<p>Today is the first day of early registration. I printed out Math 161 and 162 for my son to view. He has taken Calc AP and BC. Thinks he got a 4 or 5 on the BC exam. He felt he had already covered what was in 162. </p>
<p>He looked over 163 and 164, both required for his major in Mech engineering and wondered if he should take one of those instead of 162. I remembered WOW mom mentioned that 162 was like BC but had more.</p>
<p>I know they will meet with advisors during orientation but I figured WOW mom and perhaps others have an opinion about how hard the Math classes are.</p>
<p>I remember that thread you linked. I will print out those exams for my son to look at though I noted they are from 2001. I just printed the course descriptions out from the online system. </p>
<p>My son is majoring in Mech Engineering so in Soph year they are supposed to take 163 and 164 on their course chart, not 165 like others seem to have taken. </p>
<p>I figure by mid July, he will get his AP scores back. I know he wants to be challenged but with it being the first semester, not getting over your head seems appropriate too. I know you can drop back but that also means fitting in alternate class times into your schedule.</p>
<p>DS had AP Calc BC in high school with a 5 on the exam. He went right into Math 164 first semester freshman year with no problem. Got a A in it too But I have to say that he is a math natural. It comes very easy to him.</p>
<p>During freshman orientation, the math department has advisors available to discuss placement and it is very easy to switch, even after classes start.</p>
<p>Thanks ChowdyCat. I just looked on the Math Depts page and they suggest 164 before 163 if your schedule allows it. So I guess it will be between 162 and 164. I looked and schedule wise my S should be okay. Trying to navigate between all the sections needed for Chem was my concern. </p>
<p>BTW for anyone else, the link from PinotNoir’s link for the 162 final doesn’t go through anymore. This is current link for a 162 final</p>
<p>D2 took Calc BC in high school and went into 164 with no issues. </p>
<p>She also TAed for 162, 164 and 165 multiple times. She thinks that Calc BC–if taught well at the high school-- was a perfectly adequate replacement for 162. (In fact, she said compared to her high school BC class, she thought 162 at UR was easier.)</p>
<p>MTH 163 is more or less an engineering specific class. It really will help to take MTH 164 first. (There are some techniques covered in 164 that students are assumed to know for 163.)</p>
<p>If your son scores well on the AP exam and feels confident in his skills, I recommend he start with 164.</p>
<p>A subject we’ve been hashing over, same situation. However - when I look at electrical they suggest you take 165/163 first, then take 164. That seems out of order to me. Wouldn’t it make more sense to do multivariable calc, then linear algebra?</p>
<p>Here’s what the math department says on the subject</p>
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<p>It’s scheduling issue for engineering majors. Their second semester soph classes require a knowledge of the differential equations methods covered in 163/165.</p>
<p>If your son has AP credit and will place out of either Calc 1 or Calc 2, by all means suggest he take 164 first–it’ll make his life much easier.</p>
But I have to say that he is a math natural. It comes very easy to him.</p>