<p>Calc I, II, III? Linear algebra? Diff equations? Which class gave you PTSD? Share your wisdom. Which classes should we take with a light course load?</p>
<p>Linear algebra definitely was the hardest imo. It was as close to abstract math than any of my required math classes. I enjoyed the other math courses you listed.</p>
<p>I second linear alg. The fist half was typical engineering like math. Using A, find B, C, D etc… That I could do. The second was virtually all proofs, which I was not very good at. I wasn’t good at abstractly defining things. With physics you had derivations and proofs, sure, but each symbol had some significance. In Linear algebra, it seems something had arbitrary significance because you said so. Suffice to say, I was not the top performer in that class. </p>
<p>Calc I was a joy, II wasn’t too bad until the very end with sequences and series, III was pretty much doing double derivatives and intergrals, until you reached cylindrical coordinates. That was a rough patch, but even then wasn’t anything I couldn’t endure. Differential equations was a cool class, but I didn’t mesh well with it. It could have been it was a night class that ended at 8, or my prof. Either way, I had to use more effort than usual.</p>
<p>Course load, neither needed a light load, assuming your math was solid. If you have weak math make diff eq your easier load because you had to bring all your math skills back, log rules, completing the square etc…</p>
<p>I took Linear Algebra last and it’s a good thing too because it scared me off any more math classes with the proofs (about half the class just like new ninjex’s experience). The class I spent the most time on was calc II, though perhaps I was trying hard to impress the smokin hot teacher for that class :-)</p>
<p>As for course load, I never felt like any of my math courses required special treatment, rather I lumped them into the category of a technical class and just limited that group to three each semester for the first couple of years. That said I preferred not to take two math courses in the same semester, but I know not everybody has the same scheduling luxuries I had/have.</p>
<p>Linear algebra is different from calculus – some find it easier, while some find it harder. Discrete math (common taken by computer science or engineering majors) is another course that is different from calculus.</p>
<p>Math courses typically do not have labs, so they tend to consume less time than courses with labs (or big projects, etc.).</p>
<p>I think it’s Laplace Transform and Fourier Series. I think I received the second highest grade in that course and still got a C. It broke my record of straight As in math. I don’t remember if I took it in the Summer or not.</p>
<p>Calc II, but that likely had more to do with the instructor, than the material. </p>
<p>I was a 1984 Mech E, not required to take linear algebra. But I do recall a strong dislike for BVPs (Boundary Value Problems, fourier transforms etc). It was a good hint that I should not consider grad school. </p>
<p>I did not enjoy differential equations during my undergrad years, particularly la place transforms and fourier series. Up until that point I averaged at A’s and A-'s in math without much difficulty. in that class I. Barely managed a B-. It was particularly demoralizing when some of my friends were doing better than me with less effort, but we are all built diffferently.</p>
<p>Oh man, the Fourier series is one of the greatest math topic ever discovered. It is probably my second favorite.</p>