AP exams- they just very difficult exams.</p>
<p>I am hoping to get a spot with Chance/Bova too based on their rate my professor review. I am going to register ASAP when my window starts!</p>
<p>I think Pancaked gave you excellent advice. I can’t improve upon it, but I can tell you what my son did as a freshman and why. He went into his first semester at Vandy planning to be an econ major ; now he is an econ and political science double major. He went in with 34 AP credits, of which he has forfeited four, and those were for AP Calculus AB. His high school did not offer BC. He got a 5 on the Calc AB exam, but still he wasn’t so sure he was equipped for going straight into 155B because this isn’t high school anymore. He took 155A AND 155B because for an econ major, one semester of calculus is a prerequisite for Economic Statistics and Intermediate Micro and Macro and, according to the Department of Economics, “two semesters is [sic] better.” He didn’t even think about Math 150 because of what nicole07 and other posters three years ago said, and after talking with those in 150, he knows he made the right decision. He did not have a choice for professor, however. (This is not the case after first semester, you will find. He actually chose the same professor second semester.) First semester his schedule merely said “Staff.” He ended up with Whitehouse and the comments for '09 and '10 on RateMyProfessors jibe with his opinion; that is, Whitehouse is very entertaining but very difficult. Whitehouse said the final exam was going to be easy. I think my son’s exam grade for 155B was in the 60’s–and he is not one of those slackers to whom Pancaked referred, but Pancaked is right that they do exist. He got a straight B for both courses and felt lucky to get them, and these have proven to be the lowest grades he has gotten at Vanderbilt so far. And yes, like the comments about Whitehouse on rmp.com, he did think he was good at calculus going in haha. I can tell from your posts that you are already studying RateMyProfessors.com, and I think that is wise. My son has done that throughout his first three years. Even the two best picks, who seem to be Chance and Bova now, have hard final exams, according to the comments on rmp.com… My son found that while his high school calc teacher was very generous in giving partial credit for problems, Whitehouse was not. Also, the proofs first semester were hard for him. I think it’s great that you are doing some research and finding out things about college calculus before hitting campus.</p>
<p>These people are teaching 155A this semester. It looks like Bova and Chance may fill up before my registration window opens next week though 
Who else, out of these, would be good to have? </p>
<p>Rasdeaconu
Chifan
Burstein
Bova
Chance
Rafter
Whitehouse</p>
<p>Just check ratemyprofessor! For 155A, you’re going to see a lot of reviews complaining about the tests being hard so ignore that portion of the review. See which teachers have a rep for being good at teaching. That’s what’s important.</p>
<p>Thanks! I have checked ratemyprofessor.com and think that my schedule should be this. These professors got ratings that were consistent. I don’t know who is teaching the spanish one though. it just says staff.</p>
<p>spanish 100- staff
chemistry 102- phillips
math 155- bova or chance if open
medicine health & society writing seminar- yagel</p>
<p>I am praying that these will be open monday morning! Thanks for all of your help!</p>
<p>Enrollment is crazy. Classes go from 40 open spots to closed within 5 seconds. Click quickly, refresh often, and I wish you the best of luck!</p>
<p>All this talk about Weedout classes is making me nervous, even for irrational reasons. I am just so used to making A’s in highschool (A+'s really, my school wasn’t that challenging) and the thought of making a lot of B’s is just scary, lol. Given that I know calculus pretty well, do some people make A’s? The same for Chem102? I have a pretty decent background in both.</p>
<p>Talking about Math 155a and Chem 102A. Also, do you get a separate grade for lab? I assume you do. How hard is it?</p>
<p>People do make A’s of course. Just not very many. Again it’s not that the material that is particularly difficult, as you will have seen most of it before-- the tests are just more challenging than what you are probably used to. </p>
<p>You do get a separate grade for lab. I’ve heard the lab quizzes/tests for Chem101 are really annoying (asking about specific details from long labs). Your lab grade will also depend on how nice your TA is; some are incredibly helpful while others are stingy with grades. Luck of the draw. Nothing to worry about though. Never be afraid to make up numbers to get better results, lol.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice.</p>
<p>Take 155A. End of discussion.</p>