<p>The math dept at my school has found that the 2 key determinants for success in college math are…</p>
<p>1) Take the math placement exam and take the math course it recommends. Don’t be a hero and take a higher math course than what you are qualified for. Starting next fall, the math placement will be mandatory.</p>
<p>2) Take a math course as a senior in high school. You lose math skills quickly. Many students take Alg II as a HS junior and nothing as a senior, take the math placement exam and are placed in Calc/Matrix Algebra for Business, and then really struggle in the class.</p>
<p>Very few students go from Alg II in HS to Calc 1 in college because there is no reason to. None of the business majors, social sciences or humanities require Calc 1. A major like Geosicence requires Calc II. But they don’t prescribe how to get there. You could take Pre-calc, Calc I, and then Calc II. Or you could start with Calc I. Again, it really depends on your HS prep. </p>
<p>If would have to ask myself, if a major requires Calc I to be taken as a first semester frosh, and I had a kid not ready for that and not interested in math, then is that major appropriate for my kid? Or, take a pre-calc course at a CC summer before frosh year.</p>