Suggestions?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Penn State
1

Howdy guys,

So I’m planning on applying for the 2016 summer session at Penn State(NY,Out-State). I’m not too worried about the cost (talked with my parents already), I’m currently enrolled in a community college going for a math AS degree. As I transfer I want to double major in Meteorology and math I want to know if I should finish the calc sequence at my cc or transfer after finishing calc 1 and start calc 2 there? My school only offers Engineer physics( calc-based) during the spring semester, and if i stay I will be behind since engineer physics has a pre-req calc 1.

Thank you

2

I would suggest transferring as soon as possible and trying to do as many in-major courses as possible at PSU. When Penn State allows you to transfer credit from an “equivalent” course, what they are really saying is that said course is close enough that you can fill any voids on your own… but that isn’t always easy. It is likely that your calc courses in CC will miss some material that your higher-level math courses at PSU will assume that you are familiar with, and that is NOT a fun place to be!

3

what do you mean by " in-major courses as possible at PSU?" like take course that will transfer to PSU? I’m confused :frowning: sorry

4

No, that is NOT what I mean, so let me try again. To graduate, you will need 3 general kinds of courses (I’m making up the names):

  1. In-major courses. These are the courses in your actual department. If you are a Math major, then all Math courses are in-major courses for you. You should try to take as many of these courses as possible at PSU. You can’t do this entirely, but the more of these courses you can take at PSU, the better.

  2. Required courses. These are courses in other departments that are explicitly required by your major. For example, as an electrical engineering student you would be required to take certain Math and Physics courses. It would be preferable to take these at PSU, but it is not that big a deal to take them elsewhere.

  3. General education. These are courses not related to your major at all. It does not matter where you take these, just get the credit.

5

What’s the best suggestion you have for me?
I’m taking in the following year:
Pre-calculus
principle programming
Intro to chemistry (half a semester) it will help me prepare for general chem 1
CPR
American national government

6

None of those look problematic - some are definitely in that 3rd category, and the ones that are not are so early in the sequence that they should not be a big deal. If you are looking to be at PSU in summer 2016, and are only planning on taking pre-calc in the interim, why were you asking about taking calc 2 at CC?

7

Fall of 2015 I will be in pre- calc, and spring semester of 2016 I will be in calc 1.

8

Then why wasn’t it on your list of courses you are “taking in the following year”?

Doesn’t matter. Get into PSU as fast as you can. Take calc 2 at PSU.