<p>I heard that UCSC is one of the best in the nation in the astrophysics department. Can anyone tell me what its like, how hard is it, and what math courses I should be taking? Also What college is best suited in helping me out with my interest in physics?</p>
<p>I’m only an incoming freshman, but I’ve taken AP Calc AB and BC, as well as AP Physics C. I’d think as long as you took math courses up through Calc AB you would be fine.</p>
<p>Yeah… I kind of skipped those courses because I passed a certain test at my school and they placed me in community college level courses Calculus with analytical Geometry I and II with transcendental Calc. as well as Linear Algebra and Discrete Mathematics. The only class you mentioned is AP physics C that i’m taking =. We have that AP test coming nice…</p>
<p>The astrophysics major requires that you take the engineering version of calculus. The issue is that your CC calculus might only transfer for credits for the “applied calculus” class, which earns you no credit for the major. You’ll have to check with an adviser on that one.</p>
<p>The math sequence at UCSC for you is Math 2 -> 3 -> 19A -> 19B -> 23A -> 23B.
Enroll in the highest one possible. You will most likely be placed into 19A (calc) or 23A (multivariable).</p>
<p>I heard that UCSC works or has a contract with NASA? How does that work, or what does it offer to students?</p>
<p>Sorry to derail the thread, but I’m also looking into Astrophysics classes there. Do enough classes overlap in the Physics and Astrophysics majors to possibly do both as well as a minor in Music without killing myself?</p>
<p>Rdakker:
[UARC:</a> A Partnership Between UCSC and NASA Ames Research Center](<a href=“http://uarc.ucsc.edu/]UARC:”>http://uarc.ucsc.edu/)</p>
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<p>Okeefe:
The best way to figure that out is to do a spreadsheet of the requirements and see what sort of course load you would have to take every quarter to graduate on time. Only you can decide what “killing yourself” would entail ;)</p>