<p>what feuler is referring to is what my friend likes to call "working the system." </p>
<p>There IS a way to balance a social life and great grades. It's just that most people don't know about it. My friend does it remarkably. I try to do it, but I fall slightly short on both ends. I'm still very happy though. My grades aren't top 1%, but with the work I do, I feel like I'm working smart.</p>
<p>Anyways, my point is, you just gotta learn how to work the system.</p>
<p>This is so very true!!! My friend in school is exactly like this. He works when he needs to work. Life is too short to stress out about stuff. For instance, if you stress out about getting into Harvard or RSI or something trivial like that, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT YOU WON'T GET IN!!!!!!!!!! Basically, you just have to do what works for you and not try to force your way into the system. Dip it low, pick it up slow...:)</p>
<p>why dont u just do Calc normally??
its not a hard class but its pretty fun</p>
<p>i beleive there are some classes where students shouldnt listen, just because it inhibits original thinking which leads to greater discoveries. calcules happens to be one of these classes, but i will make the suggestion that instead of playing games in class you study calcules in class on your own. That way you get more quality time to play more different games at home :) .</p>
<p>what are you all talking about-their attention in calc reflects their personal character? calc was STUPID. and it was really annoying how in every class before it, the teachers said 'well, youll learn this in calc so i wont explain it' and then it was just...not worth it. linalg is better, i promise. anyone else also taking real analysis? im a little confused... oh howd u guys do on the AIME?</p>
<p>mesaboogie- I got a 14 on the AIME this year. I was pretty pleased with that. </p>
<p>I'm taking Real Analysis right now. Yes, basically Calc (especially AP Calc) is pretty pointless because it's a bunch of stupid formulas and rules that have nothing to do with why we learn math in the first place. Once you hit more proof-based classes, it gets much better.</p>
<p>i'm a hard worker, but unlike the limited views of some people here, i'm not systematic, looking to "memorize" or get a "process" from the teacher. i look at all the proofs in the calc text, reduce everything to elemental logic, etc. i think this faulty perception is just a reflection of some people's inflated ego.</p>
<p>"Hmmm, so we are looking at a lazy, irresponsible alcoholic with perfect grades. Tell me when you meet one, or better yet - get out of your dream world."</p>
<p>--i may not be an alcoholic, but the above quote basically describes me.....the "hard" work that people do in high school is MOSTLY (not fully) meaningless in relation to the aquisition of actual knowledge concerning the subject matter.....i dont goto calc class, and i dont do the homework....yet, after 10 or 15 minutes of studying in homeroom for each test, i have more mental freedom to approach the harder problems, since a certain method is not hammmmmered into my head by class and homework....the homework we are assigned is usually repetitive like no other; there are one or two base problems, and the rest of the problems just use different numbers plugged into one of the base problems......the stereotypical nerd who sits in class and picks his/her teacher's brain is not learning how to thinkg for him/herself....of course, this is a stereotype, and thus is not true for all individuals (cherrybarry is an exception for example)...in general, however, the people that think outside the box and do not conform to the systematic approach to "learning" are the ones that i respect the most</p>
<p>"Never let school interfere with your education." - Mark Twain</p>
<p>cherrybarry- that is admirable. And it fits into some of what I was saying above- you don't do work for the sake of doing work, you do work because you have a purpose: it is a means to an end. If everyone could learn how to do that, the world would be a very productive place.</p>
<p>"I don't want to sound cliche, but with an attitude like that... you do not deserve a 5 on the AP calculus test."</p>
<p>Of course he deserves the credit. Calc was a joke. </p>
<p>"you think paying attention is nerdier than playing video games in class? odd"
Paying attention in class is for goody-goodies. Video games are (obviously) much cooler.</p>
<p>"Hmmm, so we are looking at a lazy, irresponsible alcoholic with perfect grades. Tell me when you meet one, or better yet - get out of your dream world."
Right here. There's nothing like drinking all weekend then getting 100% on the test.</p>
<p>Sure, without work ethic you will go nowhere.... BUT work ethic is only necessary when the task at hand is important. Wicked will probably get a 5 with minimal effort, so all the more power to him. When it comes to college though, chances are he will try (somewhat) harder because it, unlike high school, matters.</p>
<p>I think one point that hads not been mentioned so far, is that a person who doesn't pay attention in class or doesn't do his homework, yet manages to do exceedingly well on tests, doesn't mean that he or she is a slacker. In fact, it's more likely an indication that he or she isn't being challenged enough. However, if that person would be taking a class that is challenging, than that person would be more interested, thus motivated, to actually do work in order to help their learning, IF the work is in fact helpful and not repetitive busy work. Personally, in the debate of talent vs. work ethic, I would definitely choose talent, because first of all talent CAN'T be reproduced, work ethic on the other hand is a character quality that can be developed through habit, and also talent can not take you as far as work ethic, in the context of advancing a particular field of study. Now in the context of BC calc, so what if he doesn't pay attention in class, if he has the talent to get a 5 on the AP exam, while not doing any intensive labor to achieve this goal, why should he exert so much effort into doing work that wouldn't teach him new concepts. I'm a firm believer of Aristotlean views on learning: "Learning is not child's play; we cannot learn without pain." If you want to truly learn, then you must be taught something that truly challenges you, in that you have to struggle to be able to understand its concepts. Thus when you do finally overcome the struggles of learning, you have mastered the topic in question. So, to those who are jealous/angry at those who are able to do exceedingly well in a class, while seemingly exerting no effort, it is not that they are arrogant or disrespectfull, it is merely that they are being held back and really should be in a more advanced or accelerated class.</p>
<p>The problem that I run into is that I have maxed out the challenging classes at my school so I am bored out of my mind at school.</p>
<p>You folks have obviously never heard of Tucker Max.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.tuckermax.com%5B/url%5D">www.tuckermax.com</a></p>
<p>Graduated from UChicago with honors.
Scholarship to Duke Law School.
The biggest asswipe on the face of the planet.</p>
<p>mind if i hijack this thread for a minute? will take the silence as a no...</p>
<p>Could some one post like this to tell me how hard each is?</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>Barrons is harder than AP is harder than PR is harder than Kaplan is harder than Arco ...</p>
<p>I need it because I self Studying AB and BC, and want to know what the real deal is so that I can know where I stand.</p>
<p>I still have some series/sequences to cover, aswell as wrapping up some tight ends around diff equations</p>
<p>I want to save the practice AP real things till the few weeks before exam.</p>