Hi everyone! This is my first ever post on CC, so sorry if I’m a bit inept. Here’s my issue- a local community college is offering precalc over the summer and has spots open to high school students, and I’m considering taking it. However, unlike other high school students in order to have the ability to take calculus before they graduate, I’m not faced with this problem- I’m currently a high school sophomore, and precalc would be my math class next year anyway. The reason I want to get it out of the way this summer is to hopefully make room for another AP class. Does this make sense, or is it a ridiculous idea? Should I go through with it? I’d appreciate your thoughts!!
I am not a fan for two reasons.
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Speed - you are taking a 32 week class an compressing it into 8 weeks.By the time that you realize that you are behind, the class is over. Remember, a college class grade sticks with you forever.
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Rigor - A precalc class taught at a CC is almost a remedial class. The audience that the teacher is teaching isn’t advanced math students. This could weaken your math foundation. For example, at my DS’s HS, they have a precalc class that is specifically designed for students that will be in BC Calc the next year. Almost every student in the class will enroll in a top 50 college. The class is taught at a very high level. The teacher uses a textbook from 1986 because he can’t find a suitable replacement. I don’t think you will find that in a CC summer class were the students are trying to satisfy a terminal math requirement.