<p>So I'm going into Biomed engineering and I just got my AP scores back. I got a 3 on AP Calc which figures since I suffered from senoritis and laziness. I got a B+ in my class but barely even studied for the AP test (which is my fault). So I'm going to have to take Calc 1. What really worries me is whether I'm already behind the game compared to my classmates.</p>
<p>I know that I won't fail at life if I start at Calc 1, but does anyone have any experiences with starting at Calc 1 for engineering? Will there be any differences when applying for a job/internship in the future? Like will a manager choose a guy who took harder courses over meh?</p>
<p>Maybe engineering isn't cut out for me... I'll see when I go to college...</p>
<p>Most if not all the curriculums I’ve seen have all freshman taking calc. I during their first semester. I would consider starting further in the calc. series just an added bonus. Jobs/internships will not care a bit.</p>
<p>“maybe engineering isn’t cut out for me”
I think you mean this the other way around, but that is awesome! Hidden positive thinking! Hehe :p</p>
<p>There won’t be any differences in job or hiring, it is standard to take Calc 1 the first semester. Remember, people who get AP credit are ahead of the game…college is really structured so you take all the courses there. AP credit isn’t expected and there is going to be lots of people who also haven’t taken Calc 1.
You could add another course required for your major (like sciences? Physics, Biology, Chemistry?) and get ahead of the game that way, and maybe get a heavier course load since Calc 1 would be easy for you since you already took it… it’ll get you stronger skills for Calc 2 and you can get better grades (and won’t notice the heavier course load that much). You can get ahead again in college, it’s all how you schedule it.
Don’t lose hope!! You still have the chance to take harder courses… there’s 8 whole semesters in college! ^^</p>
<p>So, am I behind the game by taking calc 1 in first semester? I need to know whether I’ll need to take a summer course or something to be on the ball.</p>
<p>No, no you are not behind! You’re standard… I would say you’re right on the ball.
You don’t need to take summer courses, just take a more ambitious course load during the school year and it will be fine.
I don’t know where you got the idea you’re behind, but the subject Calculus is a college subject and AP classes are meant to mimic exactly that, college classes. You’re going to be in college so it fits to take that class, it’s exactly what an engineering major should be taking first semester.</p>
<p>You are not behind at most schools. There is one school that expects engineering majors to start in second semester calculus. There are three schools where the first semester calculus course covers what is usually a whole year of calculus, and with extra theory, so prior knowledge of calculus is helpful.</p>
<p>But if you are not at one of those four schools (you can probably guess what three of them are), your sample curriculum sheet for your major probably lists first semester freshman calculus in your first semester. Anything more advanced would be a bonus, allowing the student an additional elective later after completing the required math sequence early.</p>
<p>I say take a more ambitious (regular) course load because a lot of AP students take very light and sparse course loads or explore majors too much just because they can. Just stay on the regular track or your major…perhaps you can look at examples for your
degree on your university website?</p>
<p>Ok. Im going to my state school and they basically gave me a schedule of my 4 years at college. They said that there’s barely any room for “exploring” because the engineering program is so structured.</p>
<p>What level do most engineering students start on at ur school? Just wondering.</p>
<p>I took Calc AB in 11th Grade and got a 5 on the AP, but I am retaking Calc I because: A) I do not remember a lot of it after almost two years and it is the basis of Calc II/III and B) The curriculum is laid out that way and I plan on graduating in four years anyway.</p>
<p>I could have replaced band with Calc BC senior year and have started at Calc III like some people that I know, but I decided not to and honestly do not care that they are starting there and I am not since in the end it will not matter at all. </p>
<p>And at the University of Maryland’s orientation, the majority of engineering students were taking Calc I, even those with AP scores that placed them in Calc II (maybe for the GPA? I did not ask.)</p>
<p>I’d just like to add that you should focus on learning rather than what’s on paper, especially with quantitative subjects. Too too many stories of US highshcool kids that gather lots of ‘math courses’ but actually suck at math compared to their peers in countries where it appears they haven’t travelled up as far. </p>
<p>Many university profs question the arms race of the AP curriculum because it gives students a false sense of achievement…they have the course(s), but in reality they have a superficial understanding of the material and not the conceptual depth of understanding that greatly aids their ability in university courses. Of course I"m talking on average, not about particular individuals. </p>
<p>Moreover, you can easily take a course several times and learn at a new level each time and foundational courses are really ideal for this entrenching since so much builds on them later. I know of quite a few schools that will not even give credit in engineering for AP calc, regardless of score. </p>
<p>So having said all that there is absolutely nothing wrong with, and in fact it’s very good, for you to take Calc 1.</p>
<p>I absolutely agree with your point of view starbright.
I don’t want to get into that “competitive” attitude like in HS. There’s no class rank so it’s all about YOUR GPA. Ya I should focus on really learning.</p>
<p>Actually, it does matter in that a student who starts advanced in math effectively gains an elective or two that can be taken after completing the required math courses early. It is not critical or necessary, of course, but a student who does have solid knowledge of freshman calculus may well want to move ahead in order to gain the opportunity to learn something additional with the additional elective space in his/her schedule rather than repeating what s/he already knows.</p>
<p>Yeah I got ap credits but am taking calc 1 first semester. I figure it’ll be easier if I already understand it but I’ll make sure I fully understand all the concepts.</p>
<p>Starting at Calculus I is fine for engineering. I know some folks may disagree with my next statement BUT technically a potential computer science major could start at Pre-Calculus as a freshman and STILL graduate on time.</p>
<p>This likely depends on the school; at a school with an “engineering” type curriculum for CS (including a bunch of physics, electronics, etc. courses and long prerequisite chains), starting in precalculus instead of calculus may find it hard to graduate on schedule due to the crowded schedule and long prerequisite chains, since not starting calculus immediately delays a lot of other courses.</p>
<p>Yes. These would be the CS programs that only required Physics I, II and the math sequence of Calculus I, Calculus II, Linear Algebra and Discrete Structures. The Physics can still be taken as a sophomore (since Calculus I is a prereq for Physics I). The Object-Oriented Programming I, II would have to shift to Spring-Freshmen and Fall-Sophomore.</p>
<p>Doable. I saw it a lot when I was in school.</p>
