<p>How hard is it to get an A in Math53/54 (Linear alg + diff eq together) and multivariable calc? And how many hours a day do you have to put in for these classes during the summer session? And how good are the teachers, or do you know any that are easier, nicer, or better at teaching? Is being very solid in AP calc BC good enough for these classes, or is it possible to do catchup as the class is taught if Calc BC isn't enough? Do students backstab and give you wrong info to trip you up? I really want to take these classes this summer, sorry for all the questions, but these would really help me decide if i should take them. thx guys.</p>
<p>how good are the teachers - best source is courserank and ratemyprof. and word of mouth…but the professors seem to change every semester so it’s easier just to look at ratings.
53/54 depends on which material you understand. most people find 54 easier because the algebra/equating is simpler. but the concepts are harder, in my opinion, and its way more memorization. personally i liked 53 and found it easy. 54…noooo.
hours - depends on how fast you learn? i’m friends with sethian, he’s like one of the main math people at berkeley, and he says that he is a math genius, and still had to put in at least 25 hrs of work a week for the course to succeed. you can use that info how you please. i just feel like professors dont realize we cant put 25 hrs into every course :P</p>
<p>Thanks. So is 53/54 in one class much harder then? Like do only the really smart math people take it? Oh and is the grading harder in the summer, like the curve and all, or is the grading nicer because… I don’t really know…</p>
<p>What makes you think that there is any combined Math 53/54 class? For that matter, what makes you think that Math 53 isn’t multivariable calc?</p>
<p>I don’t know how good you are at math, but calc bc is quite EASY compared to math at Cal. People who get 5’s on BC may still struggle in Math 1A. My friend who took Math 53 his 1st semester at Cal (got a 5 on BC) ended up with a D-. However, if you are willing to put in a lot of work into the class or are a math genius you will be fine.</p>
<p>If you were stupid enough to take the 1 series after getting a 5 on BC, you deserve whatever you get, tbqh.</p>
<p>During the summer, GSIs usually teach the math classes so it’s even more of a crap shoot on getting a good teacher for the class.</p>
<p>That said, I recommend taking just one of those classes. I know you think pretty highly of yourself, but math classes at cal really are different than those in high school (speaking from experience). </p>
<p>It’s a good idea to test the waters out first before messing up your gpa if you can’t handle the load.</p>
<p>if you can take Math 53 during the regular school year with John Neu, i would highly recommend it. he gives a lot of A’s and his tests were easy because he told us EXACTLY what was on the test the lecture prior to it. </p>
<p>@jon: some people like me take math at cal after getting 5’s because 2 semester of math are a requirement for med school. however, something i didn’t know was that you can just take the 16 series instead though to fulfill that requirement.</p>
<p>yea neu rocked…i admit i barely learned anything from him in lecture, but his reviews were spot on, no surprises, and his curves are good. plus he has a good sense of humor 
so glad i used credit to skip instead of retake math 1a/1b…gave me an extra year of space for other classes :)</p>
<p>@jonno: I’m taking the 1 series after getting a 5 on the AB test and I find that the 1 series is possible to do well on. Tbqh, its more a reflection of how much work/time you put into the class.</p>
<p>Hey, I was looking into Peralta community college, and I was wondering if a Calculus III course is basically calculus d? It only says “partial differentiation” in the description. And Berkeley city college has basically no multivariable, or differential equation classes.</p>
<p>oh btw these are cc’s near berkeley, i might go to these for just the summer b/c summer coueses are ucb are all like 1000+ dollars.</p>
<p>wait so is this correct
calc I - AP calc AB
calc II - AP calc BC
Calc III - multivariable = calc D</p>
<p>Ok, i’m confused. Is calc d = multivariable, and it is generally acceptable to take calc d(which = multivariable i think?) right after calc bc?</p>
<p>and difficulty, placement-wise, and prerequisite-wise, is this true</p>
<p>Go from Calc BC to either
Calc D(multivariable)
Linear algebra
differential equations, since these three are all same difficulty?</p>
<p>So are these 3 classes on the same level? these aren’t arranged in any sequence?</p>
<p>and what the heck does calc I II III correspond to in this?</p>
<p>Neu’s insane (not insanely hard, just weird. Though funny). Finding a good LD lecturer is pretty hard; most of them despise it.</p>
<p>every college has its own nomenclature for classes. </p>
<p>use assist.org to check as it will show you which Cal classes a given schools courses match, if they are considered equivalent for credit.</p>
<p>[ASSIST</a> Report: BERKELEY 09-10 UCB Articulation Agreement by Department](<a href=“Welcome to ASSIST”>Welcome to ASSIST)</p>
<p>In this case, Calc I = Cal’s 1A, Calc II = 1B, Calc III = Cal’s Math 53</p>
<p>If you’re taking them at a community college it is very likely you will find them painstakingly easy.</p>
<p>I took Multi (Calling it Calc D is confusing), DE, and LA at community colleges and they were way too easy. </p>
<p>That is why I’m definitely taking Math 110 at Cal, I’m just not sure that the rigor of the LA class at a Community College was sufficient.</p>