<p>There might be an important consideration here: from b@r!um’s posts and current occupation, I infer that b@r!um was always a very good math student. If the OP isn’t, he or she might have a whole lot more trouble skipping precalc than b@r!um had.</p>
<p>^^^ That.</p>
<p>It sounds like you aren’t, and never have been a strong math student. If math comes naturally to someone, it wouldn’t be too hard to do what you’re suggesting, but if math is not one of your strong suits…you’ll end up spending a significant part of the semester playing the catch up game.</p>
<p>I personally think the OP should give the calculus class a shot and see how it goes. If community college tuition is not a major concern, he’s got little to lose and a lot to gain. </p>
<p>Who are we to tell him what he is or is not capable of?</p>
<p>
No, not really. I didn’t actually like math at all until I hit calculus. (I skipped pre-calc because of a scheduling conflict and against the explicit advice of my math teachers. Not because I was an accelerated over-achiever.)</p>
<p>Just bear in mind that if you do take Calc I over the summer, and find yourself unable to pass it…you’ll then likely have to go back to precalc in the fall, then go into Calc I next spring. So, it could potentially set you back a little bit. </p>
<p>That being said, I skipped Algebra II and went right into College Algebra this semester, and I’ve got the highest grade out of every section of college algebra in my school this semester. So, if you are willing to put the work in, it’s certainly possible. Granted Calculus is different than college algebra. </p>
<p>Are you planning on taking any other classes over the summer, or just Calculus? If that’s all you’re taking, then you’ll have plenty of time to study…that would definitely be beneficial.</p>
<p>I wanted to update everyone on how I did with Calculus. I decided to follow through taking Calc I over the summer and I got a B! It’s not an A, but it is more than I expected considering I never took precalc or Trig. I did have to work very hard, but to put your theories to rest, it’s definitely possible to do well in Calc I without ever taking precalc or Trig! This is coming from someone who is not a math savvy person either.</p>
<p>Sincerely glad you’re happy with how it worked out. </p>
<p>I’d still give the same advice as before, but I’m glad it turned out well for you.</p>
<p>Pre-calc at my high school included trig and some miscellaneous math topics, like matrix multiplication, hyperbolic functions, conic sections, equations of circles and ellipses, parametric equations, and combinatorics. Nothing we learned in it other than trig (including identities) and a bit of hyperbolic functions ever showed up in BC Calc.</p>