<p>I need some help in deciding which math course to take. I'll be a freshman majoring in architecture, so I believe I need to take Math 16A as a requisite. However, I'm not sure if I'm really prepared for it so I was wondering if someone could give me a little guidance. I've taken math courses each year of high school, but I have no experience higher than precalculus. When I am in math courses, I tend to do very well... but I simply haven't been exposed to lots of higher level work, which concerns me. I took the UCB math placement exam and scored, out of the 8 areas, 3 "inadequate," 3 "adequate," and 2 "superior." Most of the inadequate marks were from the "easy" level problems, which sort of baffles me. Based on this, should I just take Math 32 to be safe and then schedule a higher level course for later on? Or would I be OK in 16A? .... Or am I completely ignorant to how the system works? Any help in figuring this out would be awesome.</p>
<p>ya choosing your first math course is one of the harder things to do...a lot of people are going to try to figure this out later on. if you've never taken calculus before, then it would probably be a good idea to take math 32 first, just so you can get a feel for college level work and exams, and then take the 16 series after. but if you're still questioning, your schedule doesn't have be set in stone for the first week or two. one possibility would be to start in 16A, and see how you like that. if you're not feelin it, then you can change your schedule. so you have some options that you can think about.</p>
<p>I would take 16A and just get it over with. It's not that bad.</p>
<p>So there is a grace period to move in and out of classes? Is Math 32 remedial, or will it factor into my GPA? The worst case scenario is I end up making an A in an easier class and brush up on my foundation work...</p>
<p>I'm really torn between getting it out of the way or getting a (hopefully) review... hmm.</p>
<p>Thanks for your answers.</p>
<p>Don't count on getting an easy A by taking an easier class. College courses don't work that way.</p>
<p>Well, if the material is easier, why wouldn't I be able to perform better?</p>
<p>The idea isn't to get a better grade, btw. I want to prepare myself for what really matters. I'm just not sure if I'm qualified to jump in right away... Can anyone give me an idea of how in-depth the calculus is? An example? I can't find much in the course catalogues, other than vague descriptions.</p>
<p>^^me too...i'd like to see an example</p>
<p>"Well, if the material is easier, why wouldn't I be able to perform better?"</p>
<p>It's not a matter of your performing better, it's a matter of your performing better relative to your classmates (i.e., I'm talking about curves).</p>
<p>Azure326 pretty much has it right.</p>
<p>If the exams are easier and everyone get good grades, the course curve will be steeper. If the material is difficult and everyone bombs the exams, then the curve will be nicer.</p>
<p>That makes sense.</p>
<p>Will counselors be any help in selecting with me? Should I schedule Math 16A for the second semester and do as much investigating as possible in the mean time to see if I can handle the course work? It can't be that bad and I can always polish my skills independently... or is this a bad idea? </p>
<p>Heh, I feel so... ignorant. Thanks for your answers, guys.</p>