How hard is MATH at DUKE?

<p>I've heard about how hard math is @duke. What's the required math class@ duke? Like, if u got a 5 on the BC Exam, will u still have to take math?? Or a semester of math is required???</p>

<p>Are you an engineer?</p>

<p>If an engineer, you have 103 (multivariable), 107 (linear algebra + some ODE), and 108 (ODE + PDE) and Stat 113 in front of you. Otherwise, I THINK you're done...</p>

<p>if you're econ you need calc1/calc2 (31 and 32) which are covered by AB and BC respectively
I say, if you can pass out... DO it. Don't think its going to be an easy A!
And after that you'll need one more semester of either 102 or 103. Multivariable more or less
And then Stat 103</p>

<p>If you're pre-med a 5 in BC would place you in 103, which is what you'd need to take for your math requirement. If you're not a math genius, my advice is to fore-go your AP credits and take 31 or 32. Honestly. 103 was the first class that really ruined my science GPA, and I had always thought I was relatively good at math. They'll all be hard, but you have more of a chance of doing better in 31/32.</p>

<p>im thinking about majoring in PoliSci...sooo, I guess I'm done?? YIPEEE (not that im gonna get in, but..yeah..)</p>

<p>How about BME requirements?</p>

<p>I'd go with Math 41 (which is WAY better than math 32)</p>

<p>dpattzlover: read the engineering requirements, it's applicable to the entire engineering school. Individual majors usually do not specify requirements in departments other than itself.</p>

<p>^except for Chemistry and Biology; BME requires 2 Chem credits and 2 Bio credits. If I'm not mistaken, the other 3 engineering majors require only 1 Chem and 1 Bio (though I think you might have to take more than that to fulfill the engineering natural science req).</p>

<p>But yeah, math's the same across the board.</p>

<p>Math is hard at Duke...from what I have heard the math department prides itself on being one of the best in the country and recruits kids offered admission at Harvard etc. to come to Duke for math. What that means is that in upper level classes the weaker students drop leaving kids in class with the strongest math students and making the curve very challenging. Duke appazrentlhy wants to graduate a small number of kids with math degrees. The Profs in the department are very helpful and will work with kids who need assistance, but the curve is the problem. Once the weaker students drop- then you are competing with trully advanced students- math kids who have did all their EC in HS gong to math camps- Big Bang Theory math kids. This makes getting a good grade challenging as where the average kid might be learning the material for the first time- it is a second language fo the strongest kids. In my view it is really a placement issue. While I was not a Dukie- (S attends) I had a similar experience in a language program at another college. Imagine for example Mauel Rodriguez, Hernando de La Puente etc. from South America who barely speak English taking a five credit language course for a first year beginer course. Guess who gets the A's on a curve and what grades on a bell curve the real first year kids get? It may not be fair but more advanced students always take classes they will ace. Duke I think does screen a bit but in the harder upper level classes some kids are just more fluent and elegant in math.</p>

<p>really? Duke math is one of the best in the country? Wow, that's news to me. If true, I guess it's more power to them.</p>

<p>The only math class that is a real pain-in-the-ass is 103 especially if you haven't taken multivariable calculus and don't get one of the professors the 1st-registration window freshmen take right away.
I got a B in the class but most of the people I know who did better already took multi-variable in high school.</p>

<p>Duke Math is one of 'the best' in the sense that it won some Putnam competitions in recent years.
I wouldn't say that, compared to its peer schools, that Duke math is exceptional.
I took a Number Theory course at CTY which was taught by a Duke alum, who did really well at Putnamish stuff.</p>

<p>lol Mondo, I beg to differ. Math 32 was a HUGE pain-in-the-ass. I heard somewhere that it's the most failed class at Duke, but I don't have anything to back that statement up.</p>

<p>I disagree that the math department at Duke is exceptional. I think most of the professors are lackluster to awful (I had a few exceptions).</p>

<p>^I agree with Madboy. I never took 32 (went straight to 103), but all my friends who took both said 103 was a million times worse.</p>

<p>I'd say 108 gives 103 or 32 a run for its money...And would probably win, too.</p>

<p>The way I see it, is if you're an engineer, you should jump to 103 if you can
Same with if you're an econ major
BUT
if you are premed, and all you need is 2 semesters of quantitative whatever, go into 31/32
A hard "A", but you'll have an easier time than in 103
From what premed people I know have said, A lot that got 5s are just... using that as credit for med school and then going to take stat... 102? or one of those and thats it
Apparantly an advisor recommended that to them but I don't tihnk I would do that. Applying to med school using AP credit for math seems lazy</p>

<p>But who knows
I'm just an econ major</p>

<p>I going to be a BME with a premed. From the advice I have gotten its better to skip to multi-variable if you have the BC credit.</p>

<p>Definitely, if you are an engineer, you don't really want to take more math classes than you have to. I went into math 103 after BC in HS.</p>

<p>My school does not offer Calculus BC.....what should I do?</p>