<p>After really enjoying my microeconomics class this semester, I recently decided to switch my major to economics, which requires two semesters of calculus (408C and D or K and L). My problem is that, even though I'm not terrible at math, I went to an awful high school that simply did not offer any math higher than college algebra/statistics. No math was offered for seniors (apart from some remedial geometry/algebra classes). So in a few words, I haven't had a math class since my junior year.</p>
<p>I've heard from more than one person that calc at UT is torture and that no matter who you have, there are always the few people that were pros at calculus and high school and totally wreck the curve. Another problem is that I'll be abroad most of the summer so if I didn't take it at UT I'd have to wait like a whole year until the next summer to take it (read: if I don't take it this summer or in the fall at UT, I won't switch my major). My main concern is that, since I haven't had math in so long (and more importantly since I haven't had pre-calculus), I'll do horribly in the class and wreck my GPA, etc. </p>
<p>Any advice?</p>
<p>There are other ways of getting your calc credit without going to a formal, traditional class. I am taking the CLEP (offered once a month on the UT campus) for 408C credit at a cost of about $75 dollars, and then I’m taking the University Extension 408D course for $550 dollars, which happens to be much cheaper than taking the traditional class. The extension course is self-paced and since it is the only class I’ll be working on during the latter half of the summer, I expect it to complete it in 5-6 weeks instead of the normal 16 it would take long session. I will have credit for 408C and 408D by the time the semester starts and should be able to take ECO420K and upper level math classes (my understanding is that you can register for those classes as long as your prereqs are in progrees, and you get dropped the first or second week if they discover you do not have the prereqs).</p>
<p>I hope that helps. I am a new transfer in the economics dept. by the way. You definitely need to check out the university extension and CLEP options. Don’t fret about self study. There are terrific free classes offered through MIT courseware with video lectures from great professors, assignments, quizzes, lecture notes, a free textbook, and more. You can also use PatrickJMT and Khanacademy for tutors. Just pretend you’re actually in the class and you will have a good learning experience.</p>
<p>that sounds pretty sweet Inmotion12, what other classes can you do with CLEP or University Extension?</p>
<p>Yeah, the courses go through material really fast, especially M408C, if you havent had pre-calculus, dont take it, because it is way too hard and fast-paced, unless you are excellent in math. You will end up Q-dropping it or putting all your time into keeping up.</p>
<p>Sketchedout, it is pretty sweet. What I really love is how few people seem to know about it. This is from the program’s website:</p>
<p>"University Extension (UEX) offers a wide range of UT Austin courses. The courses are a selection of the same ones offered during the day and are often taught by the same faculty. UEX courses appear on your UT transcript, are included in your cumulative UT GPA, and semester-based classroom courses are eligible for financial aid.</p>
<p>UEX classes:</p>
<p>offer flexible scheduling options that work with your lifestyle
can be used to meet core curriculum requirements
can help you finish your degree faster
can help you meet prerequisite requirements for graduate or professional school"</p>
<p>I personally plan on taking BA 320F (Foundations of Entrepreneurship- classroom), CMS 306M (Professional Communication- classroom), and M408D (Calculus II- online) through the extension program. I notice a heavy incentive to take extension courses in the summer, because summer tuition for 3 and 6 hours of credit through the regular university is 1,600 and 2,400 respectively, and tuition for 3 and 6 hours of credit through the extension program would cost around 600 and 1,200 respectively. That seems like a significant loophole to me. </p>
<p>I don’t think there would be an incentive for taking extension courses during the long semester (unless you wanted to do something online in order to save time sitting through a lecture or walking/driving to campus, or if you needed to take a course in the evening for some reason) because once a student hits 12 hours, tuition is set no matter how many hours above 12 the student takes. Now, if someone were to register for 9 hours through the university and 3 hours through extension, then according to the extension website they would be considered full time, but I don’t know if the student would pay the university for 9 credit hours and the extension program for the 3 hours, or if they would have to pay the 12 hours rate to the university plus the extension course tuition, or if they would just pay the flat 12 hour tuition rate. I guess I’ll have to ask an administrator. </p>
<p>Anyways, it is a great deal and creates significant flexibility, which I’m always a fan of, so definitely check it out.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone… I’m considering working hard self-studying to take the CLEP Calculus thing in the fall (I’ve already ordered the official study guide thing, which had orgasmic reviews on Amazon) to get credit for C or K, and who knows, maybe taking D/L in the fall or the following spring. The extension courses sound awesome but I wouldn’t really have time to prepare for the course since like I said I’ll be abroad during the second half of the summer. </p>
<p>good luck to you, inmotion! your plan sounds great.</p>
<p>Yeah, I wouldn’t want to take Calculus at UT without any high school calc background at all. Just not good with the fast pace and semi-difficult exams.</p>
<p>is it a bad idea to take calc I during the summer and then calc II at UT if i took business calc the semester before? i already have some sort of calc knowledge, but would it still be a bad idea?</p>
<p>Well, I thought Calc II was the hardest of the three. But no, if you already have some background, then you should be fine. Then again, probably a lot of students already have some background…</p>
<p>I know I need to give ALEKS exam to take cal in UT Austin. But can I give ALEKS even if I do not complete maths in 12th grade(senior)? I have done maths till 11th.</p>