Math course question

I’m entering vanderbilt in the fall as a neuroscience major. I basically have three choices for my first semester math course: calc 1300/155a, calc 1200/150a, or calc 1201/150b. I have a 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam. I’d heard bad things in the past about the 150 sequence, but apparently they’ve now changed it. I’ve also heard that Hayes isn’t great for 150a. If the 150 sequence is fine now, I’d probably prefer to take 150b since on the syllabus online it basically says that it only covers Calc 1 topics. How would that compare to 155a? Any advice?

I took 150a and 150b my freshman year. The tests covered material that we had gone over in lectures, so if you go to classes regularly and do the homework problems, you can make a good grade. 150a is differentiation based and 150b is integration based, so take the course that plays to your strengths more. If you plan on taking more math, 1300 is the preferred sequence because it saves you a semester. But if you’re only taking math for premed requirements, take 1200/150a. I don’t like to criticize a professor, but 3 of my friends took Hayes for 150a and they went through hell. Always check Vanderbilt Voice, but Rate my Professor has more helpful reviews in my experience.

Thanks Sophie! I suppose I will go with the 150b then, since I’ll have both calcs down without having to take 155 or 150a at all

Definitely avoid the 155 sequence. It’s the most notorious weed out class that exists and Vanderbilt, and is the most failed class at the school.

I would just go ahead and take 150b. As a neuroscience major/pre-med you wouldn’t have to take any more math classes afterwards except stats, and the 150 sequence is significantly easier. The only thing to be aware of is that if you want to take higher level math classes for some reason, you would have to take another class between calc and linear algebra if you take the 150 sequence. This doesn’t really matter for you though I guess since you wouldn’t be able to start with 155b though.

It depends what your objective is. If you want to do something more that just the 150/155 sequence then 155 will probably be better for you because from my understanding if you do 150 you end up having to take a 3rd class for a math major minor. If this is just to fill an MNS credit then 150 will be fine. If there is a pre-req for another class (econ stats) 150 will also be fine. My understanding is that 155 is mostly for engineering students or math students, and there is little reason to take it if you aren’t one of those two. A lot of the differences between 150 and 155 are not necessarily due to the class in particular, but the professor that you take, this is going to be true of every class.