<p>I'm still taking Pre-Calculus in my senior year, and I've already been accepted into several schools of engineering (UIUC and Mich to name a few). </p>
<p>My question is....will I be able to survive without any Calculus background? </p>
<p>All my math grades in high school have been fine. I got a 780 on the Math portion of the SAT, a 770 on the Math 2, and a 780 on the Math 1.</p>
<p>Most colleges don't even require Calculus for their engineering schools, but I'm sure it's helpful to know. I hear that it's much harder to learn math in college since the professors don't teach very well.</p>
<p>So, thanks for any advice. I'm just slightly worried.</p>
When you applied, these schools knew that you were lacking in Calc, and they wouldn’t likely set you up for failure.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Well, yes, it would be easier if you have seen it before, but it is not impossible. You could get a head start yourself if you are really worried about it. As long as you have a good work ethic and your study habits are in line, it won’t be too bad.</p>
<p>Nothing to worry about at all. Almost all (not all, but almost) engineering programs are based on the student starting with Calculus I during the fall term of freshman year. Hell, I would go as far to say that the computer science major could start fall term freshman with pre-calculus and still graduate in 4 years.</p>
<p>Now as pointed out by some posters, starting at a more advanced Calculus course allows for more upper-level electives later on down the road.</p>
<p>You should do fine without having calculus in high school. Many moons ago when I went to college it was normal to start calculus in college. </p>
<p>The only word of caution that I would give you is that some classes, like physics I (mechanics), are calculus based. You could take calculus I and physics I concurrently, which I did. However, sometimes the physics class was a little ahead of the calculus class and I had a hard time understanding the physics because I hadn’t had the calculus yet. The physics “eureka” moment would occur some time later when I finally got the math. If you can, you might ask around and see if it would be better to stagger the classes and take the calculus class first then the physics.</p>
<p>Coming from a senior whose taken calculus already, it definitely helps to know calculus seeing as this is the type of math you’ll need for engineering. But honestly don’t sweat it, judging by your math scores you shouldn’t have a problem grasping calculus. That being said, it’s never a good idea to fly in blind so I’d grab an AP calc review book and just familiarize myself with it. I don’t know ab your school, but at mine precalc meant nothing in terms of prep for calc. But you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>I am sure you will be just fine. However, it might be a great idea to sign up for a calc study group so you have backup help in case things start moving too fast.</p>
<p>I suppose each University and each subject has a different process for establishing study groups. Ask the prof the first week of class. At my younger son’s U, the teaching assistants for physics and calc set up the time/place and the kids had to sign up for their desired meeting time. This held their spot in the group for the entire semester since not everyone goes each week, but might need group for tough times or test/final preparation.</p>
<p>As long as you strong precalculus knowledge, you should be fine at nearly all schools. Just sign up for the appropriate first semester freshman calculus course.</p>
<p>Ah, ok. Thank you all. I’m a lot more calm now.</p>
<p>I took that placement exam…got 3 questions wrong. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad, but I haven’t finished pre-calc anyways.</p>
<p>If I were to buy a review book for Calc, any recommendations on which one I should get?
I’ve been buying Barron’s for all my SATs…but I always find typos. And I hear that it isn’t the best book. Also, should I get an AB or BC book?</p>
<p>If you got green on most or all sections of that placement test, you are supposed to be ready for first semester freshman calculus (for math and engineering majors).</p>
<p>As far as previewing calculus, perhaps you can just buy the book that will be used at your college (once you figure out where you will be going).</p>
<p>I see you’ve been accepted to UM Engineering. Congrats! My son is a freshman in engineering at Michigan, and, so far at least, study groups have been assigned in his calc class. It was a group of 4 - 6 students from his class and the group changed every 2 weeks or so, I think. It works out well.</p>
<p>Ah, thanks MichMom! That makes things a lot easier.
I hear Calc classes at Mich are tough, known as weeder classes. Glad that your son is doing well!</p>
