<p>Is this a good idea? From what I've heard, college calculus goes much more in-depth than AP calculus does.</p>
<p>When you decide where you will be studying, contact the math department there, and ask for their advice. They will be able to help you determine where you should start based on the results of your AP exam and any placement exams that they offer.</p>
<p>Calc is pretty simple/standard subject matter I don’t think it should matter where you took it.</p>
<p>It really depends on the individual. I had to study really hard in calculus in high school. It didn’t come naturally to me. So I decided to retake it. My son, on the other hand, just “got it” without working very hard. So he went straight into second semester college calculus and made an A without much trouble. Everyone is different! How is Calc BC going for you?</p>
<p>If you get a 5 on BC Calculus, just take the credit. Some schools offer a theoretical proof-based version of Calculus that is completely complementary to BC Calculus and if you like math, it’s really worth taking that. It’s not really repeating. Otherwise, move on to multivariable and there is a good chance that you will just finish the same book!</p>
<p>If you get a 5 on the AP test, take the more advanced course as recommended by the university that you attend. If you do repeat it, you will be bored in a regular freshman calculus course, which will be a waste of schedule space. If an honors freshman calculus course with more theory and proofs is available and you are interested in that, then it may be worthwhile. (A few super-elite STEM-focused schools will make you start over, because their regular freshman calculus course is like honors in other schools or even more rigorous.)</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you struggle to get a 3 on the AP test, you may want to consider starting over in the first semester course. If you get a 4, it can go either way. Check the university’s math department for more advice.</p>
<p>If old final exams for first and second semester freshman calculus courses are available at the university that you attend (check the math department web site), then you can use them to check your calculus knowledge against what the university’s math department expects.</p>