So Im a freshman, graduating class of 2018, Im taking geometry honors and algebra 2 honors. I have been thinking about taking pre-calc during the this upcoming summer because in my crazy mind there is no other productive way to spend my summer time. Taking pre-calc during the summer is free in my school and when I heard we could do it I thought why not. I proceeded to consult my math teacher and she told me that not everyone could handle taking a whole years worth of pre-calc in a month but she told me I could do it if set my mind to it, based on the time shes been teaching me. After telling me this she told me though she believes I could pass the class she does not recommend taking any type of calculus in the summer due to its complexity.
That being said I believe the class might be hard to handle and most likely be stresfull but looking at the bigger picture I believe its worth it. If I am able to pass this class with a good grade I could possibly be recommended for an AP-Calculus class, although the big problem that pops into my head is that since I am already taking AP-Physics 1 this year, if i go on to AP-Calculus and then AP-Physics 2 id be taking a higher math then the required for AP-Physics 2. Calculus goes along with AP-Physics C so O would be on different leves of maths in my sophmore year.
I want to persue a career in engineering thats why I want to take as my math classes and physics classes as possible in high school. So should I take pre-calc in the summer? Also can you tell me about ur experiences taking pre-calc in the summer and if u regret or recommend taking the class in the summer? Thank you in advance for any help you provide and also thank you for reading this very long question type thing.
I think taking precalc is very doable in the summer. At my school, precalculus was a two trimester course, where the first trimester was almost entirely concepts we’d already learned in Algebra II, and the second half consisted of mostly trig, with a few other topics like vectors (which are really not that difficult.) and I think the material can definitely be covered much more quickly than that, especially if you have no other classes to worry about. I don’t really see a problem with taking a higher math than required for AP Physics I, since it wouldn’t harm you in any way… unless you’re thinking about taking AP Physics C as an alternative, but it depends on how your school deals with taking Physics C and Calculus concurrently, as well as their policy on letting sophomores take AP classes. I’m not really sure what you’d take during the year other than AP Calc if you did precalc over the summer (aside from AP Stats), so if you do take precalc in the summer, you should probably go ahead and do AP Calc the following year. You could then take more advanced math at university, if dual enrollment is an option, such as multivariable calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, etc. which would more than prepare you for pursuing engineering in college. Although I must caution that, if you follow this path and dual enroll, you may be required to retake calculus and following math because of the ‘engineering versions’ of these classes, but having taken them prior would just make it a lot easier when you have to take them as an engineering major.
Do it. You should by no means waste a year of your life taking precalc. Its full or irrelevant concepts than have absolute no application outside of the the math level 2 subject test (which you should take in Oct.) I took it the summer following my sophomore year and I’m in AB right now and we’ve only used maybe 10% of the new stuff we learned in precalc.
It’ll be a nasty month but definitely worth it