@asthrera, this is a red flag; you really do have a problem, but it’s not the one you expect.
Even if your pals have a leg up in Calc I, I assure you that pretty soon they’ll be taking classes where the material is just as new to them as it is to you. The problem you face is comparing your workload to what you think theirs is. It doesn’t matter if the kids in your class already have seen the material, or seem to be learning it easier than you. All that matters is if you are learning the material in a reasonable amount of time well enough to get the grades you want. If so, great, no matter how much or how little others are spending studying; if not, it might not be the right major for you. I could spend 24x7 on an art project and never produce anything worthwhile because I don’t have much artistic talent; therefore I didn’t major in Fine Arts.
Your comments show you at risk for walking into a trap and becoming discouraged. It’s that “think their workload is easier” part. In college some kids try to gain status by being thought of as geniuses. So they assiduously spread the image that for them college is nothing but playing ultimate frisbee and hitting the parties, breezing thru homework at the last minute and acing the tests without studying. Don’t be surprised to walk into a obscure part of the library or by an empty classroom and find these “geniuses” studying on the sly. And a lot of kids that don’t pull the genius stunt still want everyone else to think its coming pretty easily for them, in part to convince themselves there’s no danger they won’t succeed. Too many other kids buy into perceptions and decide they just don’t have what it takes for their major since they’re working so hard at it.
So how do you study math (or other technical subjects)? You can find lots of info on the web; here are 2 informative links
[How to Ace Calculus: The Art of Doing Well in Technical Courses](How to Ace Calculus: The Art of Doing Well in Technical Courses - Cal Newport)
[On Becoming a Math Whiz: My Advice to a New MIT Student](On Becoming a Math Whiz: My Advice to a New MIT Student - Cal Newport)
I’m always surprised at how many HS (and even many college) kids study the chapters and do the homework, period. They seem to think tests are to measure how well this has taught them and its almost against the rules to do anything else. Better students understand the role of practice. For many classes there are Problem-Solver books (there even is one for pre-calc) that are like SAT-prep books for a subject. They take the time to solve extra problems on their own until they are confident they can answer test questions. And these days there are lots of online resources, even complete lecture series on places like iTunesU that can give an alternate explanation of a subject.
So what is that reasonable amount of time alluded to earlier? Many students in math/science spend 5-10 hours per week outside of EACH class studying, doing homework, doing extra problems. They also visit the prof or TA during office hours if they hit roadblocks. And they set up study groups with like-minded friends.