My senior year in high school, I skipped Trig/PreCalc, and went straight to AP Calculus AB and I scored a 3 on the AP exam (I self-studied the course). Now im a freshman in college, wonder if the decision I made back when I was a senior high school will hurt me. Do you think that without Trig/PreCalc background will hurt me if I take Calc 2/3/ differential equation/ linear algebra? Should I re-take Calc 1 or skip to Calc 2 or re-take precalc/trig?
I know most trig/precalc stuff for AP Calc AB (Calc 1).
Can you find a final exam for your college’s Calc 1 class? That could give you an indication of whether the 3 makes you ready for Calc II. I might be more nervous about the 3 than missing topics from Precalc.
Do you know vector and matrix stuff from your precalc self-study? Might not be needed so much in Calc as in science/engineering classes that require Calc if you will be taking any of those.
What did you take junior year of HS?
Trig and linear algebra are often together the year before pre-calc - what you mention sounds like missing two years not one.
Do you honestly think that a 3 on the AP Calculus AB exam should be sufficient to not take Calc I in college? Few colleges accept a 3 on the AP Calculus AB exam for credit, your college is odd if they would.
Do yourself a favor and take Calc I at your college. At the very very least, take a math placement exam if they have one.
I took algebra II honors before ap calc ab, which covered pretty much all the trig i needed to pass the ap exam and some matrix (like adding, subtracting, etc…). UF gives credit for Calc 1 if you got a 3 on the ap exam.
There will be a much faster pace for calc 2 in college, and if you got a 3 on the AB exam, I’m reluctant to recommend jumping to Calc 2 right away in college. Like @rhandco said, the vast majority of colleges don’t accept a 3 on the AB exam for credit for a good reason: you could probably score 50% or even less and still get a 3. It’s very unusual that your college is offering credit for it.
Do you have an advisor? Perhaps you could ask them about what they would recommend. And yes, definitely take a placement test. Personally, I would advise you to retake Calc 1, reinforce your skills in it, and then move on to Calc 2; it’ll be an easier transition for you and your GPA.
If I re-take Calc 1 with a professor, do you think that I will struggle in Different Eq or Linear Algebra ?