<p>So my school has issues, and decided to offer Multivariable Calculus after school, when everyone has extra-curricular sports and activities. I cannot take the course offered at school because I am a varsity xc runner, probably captain, so I would hate to give up xc.</p>
<p>However, I plan on applying to top schools and all that shenanigans, so I would really hate to not take math. I plan on majoring in something in math, science, or engineering, so math is kinda important. Plus, I reallyyyyy like math.</p>
<p>I've looked at my local city college, where none of the math classes offered that I can take are available in the evenings except for Differential Equations. However, this class requires Multivariable Calculus as a perquisite. I've asked the professor if I could bypass the perquisite, but he refused.</p>
<p>I know there are options online such as Stanford's EPGY, but these are costly, and I don't know if its worth it or not to spend so much money.</p>
<p>My question is, do you think its worth it for me to spend the extra money and take classes online? Or should I drop cross country or math? If so, which one?
sorry for my depressing sob story. I'll be quite now. ):</p>
<p>MIT published the homework, exams, and videos of lectures for their multivariate calculus course online, perhaps you could learn calculus through that, and get extra help with the HS teacher for the class if you need it.</p>
<p>Well, if you can’t get the credit studying it for yourself, I would suggest trying to apply to one of those programs while trying to get financial aid for it so you don’t have to pay as much. That way you can have both.</p>
<p>It’s not Multivar, but if you haven’t taken statistics, it <em>is</em> a math course…and even if you won’t get credit for using MIT’s Multi course, you could do it an explain to colleges that you did.</p>
<p>Linear Algebra could work too if you find a way to take it.</p>
<p>I can see why your counselor would be skeptical of tests you’d take at home, but would it be possible to use the videos to learn the material and take the tests after school with the rest of the class?</p>
<p>hrm. I’ve taken stats already sadly.
I checked the linear algebra course we have at city college and that doesn’t fit in my schedule either.</p>
<p>Michael2010, I emailed the professor about this earlier, asking if I could self study and take the tests at school, but unfortunately he said no. </p>
<p>Maybe I’ll just use the MITs opencourseware and crash learn it or something for the heck of it, but I think my best option now is to try to find a way to reduce the costs of an online course at EPGY or something. </p>
<p>Perhaps it may be best to pursue it on your own, even without credit, for the fun of it. The credit is not going to be particularly useful in college. The way I see it, the next step would be to get yourself familiar with proofs - this will probably help you a lot more than the credit will in college. I’d recommend a proof-based single variable calculus text next (people will usually recommend Apostol, Spivak, or Courant) if you want. Chances are, you learned things like rules for derivatives and integrals without much justification, so seeing them proven may be interesting. Perhaps an easier book in conjunction could be good if you feel overwhelmed at times while reading the calc one. I personally used Apostol and it’s very well written IMO.</p>
