<p>I know this may be jumping the gun, but I'm an incoming freshman this fall and was wondering if math 32a would be the right math class to take. I took BC calc last year and passed with a score of 5 but the thing is I am currently taking multivar calc/ calc 3 offered through uiuc but taught at our school. I don't really want to take multivar again and sit through lectures on things I already know like net flow/gauss green/vector calculus, yet at the same time I do realize that taking it over would give me a more solid foundation. I currently have a solid A in the class, if that makes any difference. And.. I'm going premed. I have heard about 3 being easier but I like math (gasp) and so would rather take the 31 sequence. I'm not even sure if my credit (I get a grade at school and at UIUC) would transfer over (haven't looked too much into it yet) but if it did, would it be better for me to take math 32ab and basically repeat multivar or take 33a? Thank you!</p>
<p>We’re on the same boat here. I am currently taking Calc 3 at a community college and planning to take Linear Algebra and Differential Equation over the summer. I don’t see the point of retaking the class unless you want to boost you GPA, which can be a wise thing to do. Besides, I don’t think the UCLA will allow you to repeat the class when you already earned the credits. </p>
<p>If you have the credits, I suggest taking 33a. Honestly, 31b was the hurdle for me. 32a/b were not as difficult.</p>
<p>But 33a may not be the best class to take in your first quarter in Westwood.</p>
<p>@leo0895 I’m just afraid of the possibility that multivar was taught differently/had different curriculums and therefore I wouldn’t be as prepared for ucla’s 33a which could mean a gpa drop.</p>
<p>@dontcha why do you say that (besides the obvious taking lin algebra first quarter of college)? how did you fare 33a and how bad of a class was it? did you need solid 32a/b foundation? i’m more afraid of taking 32a/b because of the things i’ve heard about chayes haha…</p>
<p>thank you both for your responses!</p>
<p>Math 33a has nothing to do with Math 32a/b. In fact, the requisites for math 33a allow you to take it with only 3B or 31B credit so that tells you 32a/b not needed. If I were you, I’d just skip 32a/b. It’s not worth the headache of retaking. And with regards to what you heard about Chayes, that’s just because Chayes was horrible (my friends had him). Class difficulty depends on the professor. </p>
<p>@forgetfulgreen </p>
<p>I avoided Chayes; I’m not sure that’s still possible. Also, take Balmer for 33a if he’s still around.</p>
<p>Otherwise I agree with everything @TheEarlyBird just said.</p>
<p>If you take a semester-long multivariable calculus class at a college/university, you will likely get credit for UCLA’s Math 32A and 32B, and you will have to skip them, since you are not allowed to repeat courses that you have credit for (unless it’s something you took at UCLA and got a C- or lower).</p>