<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>I am quite stuck in a situation right now. Last year (May 2009), I got a 5 on the AP Calculus BC test. However, this year I did not take any relevant calculus courses to keep my memory fresh. I am split among three choices:</p>
<p>Math 1A with Christ
Math 1B with Olsson
Math 53</p>
<p>What course should I take? I am a chemical biology student at the College of Chemistry, and I hear that actually, all three of these courses are pretty tough. Has anyone had any of these professors, and which do you suggest I take? I feel like my calculus might be rusty, but I think I am going to self-review the textbook over the summer before Fall 2010. Thanks so much in advance.</p>
<p>How can you go wrong with a class taught my Christ? Okay, just kidding.</p>
<p>It really depends on your work ethic. I don’t know what the math requirements are for COC students but If I were to pick, I’d go with 1B. The class is hard but it’s doable if you’re willing to practice doing problems. if you just need one semester of calculus, stick with 1A.</p>
<p>Oh, I need 4 semesters of calculus, Math 1A, 1B, 53, and 54. However, 1A and 1B can both be waived if you get a 5 on the AP Calculus BC test, in which I did.</p>
<p>I was in the same situation, and I went ahead and skipped into 1B. If I had to do it again, I’d start with 1A. 1B ended up being more difficult than I thought it’d be (perhaps it was my professor).</p>
<p>A year ago, I was in the same position. After hearing from everyone that I shouldn’t be too ambitious during my first semester, I took math 1B. To this day, I regret wasting a semester on that class. Also, the book required for math 1a-1b is expensive and doesn’t make a great references.</p>
<p>Save yourself time and money and go for 53 or 54.</p>
<p>Don’t be afraid to consider taking math 53. I mean, as long as you review the calculus you’ve learned and understand everything again and know how to do the derivatives and integrals from the AP classes, you’ll be in good shape. Math 1B is reputed to be extremely difficult, and I feel like CalSO counselors and other similar people just try to scare you into forgoing your AP credit and taking Math 1A again.</p>
<p>FYI, Math 54 barely requires calculus at the BC level. However, I’d say take 53 before 54, just so calculus is as fresh as possible in your mind.</p>
<p>Math 53 is not a very difficult class. I doubt the 53 professors would be as difficult as that one professor whose midterm average was 18/90, or something like that. He seems to have been an exception. I enjoyed it, personally.</p>
<p>Math 53. I cannot stress enough how stupid of an idea it would be to take the Math 1 series if you can pass out of it, unless you’re a math major.</p>
<p>If it’s been a year since you last took Calc, you could go with either 53 or 54, honestly. 53’s a computational/mechanical class, 54’s much more abstract for 2/3s and then rote memorization for the end.</p>
<p>BUT DO NOT TAKE THE 1 SERIES.</p>
<p>Would Math 54 be considered “calculus”?</p>
<p>Let’s say that grad school requirements require one year of calculus with differential equations. Would taking only Math 53 and 54 satisfy this requirement?</p>
<p>Technically yes. It depends what grad school you’re applying for. Unless you’re going for engineering school, you definitely don’t need any math beyond 53/54. If you are going for engineering or some actuarial science, even though Berkeley doesn’t require you to take upper div math, you SHOULD take them anyway to have better chances.</p>
<p>Definitely take math 53. I had the same choice as you and I made a dumb decision and started with math1a. 1A/1B aren’t as easy as you think they are. In general, I would skip whatever you can.</p>
<p>I agree with everything that has been said.
If you can skip out of it, do it.
The 1 series is unreasonably hard, especially 1b.
Protect your gpa and don’t waste time.</p>
<p>Math 53 is a great class. I think I learned more in that class than in anything I’ve learned more about math in that class than in all my previous math classes combined (including Math 1B).</p>