<p>ok so Im a ChemE major and I went to my NSC on the 16th and 17th
I signed up for Math 152 (Calc 2) even though the advisor warned us to be really careful about selecting a math course. I think I can handle it but im kinda second guessing my self now. Is it really that hard? I don't want to be in a "weed-out" class without being confident that I can handle it.
Can anyone tell me how the class is (professor(s), curves etc.)?
Thank you!</p>
<p>You’re going straight to MATH 152? Did you test out of MATH 151? If it was an AP test, what was your score? If a class, what was your grade?</p>
<p>I’m doing the same thing as you, and am 100% confident regarding my abilities to do well. Honestly, I think all this “advising” students to take the former course to “brush up” on Math skills is a big scheme to milk some more money out of the students.</p>
<p>Even if one had received a 5 on the Calculus AP tests, the advisors would “suggest” one to retake the course, which would seemingly tone one’s calculus skills. It seems like a bunch of BS.</p>
<p>Be confident, stay in the class. If you study, you’ll be fine. </p>
<p>Cheers</p>
<p>“Even if one had received a 5 on the Calculus AP tests, the advisors would “suggest” one to retake the course, which would seemingly tone one’s calculus skills. It seems like a bunch of BS.”</p>
<p>Advice from a parent with an engineering degree from looong ago:
For engineering majors a good Calculus background is super-important. It will make all the maths go much easier. If you totally aced the HS class and the AP test then you’re probably good-to-go for the second one. If not, why not take it… .get an A and pad that gpa a little for later!</p>
<p>Fact: Math 141 142 151 152 are the most flunked courses at A&M.
My daughters Architectrure counselor would not allow not startning with the beginning course even with a 5 on the AP Calculus test.
As an engineering student from the late 70’s, math has always been a weed out course for A&M… I have personal experience with having to retake a Calculus course at Blinn.
I don’t think it would be a bad idea to start wth Math 151… just saying</p>
<p>Isn’t Math 141 & 142 business calculus? That should be much easier than the other Calculus classes. o.O I’d take Math 152 if I aced the Calc AB/BC test.</p>
<p>And don’t mean to threadjack, but does anyone know anything about Math 147/148? Calc for Bio & Med? I think it’s new and there are very bad reviews for the book/classes at UCLA. I’m scared. ;/</p>
<p>I can say without a doubt that those who ace their AP tests will have no trouble with the succeeding courses.</p>
<p>Calculus courses may be the weed out courses, but beware of the moneymaking system called a university. 4 credit hours per student (retaking MATH 151) x a couple hundred = lots of $$$</p>
<p>If you didn’t make a 4-5 on the Calc AP tests, I suggest you retake. If not, BEASTTTTTTTT the class! :D</p>
<p>If anything, most colleges want you to graduate as soon as possible. They don’t want kids lingering around for five or six years when they can graduate in four.</p>
<p>well, I took calculus BC in HS and got a mid “B” but got a 5 on the AP test… I got an A in first semester which is equivalent to Math 151 so I think im ok with that…
Thanks for the responses!</p>
<p>Good Luck then!</p>
<p>Not to scare you, but I got a 5 on the AP test and got a D in Calc II after skipping Calc I. Just make sure you stay on top of your homework, take good notes, study actively, and go to class! My first semester was full of mistakes with time management and having too much fun, so that’s really the only reason I got a D (not to mention I assumed the prof would curve).</p>
<p>95% of Calc. profs at A&M tend to curve none, and the ones that do curve generously always get signed up for before you can manage to register (Amy Austin). I’ve already taken Calc. I-III, and DiffEq, and none of mine have curved at all. On top of that, some Calc. profs have accents that are hard to understand. Most averages on tests are in the low to mid 60’s, probably more in the low to mid 70’s for DiffEq and few Calc. I-III classes. And remember, a D means you have to retake. So, from those statistics if the averages are in the D range you can see how they get the reputation of being “weed-out” courses.</p>
<p>As long as you always do your homework and study a good amount you should do fine, but I wouldn’t always expect an A for your math classes (you’ll learn to be satisfied with a B). I’m not trying to scare you, just make you realize that the easy days of HS AP Calc. are over.</p>
<p>Thanks gstein! hopefully if I study it will be ok
by the way, do you know if these classes utilize a bell curve distribution of grades? or is that teacher’s preference?</p>
<p>teacher’s preference. check sites like pickaprof, they’ll tell you a prof’s actual distribution of grades.</p>