<p>Hi all! I've never been offered the opportunity to take calculus by junior year (I am a rising junior who is just wrapping up pre-calc), so I'm a bit worried how that'll play when the "time" comes. At this pace, I'll only finish calculus BC by senior year. Even applications for some summer programs worry me, ahhhhh. I was hoping to take some college courses over the summer (probably at my local university) in differential equations and linear algebra without background knowledge in calculus. Do you guys think it's feasible? I'm usually scoring around 100% (not 100% because of stupid errors a lot of the times, haha) on my pre-calc tests, and I've actually also set up an independent study (this awesome thing at my school that lets you study stuff by yourself and still get credit for it) for AP Stats, which I'll get ahead over the summer. Inputs? Thanks!</p>
<p>Why not take calculus at the local college if you want to accelerate? I would not jump from pre-calc into Diff Eq and Linear Algebra. </p>
<p>In addition, what makes you think that you should be accelerated beyond finishing Calc BC as a senior?</p>
<p>You can take Linear Algebra concurrently with Calc, and then you can take differential equations</p>
<p>you cannot take diff eq without calc. I would not recommend doing linear without calc either, but its not required. Also, most people only get through BC if they are accelerated at normal high schools, so you are fine.</p>
<p>I don’t think they will even let you do this anywhere. That’s for a good reason too. </p>
<p>Linear Algebra CAN be taken without Calculus. Differential equations CAN NOT.</p>
<p>Upon that, I highly recommend taking Lin Alg and Calc concurrently, or taking Calc before Lin Alg.</p>
<p>You see, Calc is your first introduction to higher level mathematics. Linear Algebra takes that, and makes it abstract. If you never took calc and jumped into Lin Alg, then you will have a tough time dealing with the abstractness of the new topic.</p>
<p>There are video lectures on YouTube for linear algebra and differential equations. Watch a couple of the beginning ones and see how much you understand without calculus. </p>
<p>Differential equations requires that you have a good command of differentiation and integration. In most places it has Calculus II as a prerequisite, and some places it even requires Calculus III because partial derivatives come up a few times. Linear algebra doesn’t actually have calculus in it, but it requires some degree of “mathematical maturity” that not everyone has coming out of pre-calculus. </p>
<p>
Calculus classes are usually very computational just like high school algebra classes, and not really reminiscent of upper-level math major classes (I’m told). </p>
<p>I wouldn’t even recommend Calc and linear Algebra concurrently.
It can be done, but I wouldn’t recommend it. </p>
<p>Asking if you can take Differential Equations without Calc is like asking if you should learn Algebra before you learn addition or multiplication… </p>
<p>Linear Algebra, maybe, but definitely not Diff.</p>
<p>Your funny.</p>
<p>What about his funny?</p>
<p>*You’re</p>
<p>Me funny too.</p>
<p>*I’m :)</p>
<p>why do u wanna do that tho, do what you can do at your school. I got into MIT and I’m only taking calc AB my senior year</p>
<p>Honestly, I feel awfully horrible about myself because I went to a private school from K-8, so I never knew about reaaaaly accelerated math programs (there are kids at my neighboring high school that have finished Calculus BC their freshman year), and I think I could’ve gotten in had I been given the opportunity. Currently, I am taking the highest level math my high school (now public) is offering me, but I want to do more. Anyway, thanks for all the replies, guys!</p>
<p>It is admirable that you want to do more, but that might be a little too much. </p>
<p>
Then you’re fine. You might look into math competitions. </p>
<p>Alright. Do you think it’s feasible to do linear algebra the summer of next year, though? I’ll finish Calculus AB by the end of the upcoming school year.</p>
<p>no, you really should take at least BC, if not multivar before you take linear because of “math maturity” . At my school BC is a prereq for linear.</p>