taking calculus just for fun? bad idea?

<p>I am a liberal arts major but love math.</p>

<p>I took AP calc but didn't score high enough to cover all my required math.</p>

<p>So I am taking Calc I to get my math credits done. First day of class today...went home to do the suggested homework...realized that the class is going to be moving ridiculously fast. The prof curves and judging from everyone else's reaction today, I'd be at the high end of the curve hopefully...</p>

<p>But instead of taking Calc..I could just take a really simple general math class that I heard is super easy. The Calc I'm in you had to have scored the highest on the placement test to get into...and the other class is a super low level class but doesn't necessarily read bad on a transcript?</p>

<p>Should I drop Calc and take the other math class?</p>

<p>Take a placement test and make your decision based off of that. None of us know your abilities. If you can’t keep up with the very first assignment, it’s probably not a good sign.</p>

<p>I placed into the class. The first assignment isn’t bad, but the fast-paced and ambiguous teaching style will make it rough.</p>

<p>Not sure if it’s worth it when I could instead take an easier class to fill my math requirement if that makes sense? The other math class just isn’t as high leveled. I’m afraid it would look bad if I applied for grad school with it on my transcript. To get into that class, you have to score a 3 (it might be a 2?) on the placement test. To get into calc, you have to score I believe an 8 or 9. So it’s a big drop down. The other class and calc both fulfill my math requirement. Is it worth dropping down and essentially taking a much easier class and having that on my transcript for grad school and not calc?</p>

<p>Since you’re liberal arts major, you need more simple math. Stuff you learn in calc isn’t very useful in real life jobs. Instead if you take simple math, i think you’ll learn things that you could actually use on your future job. Calculas isn’t easy, even for math lovers. I’m a math lover myself and wasn’t an easy class at all.</p>

<p>I suggest staying in calculus. Can you switch into a math class with a better professor? Math departments are usually pretty good at figuring out where to place students-- it’s in their best interest to do so. Being able to get through a calculus class looks better than a lower level math class. It’s possible you might change your major and need calculus anyways, or want to take more math classes. Also, remember, that college courses move more quickly than high school courses. If you took Calc AB in high school over two semesters, then Calc I in college will move about twice as fast.</p>

<p>Hey, for all we know if this kid ended up loving his math class he might switch to a math major.</p>

<p>Calculus is hard, but it teaches you some higher-level math concepts that allow you to think more abstractly and better gain an intuitive sense of certain types of problems.</p>

<p>The caveat here is that you won’t get that benefit unless you truly understand the concepts in that class. If you struggle through it, get a mediocre grade, and then forget about it, you won’t have really gained anything of value outside the math itself.</p>

<p>If you are in a calculus course for math, physics, and engineering majors, but are certain that you will not major in such a subject (or any other math-intensive major, such as computer science, statistics, or grad-school-bound economics), you may want to see if there is a calculus for business and social studies majors course available if you are interested in the subject but do not want to be in as difficult a course as one for math, physics, and engineering majors.</p>

<p>As an alternative, introductory statistics is generally useful for students of all majors, including non-math-intensive majors.</p>

<p>Thanks for the replies everyone.</p>

<p>I’ve decided to stay in calc. Depending on what I do for grad school/if I go to grad school (physical therapy, OT or other health related professions…) it’s generally necessary or recommended. It just makes sense to stay in it.</p>

<p>Yesterday was just a really tough and long lecture. It was my first day of classes and I think I was just overwhelmed by everything going on so the long lecture just got to me a bit. Class today was a blast. There was a short lecture then most people stayed for the optional lab afterwards. The prof and a TA essentially just come around the room as you work on problems. Being in a more laid back setting really helped me feel more at ease about everything. Overall, I think my hesistation was just first day of college nerves!</p>

<p>for fun? ewww. haha but seriously most likely you will need some type of math so if you want to go for it</p>

<p>if you don’t need it for any practical purposes, AND you are not prepared to put in the effort(you might be just fine without dong much work on anything else, but not calc/engineering…), don’t bother… It might end badly…</p>

<p>Sure if you love graphing and learning new stuff you’ll probably never see again.I took AP calculus and I hate it! And yes I’m still in high school</p>