<p>i got a 5 on my AP Calculus AB test this year and technically i can move up to Calculus II (Math 126) in the fall. however...i've heard here and there that for engineers, at least at some schools, it probably isn't the best idea to test out of a Calculus I class "because they teach it differently" and "engineers need the background." but one of the big things is i dont know what the case is for USC math classes and engineers.</p>
<p>so...i'd like to know, as an engineer who's essentially already taken Calculus I and shown high proficiency (i also got to integration by parts, a Calc II concept, and did well in it), should i retake Calculus I to be sure i didn't miss anything/for review? an additional thing to consider, i'll probably be able to get a pretty good grade that will float my GPA. or should i move up to Calculus II, where i'll be able to get ahead in my math classes and make room for my minor? considering i'm pretty comfortable with calculus, i'm sure i could probably still get a good grade in it, though it's a less sure thing. i would really like to make room for my minor though.</p>
<p>There are at least 25 other freshmen (that I know of) in 126, so it isn't like you'd be by yourself and have no friends to study with. You don't want to repeat the topics you did last year, and if you got a 5 you most likely know the material very well. Did you get a 5 on the AB subsection of the BC test, or did you take the AB test by itself? The reason I ask is because I think you are already supposed to know the topics covered in BC for 126. You should look at the sylabus for 125 to make sure you are familiar with the concepts they will cover. If you know the material, then by all means go for 126. Out of curiosity, which professor and section were you looking to switch into?</p>
<p>I got a 5 on the AP calculus BC and went straight into calc 3 and did perfectly fine. But then again I'm very mathematically inclined and I had taken courses like linear algebra and discrete mathematics before going into calc 3. Your mileage may vary.</p>
<p>In engineering, your schedule is pretty crowded anyway, so any relief from it (by skipping a semester of a course) is fairly valuable. Plus you get to move on and learn new interesting stuff and not just rehash old stuff.</p>
<p>However, if you think you're not ready, then it's perfectly fine to not waive calc I or II and take them first. Remember, it's much better to take calc I and II than to take calc II twice :)</p>
<p>I am also strong in mathematics, but I took Calc BC in my junior year of high school and AP Statistics in senior year for "math" (also a 5 on AP test) - my primary concern is that I may have forgotten a few calculus concepts over the last year, though I'm sure with some reviewing I can pick up from where I left off very easily. Given my situation, what option do you think is best? And if I decide to go into Calculus III, will an e-mail to an advisor get me access to sign up for III (I am currently registered for II)?</p>
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my primary concern is that I may have forgotten a few calculus concepts over the last year, though I'm sure with some reviewing I can pick up from where I left off very easily. Given my situation, what option do you think is best? And if I decide to go into Calculus III, will an e-mail to an advisor get me access to sign up for III (I am currently registered for II)?
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yeah, that's a lot of what my worry is. but i'm pretty sure a little review would get me up to speed. and to repeat, what exactly would i need to do to change my classes? i'm thinking about calling them to see what the advisor's opinion is, but i don't know what number to call and who to talk to.</p>
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Did you get a 5 on the AB subsection of the BC test, or did you take the AB test by itself? The reason I ask is because I think you are already supposed to know the topics covered in BC for 126. You should look at the sylabus for 125 to make sure you are familiar with the concepts they will cover. If you know the material, then by all means go for 126. Out of curiosity, which professor and section were you looking to switch into?
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just the AB test. in the engineering classes handbook USC sent out a while ago, it said math 126 was basic differentiation and integration, while 126 did applications of integration, some of which we already went fairly in depth with, so it doesn't seem like too much more. i haven't looked at the 126 classes in a while since they told me i couldn't register for them until i got my AP score. do you or anyone have any recommendations for 126 professors?</p>
<p>I took the calc BC test in may 2004 and took calc 3 spring 2006, so it's not that big of a jump. Though I did keep up like I said taking math and math-related stuff in between.</p>
<p>If you're in engineering, you should consult your department advisor or you can drop by RTH 110 and fill out a request for D-clearance form. Also be sure to tell your advisor or note on the form that you also need the prerequisite waived (doesn't matter if you've gotten the AP score, you still have to have them enter both the D-clearance and prereq waiver in the computer)</p>
<p>I'm not sure what to suggest as to calc 2 vs 3. It all really depends on how comfortable you are with the material and if you feel like you can move on or if you need more review. If you're in doubt you can go to your department advisor or the math department and ask for help selecting.</p>
<p>Thanks. I think I should be ready for 3...by the way, if I have my AP scores sent to USC and I'm already registered for calc 2, that means my calc 1 pre-req has already been waived, right? (I still get a confirmation warning on the registration system that says 1 is a prereq for 2, although it does let me register for 2)</p>
<p>No. prereqs are waived on an individual, per class basis. For example suppose MATH 126 as well as random classes RNDM 179L and RNDM 201 require MATH 125 as a prerequisite. In this case, you need the MATH 125 prerequisite waived individually for each one of those classes, even though AP:CALC may be entered in on your STARS report, or you have passed MATH 126 or MATH 226. It's just the way the computer system works.</p>
<p>hmm...interesting question. I think there were at least half a dozen freshman when I took it, maybe a full dozen. But that was in the spring so it counts freshman who started out in 126 in the fall.</p>
<p>What are USC requirement’s for foreign language? I will have taken French 1 through AP, but am not taking the AP test. Will that wave me out of anything? Are there placement tests?</p>
<p>my calc 3 prof described it as “concepts based”</p>
<p>That is, it’s not hand-wavy and formulaic problem solving, but it’s definitely not proof-based, either. You ought to be able to understand the concepts well enough to argue your way through problems and justify why things are the way they are.</p>
<p>But no proofs, at least not in lower-division math.</p>
<p>Do you know if taking the BC test and getting 5s on both the BC and AB section counts as getting a 5 on AB and a 5 on BC for APCredit? Basically, would I get 8 credits or only 4 credits?</p>
<p>No, because the derivative/integrals are not especially hard - you just ought be fairly fluent in the standard identities and the usual tricks (chain rule, integration by parts, etc).</p>
<p>Yes, because you need to know the concepts and AP Calc is not terribly comprehensive when it comes to those. Example, quick: What’s the definition of a definite integral?</p>