<p>Hey guys, I'm a sophomore finishing AP Calculus BC this semester, and I'm interested in taking multi variable calculus at UCLA this summer. Math 32A is the course approved for high school students. I have a few questions regarding this course for you fine UCLA students - </p>
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<li><p>What's the difference between the lecture and discussion course? Should I have any preference towards one or the other?</p></li>
<li><p>How difficult is this course? I'm pretty good at AP Calc and I understand all the concepts, but will this be far more difficult (like, totally insane? or just challenging?)?</p></li>
<li><p>About how much will this cost? It's four units, and high school students are considered Visiting students, who pay $309 per unit. So, my total will be $1236 + any other registration fees, correct? </p></li>
<li><p>How much will this benefit me down the line? I'm sure it will transfer and everything, right? What's next from here?</p></li>
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<p>Sorry if some of the questions are phrased poorly. Thanks for reading! Any replies are well appreciated.</p>
<p>Lecture is where the professor presents the material. Discussion is where the TA goes over the HW. Most people don’t show up to the latter except to turn in HW if applicable. (and to enroll in 32A you enroll in a discussion section)</p>
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<p>It might be easy, it might be challenging. It probably won’t be totally insane.</p>
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<p>It’ll give you the chance to be an advanced student when you get to college. It will be good to not have a huge gap between when you take single variable and multivariable. Obviously it will look pretty good on college applications.</p>
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<p>Depends on where you go to college, but it would probably transfer to most places.</p>
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<p>After 32A is the second quarter of multivariable calculus, then Linear Algebra and Differential Equations.</p>
<p>I don’t know how soon I would be able to take 32B. Is it terrible if there’s a semester or so gap? Like, if I take it next Spring or next summer?</p>
<p>Having a gap isn’t that bad, though you’ll want to make sure you can take it during the school year. If you can’t take it in Session C and would just be waiting until next summer to take 32B, I think it would be better to take multivariable at SMC where you can get it out of the way in one go. Then next summer you could take 33A and 33B at UCLA.</p>
<p>You can totally do 32A session A and 32B in the fall through UCLA Extension. Then 33A and 33B in winter and spring if the times are OK for you. Each will probably take a large chunk of time, but it would be worth it to free up credits later on. You would go to both the lecture and the discussion for the same class.</p>
<p>My advice - take it at a community college. Two reasons.</p>
<p>A. It’s harder at UCLA. When you’re applying to college as a freshman, an A at a community college is worth more than a B at UCLA. They won’t look down on your for taking a course at a community college. Any college coursework taken while in high school is looked at as a positive.</p>
<p>B. Most community colleges are on semesters. At most area CC’s, you’ll get credit for both UCLA’s Math 32A and 32B by taking just one CC multivariable calc course. More bang for way less buck.</p>
<p>I agree with the above poster. Take multivariable calculus at SMC. 32AB is probably the hardest two-series lower div math courses here at LA (32B is definitely the hardest in subject material). Plus if you take it at SMC over summer you knock out both 32A and 32B with one class. Save you a lot of time and will surely be easier. An A in community college class is better than a B here at UCLA once you are applying to colleges, not to mention less tuition fees.</p>