<p>I have asked similar question a while ago and right now we are faced with registering for the class at the local college.
Natural progression seems to be MV Calc, but it is at the very, very unfortunate time which will force son to drop one of his EC / the only team sport he does.
Any of your kids took something else after BC? Is it advisable to take Calc 3 before Linear Alg or Diff.E? He is also looking at the possibility of taking an equivalent of Physics C at the college in the fall and then taking a math class in the spring (hopefully will be a bit easier on the schedule).
Any thoughts would be very appreciated.Oh, and we are looking at 3 years of college classes, he is a freshman.</p>
<p>My son is taking Differential Equations concurrent with MV Calc. He keeps up.</p>
<p>I think my son ended up taking a Linear Equations course because that was what was offered in his high school for a post BC class. Now that he’s in college he’s been taking Discrete Math which is very useful apparently for computer scientists. So you might look in that direction of you need a course with better times.</p>
<p>At our school, DiffEq and Discrete Math are taught concurrently with BC Cal. After that, some kids take MV, but a lot take AP Stats so that they have an easier senior year (most of the kids take BC Cal as a junior).</p>
<p>We also have linear equations and number theory or something like that. We’re lucky to have lots of choices.</p>
<p>It depends whether your S long term interests are in Math – i.e. majoring in math when he gets to college. If not then continuing a Calculus sequence without science and/or engineering courses that apply it makes the subject too abstract, and in my opinion not particularly rewarding. In a typical college sequence, Calculus is taken concurrently with a physics course (at a level higher than the typical AP Physics C). Then Multivariate calculus is taken concurrently with courses such as advanced physics or one of several engineering courses. The progression after that is differential equations etc. These too become relevant especially when taken with appropriate higher level science and engineering courses.</p>
<p>Linear algebra, at least as an introductory course, can be useful without a matching science/engineering course. The same is true for introductory courses on statistics.</p>
<p>I encourage you to talk to someone at the math department at the college where your S plans to take these courses to get better insight. You may also want to look at the college course catalog of a selective college such as MIT for insight on how it’s done for students pursuing a math, science or engineering major.</p>
<p>I’d suggest doing Linear Algebra after Multivariable. Dealing with 8 dimensions is usually easier after going from two to three.</p>
<p>If Multivariable is not a prerequisite for Linear Algebra at the CC, I’d say go for Linear Algebra. Discrete Math and Modern Algebra (a real math course; nothing to do with remedial classes) are also fun.</p>
<p>There are algebra-based linear algebra courses and calculus-based linear algebra courses so be careful what you pick.</p>
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<p>Very insightful, thanks! Unfortunately we have no idea what he is going to pursue in college. His interests are vast, he is exploring.
He is taking physics B right now and his school traditionally does not offer physics C.
Our thinking was than he could do calc based physics 1 at the college for the fall semester - shoul be OK after BC. This course is heavy on hours though - 3 or four hours of lecture per week + 3 hour lab.
If it was not for scheduling nightmare he would do MV Calc.</p>
<p>When you all say discrete math - what do you mean? Are there courses titled discrete math?</p>
<p>Youdon’t say - Wow, all those courses were offered at the HS? !</p>
<p>Yes, there are courses called discrete math or discrete structures. They deal with mathematics were things are countable as opposed to continuous like calculus.</p>
<p>Like number theory, counting???
What kind of a background is generally needed?</p>
<p><a href=“2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog < Carnegie Mellon University”>2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog < Carnegie Mellon University; page 19 - course 15-354. That’s the first Discrete math course my son took. I think. He had calculus plus the MV course from his high school, but I think calculus was more than enough.</p>
<p>Algebra II is usually enough. It is nice to have some exposure to a calculus course with proofs but it isn’t strictly required.</p>
<p>I’m glad someone else could explain discrete math; I was a liberal arts major!</p>
<p>My son had a huge schedule conflict his senior year and ended up solving it, in part, by enrolling in physics through Stanford’s EPGY [Education</a> Program for Gifted Youth](<a href=“http://epgy.stanford.edu/]Education”>http://epgy.stanford.edu/). If the math sequence is anything like the physics sequence it is well-taught and very thorough. He earned a 4 on the mechanics AP test without studying at all. If I were to do it over, however, I would talk to the high school about arranging a free period for him to get his work done. He was doing the course late in the evening and on weekends, after getting back from a full day of school and ec’s, and he had a tough time motivating himself to stay on top of the class. A certain amount of stress and nagging ensued…</p>
<p>S1 and S2 both took AP Stat after HS AP Calc and also took calc based physics. The stat turned out to be quite useful for social sciences courses in college for S1. He was also able to take a more advanced stat course than required for his major.</p>
<p>Without the sport conflict, I would definitely recommend MV Calc. At some schools this is considered the end of the first year of Calculus for engineers/physical science majors. He would be done with the first year and start the second year nicely.</p>
<p>With the sport conflict, you’ll have to weigh what you think is best. Is there another local school that has MV at a different time? When I was in high school I took Calc at a UC school, but most junior colleges have courses now that students can take. In my area we have several CC to choose from. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>There are plenty of places that offer MV Calculus online. PM me if you need my list of the places I found.</p>
<p>He might be able to take a calculus based probability & statistics class…</p>
<p>Kelowna, does he like math? If he expects to be studying engineering in college and just wants to get his math requirements over with, then MV Calc would be the right course, but if he wants to have an enjoyable time studying some delightful math because he’s that kind of a kid, then Linear Algebra, Number Theory or Discrete Math could make sense. If there’s a good Analysis of Algorithms class, that’s fun and challenging math too. Or, as mathinokc says, a calculus-based probability class.</p>
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<p>He is definitely going to take AP Stat course,maybe even next year, it is available at his HS. But he does not consider this a “math” course in the line of his mathematical thinking, if you know what I mean ;)</p>
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He has tried several different places and does not enjoy taking classes online. So this option is out for him. He has been taking classes at AoPS, but mainly to supplement his problem solving skills - does not “live” for them either 
Plus we live almost at the doorstep of the local college. And know the math/science department profs. really well.</p>
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<p>He is a freshman. So we are looking at 3 years of taking college classes. And since majority of the classes are one semester, at this point I am thinking we are looking at 6 different classes, or maybe even more, who knows???
The sport will be very important as he has not been involved with any school sports since starting this HS and he is really craving it. My kid, who has never been interested in joining teams, is changing almost as we speak. He was talking about playing basketball the other day (he IS tall for his age) 
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I have no idea what he is going to study in college. He is only 15! The next three years he will probably change three times over
The first adjective that comes to mind when I think of DS is creative. His creativity shows itself in problem solving, movie making, composing music and writing. He is a true renaissance man
I do not think that getting math requirements over with is a goal here, althought I might see things differently a couple of years down the road Right now I want my son to have fun studying and not be overwhelmed with stupid work!</p>
<p>I have to say that I absolutely LOVE your comments and your perspectives. I am learning so much from them. Please do keep posting them!</p>