Hi there! So I’m currently a senior in HS and my school offers calculus but it’s a self study class (learn from textbook) and even though I’ve only been going to school for a couple weeks- It is literally the hardest class ever and especially difficult because I can only get help like once a week after school from the teacher. The worst part is that I actually like math a lot but taking this class just makes me hate it a lot:
Should I decide to take another major bc most math is based on calc and drop my current class?
If I do end up taking a math major- will I have to take another basic calc class again?
Thank you for your time!
The school offers the calculus class but doesn’t teach it?
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Unfortunately, yes.
It is ok to start in calculus in college as a math major.
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So is it smarter to just not take calc this year?
If the course is basically self-paced with very little help from teachers, it may not be a worthwhile course if you are not the type of student who does well in that type of course.
However, you need to make sure that your algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus math knowledge is solid so that when you do take calculus in first semester of college, you will not struggle due to gaps in your precalculus math knowledge. rurci3 can help you check your knowledge of precalculus math.
Alternatively, you can take the course, but use online resources for assistance. For example, Single Variable Calculus | Mathematics | MIT OpenCourseWare has video lectures, lecture notes, assignments, etc…
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ok-thank you for your input!
I have taken Calculus 1,2,3 at community college and those courses are extremely exhausted, I was burned out after 3 semesters.
In order to meet calculus 1 prerequisites a student needs to know and pass college algebra + plane trigonometry or precalculus that’s how the codes worked at my community college.
Plus physics is based on calculus with out calc physics would be super confusing.
If you have a lot of free time on you’re hands, why not take the calculus class and see if it transfer to college credits later in community college or uni.
If you take calculus 1, you can progress into calculus 2 and then into calculus 3. The courses are very fun and I love math but requires a lot of study time and carefully playing with numbers and formulas. I took calculus when I was doing 4 to 5 courses each semester and managed to pass 
Back in the stone ages, my high school did the same thing. 
Trigonometry - A teacher selected me and two other students to sit at a small table in the back of the classroom and self-teach ourselves from a text book while he taught pre-Algebra in class. Didn’t go particularly well.
Comp Programming - My senior year the school bought two computers, put the boxes in an empty classroom, asked the study body if anyone wanted to “learn about computers”, and on the first day of classes 7 kids walked into a room with the computers still sitting in boxes because the school never hired a programming teacher. Another teacher came into the classroom and instructed me to lead the effort to unbox and assemble the computers, then to lead the class - because I was the only one who had ever really used a computer. I had a TI at home, had taken a Mac class the summer before, and these were PCs, but what did it matter? I was “learning” as I went. Every day, I’d tinker with one computer while most of the class gossiped quietly and one/two watched me. The other computer sat assembled but unused. Mostly, I created/wrote a “choose your own adventure” game/story that the other students loved, but no one learned much about programming. We were never assigned a real teacher
@Sarah14 unless you’re finding the selfstudy to be painless and effective for you, I recommend dropping the class. The majority of students would not do well in that learning environment for a subject like Calculus. Any class you substitute for it will probably be better for you.
That sounds like an excellent use of time and more interesting (to me at least) than programming.
OP, you can use your time to watch prof. Leonard’s videos on YouTube on Calculus if you want to keep at it. He’s an excellent Calc teacher and has everything you need. Or else, just take it in college! Good luck!
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Often times, i’d try supplementing first venue giving up.
E.g. Online nowadays, there’s everything from kanh academy video lessons to YouTube to more on each topic.
Simply seeing it done by a different person can be the difference.
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Local community colleges? Maybe tutoring centre if they let you, or professors/advanced students there can help free.
Mathforums. Ask away. Others like Quora exist.
Tutor.
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Mathway and other advanced calculators that show you step by step solutions.
Calc 1 (or AB) is really easy to self study. You might want to take a look at online resources like Professor Leonard on youtube.
For some people. Others benefit from having a fine math teacher to guide them and answer questions.
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