<p>I'm probably posting this in the wrong place, but I'm sure you guys would know the answer to this and I don't know where else to go...
So, I'm a Freshman, Chemical Engineering major, going into his second semester. I'm expected to take 5 semesters of math, and next semester I'm doing calc 2 for math/physical sciences. I have this STRONG passion for math, and I was considering taking the honors sequence starting next semester (I'd have to get special permission since I'm not in the honors program, but I'm fairly certain I'd be able to manage it). However, I've heard of this rumor that all the 'honor' sections of calculus classes are proofs, and that they're horribly difficult compared to the their normal counterparts. So, my questions are: 1.) Would it be silly of me to try to jump up to the honor classes, just because? 2.) Does it look better to grad schools if they see the jump and the fact that I took the honor classes? and 3.) Are the honor sections really THAT hard compared to the normal classes?
Thanks in advanced!</p>
<p>These questions are all highly dependent on not only the university that you attend, but also the professor teaching the course. Generally, taking honors doesn’t really gain you anything in terms of career and very little in terms of graduate school. The value lies in personal enrichment in that you would presumably have a deeper understanding of the underlying math in future classes, especially if you end up in graduate school where math deficiency is probably the number 1 killer of students.</p>
<p>Of course, whether or not the course is designed in a way such that it is actually useful for you depends on the professor. I can say that I took honors classes for the calculus sequence when I was an undergraduate and the guy who did it did an amazing job and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Your mileage may vary though.</p>
<p>Well, assuming the trend continues on and the same teacher teaches it as the last 2 years, according to rate my prof., she’s incredible. And I attend Rutgers, so I don’t think the difficulty of the class compared to other schools would be killer, seeing as how it’s only a state school. And exactly what I mean by “just because”, I don’t mind having to go the extra mile to understand something a lot better, it’s why I’m considering it in the first place. I’m only concerned about it being harder because I didn’t take the honors section of calc 1, and I wouldn’t know what to expect/they got farther/they learned things in more detail…</p>
<p>In my experience, honors students are generally expected (but in no way forced/pigeonholed) to go to grad school, and honors classes will prepare you for a career in academia more than anything.
I think “just because” is usually a horrible reason to do something when you’re graded on it. If you’re learning “off the record,” there is no problem with that whatsoever.</p>
<p>Say it’s “only a state school” is silly. Some of the best engineering schools are “just state schools.”</p>
<p>Computational calculus (the normal approach) and proof-based calculus (the honors approach, more useful for pure math majors) are really two very different beasts. Both have great value, but one is not necessarily a substitute for the other. </p>
<p>I know someone that has taken an incredible theoretical honors calculus class in college and she aced BC Calculus and MVCalc, both computational, while in high school. However, she feels she has forgotten the computational calculus and feels at a quite a disadvantage in classes that need them. She can wiz through proofs though. </p>
<p>My sense that if you’re an engineer, you are better off doing the computational version. If you really want a flavor of pure math, take an abstract linear algebra class or take analysis when you are much later in your program.</p>
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<p>Rutgers has a highly regarded math department, despite being “only a state school” (although it seems that NJ residents on these forums have a much lower opinion of Rutgers than its general reputation).</p>
<p>Honors lower division math courses will likely focus more of proofs and difficult problems than regular lower division math courses. They are most useful for those intending to major in math, though if you have a strong interest in math and are not afraid of proofs, you may find such courses interesting in and of themselves.</p>