<p>I'm thinking about self studying/learning/teaching calculus starting in June and all the way through summer. I'll spread out all the chapters/concepts in Spivak's book so I'll have stuff to do other stuff and not have my nose in a book for more than 1-2hrs per day. Is there anyway I could use this to bolster my college admission chances? By the way, I really want to do this because math class is just too boring...I want more of a challenge, and because If I stay home I can attend all offseason football workouts as well as obtain a job.</p>
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I'm thinking about self studying/learning/teaching calculus starting in June
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<p>I assume that you don't actually mean teaching, right? As to your claim that math class is boring...well that's a problem that you sometimes have to overcome, if you're looking to just self-study Calculus over the summer just so that you don't have to take a "boring" math class, then don't do it. If you are doing it because you really are looking for more of a challenge then I would also suggest looking into taking a class at a local college or university.</p>
<p>As for its ability to help you get into college, it would be helpful only under certain circumstances. If your application reflects a strong interest in mathematics, then yes, your drive to learn outside of school would be beneficial to your college application. Of course, even then the effect on your chances of going to college would be minimal at best.</p>
<p>No, I guess I did not mean teaching. The book will teach me :). I'm bored in my precalculus class because pretty much everything is a review of the past 3-4 years...we learn nothing new. I will have to complete precalculus no matter what, but I primarily want to speed up learning maths because I enjoy it. I kind of feel like I've been cheated...every year we just review the same stuff. I really do wish that I had learned about taking courses at local colleges, but I can't do anything to change that now.</p>
<p>The problem with taking a course this summer is that nearby colleges can only teach either calc I or II over the summer. Even if I do receive credit at my school for calc I, I would still have to take BC Calc. I'd much rather learn both I and II over summer at some college and then take MV at my high school, but I have not been able to find anything yet. Would it still look good to take calc I over the summer and then AP BC Calc during the school year? I guess it would help me whenever I get stuck in the textbook and build a good foundation for BC Calc...</p>
<p>I hear you about the PreCalculus class that does nothing but review, I'm suffering through that myself right now.</p>
<p>Now, I don't know if I am correct in this, so somebody correct me if I am wrong, but Calc I and Calc II together equate to AP Calc BC. I believe this is true because many colleges require either an AP Calc BC credit or Calc II as a prerequisite for Calc III. That being said, it is always an option to take Calc I over the summer, and then Calc II in the fall. And if you really felt like it you could always take Calc III in the spring. </p>
<p>There are of course other routes, you could self-study Calc until summer session at college begins and then take Calc II over the summer and spring for Multivar next year. Or you could always swing Calc I, self-study afterwards, and then convince your GC to put you in Multivar next year.</p>
<p>The point of this all being that there are definitely other options out there. Options that may deviate from the standard high school student's path. And if that deviation shows passion, then a college will definitely recognize that.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice. You are correct when you say that Calc I + II makes up BC Calc. I'll try doing as much as possible before next year.</p>