Freshman Course advice

<p>Just wondering...as an Economics major coming in with a 5 on the AP Calc BC exam, which math course would you recommend? My son is signed up for Math 175 (multi-variable calc) and I'm concerned that the Vandy math courses will be much harder than what he had in HS and he should be starting at a lower level..Does anybody have experience with this?</p>

<p>Also, as an Honors Spanish student for 4 years with A's in HS but a 2 on the AP exam, does Spanish 201W sound like a good place to start?</p>

<p>He obviously got advice from his advisor but I like to get feedback from kids who have taken the courses as well.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Re: Spanish, There’s a placement exam that he can take online at Vanderbilt.edu <a href=“http://www.vanderbilt.edu/csls/placement_info.php[/url]”>http://www.vanderbilt.edu/csls/placement_info.php&lt;/a&gt; That’s your best bet.</p>

<p>From the Spanish department website…Students who have received a 4 or 5 on the AP test should take Spanish 201W (Intermediate Spanish Writing). Students with a 3 should take Spanish 104 (Intermediate Spanish). </p>

<p>My son took college intermediate Spanish (equivalent to 104), but only tested into 103 on the Vandy placement test. :/</p>

<p>I had the same concerns about my son starting in Multivariable…his advisor said that most students often find Calc II more difficult.</p>

<p>Thanks for the feedback…at the risk of sounding completely lost (but I am!) what is Calc II?</p>

<p>In our discussion with the School of Engineering, S was told that if he achieved a 5 on the AP BC test and felt comfortable with his knowledge of calculus to enroll in multi variable calculus. He was also told that he could change math classes in the first two weeks of the semester. The advisor said that he should be able to determine in that time if multi variable calculus is the correct class for him.</p>

<p>He’s enrolled in Math 175.</p>

<p>Calc II= calculus 2 (155b) :)</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

<p>Why is he taking calculus at all? He should already have his calculus requirement fulfilled by AP credit.</p>

<p>He really likes math and was going back and forth between being a math major and an economics major.</p>

<p>In that case, I’d say 175. It it’s easy but there’s no reason to suffer through 155 unnecessarily for a kid who likes math and possibly looking at going further in it.</p>

<p>For most econ majors, just 150 will suffice (use to be a terrible course due to standardized exams, but these have been eliminated).</p>

<p>On another note, my son was in Honors Spanish through HS and got A’s in class, but only got a 2 on the AP. However, when he took the online test, he placed in Spanish 201W. Any thoughts? I’m concerned as that class was only recommended for those with a 4 or 5 on the AP…</p>

<p>It’s up to him. There’s no harm in starting with an easier Spanish course. He can also start in 201W and drop down to a lower level course within the first two weeks if it looks too challenging.</p>

<p>Thanks, I appreciate the feedback!</p>

<p>for an econ major not interested in going very far in math, would cal 140 suffice? or is 150 the bare minimum?</p>

<p>I have a friend who took 140 and the department allowed that to fulfill the requirement. However, your son will have to speak to someone about doing that.</p>