<p>I'm going to be a college freshmen in the fall and I'm really worried that my weaker background will put me at a disadvantage with my classmates. In my opinion, my school didn't have the strongest science department and I was never able to take any honors or AP science courses, only the regular chem, physics, and bio. To prove the level of my school's science program, the highest score on the SAT Physics exam by any student in my school was a 700, and that was by 1 student who was valedictorian, most of my classmates got in the lower 500s to 600s range. I also only took 1 AP class, which was AP Calculus and while I did pass the AP Calculus exam, I didn't score high enough to get credit at my school. This means I basically have to take all my courses from beginner level. I did get A's in my math/science courses though, and got a 35 on my Math ACT.</p>
<p>I've looked around CC and seeing all these engineering students with 800s on their SAT Math, Physics, and Chem Subject tests and their numerous 4/5s on their AP exams, I'm wondering do you guys think I will be at a disadvantage, especially since I'm coming in with basically no AP credits? I'm willing to study really hard though if that helps.</p>
<p>Yes, you will be at a disadvantage. But everyone is at a disadvantage in one way or another, so don’t worry about it too much.</p>
<p>The reason so many people have such highs cores is because you don’t post if you don’t have anything to brag about. But SAT’s aren’t good predictors of who is the best - the main purpose of tests like IQ and SAT and such are to predict who is at the bottom. You can study and pay for tutors that will help you get perfect 2400s on SATs, and 5’s on AP exams (although all this indicates is that you learned the material). </p>
<p>The most important thing you have to learn is discipline. Go to class, do your homework, get help when you need it. That’s far more valuable than a few test scores.</p>
<p>Engineering degree programs at most schools are designed with the assumption that students can start in calculus 1 and have had only regular high school level physics and chemistry (AP credit may give some schedule flexibility, but is not required).</p>
<p>No, you will not be at a disadvantage if you are truly interested and invest the time in studying in college. Like you, my school didn’t offer any AP or honors classes so I just had the basic physics, chem, bio and only up to precalc/college algebra. I really wanted to succeed in engineering though so the summer before my freshman year, I picked up a calc book and taught myself most of calc I. I achieved an A+ in that class and in fact every math class through differential equations. Actually, being “behind” can have its advantages… Because I thought I was behind, I ended up studying way more than the other kids to “catch up” and ended up learning much more than they did.</p>
<p>So the short answer is no, as long as you study hard.</p>
<p>Hi jbrussell93, that makes me feel a lot better. I was wondering, what book did you use to self study for calculus over the summer?</p>
<p>Sent from my ADR6300 using CC</p>
<p>Go NeoDymium!</p>
<p>Anyway, I am in a similar boat. I’m disadvantaged also. My state has one of the worst funding for education, and it’s prevalent in schools. Arizona funds schools in all the wrong ways. But you will conquer if you dedicate time to studying. I’m going to try to learn some Pre-Calc math so I can be better prepared for my Calculus class in the fall. Remember that all majors are made for people who just only meet the basics. Those who have proved to be stronger academically enroll in honor colleges, that’s what honor colleges are there for.</p>
<p>Calculus by Kline
[Calculus:</a> An Intuitive and Physical Approach (Second Edition) (Dover Books on Mathematics): Morris Kline: 9780486404530: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486404536/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]Calculus:”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486404536/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)</p>
<p>It was a great book for me. Very approachable and straight forward in how the topics are presented with physical examples. I fell in love with calculus because of this book. We used Stewart for Calc I-III but I preferred this. You can also email the publisher (Dover) and they will e-mail you an electronic copy of the solutions manual FOR FREE.</p>
<p>Piggybacking on what UCBAlumnus said, if you can start off with Calculus I for your freshman year, you will be OK. I can make an argument that for the computer science major only, one can start with Pre-Calculus and still will be OK.</p>
<p>Yours truly had a grand total of zero AP credits and finished high-school math with just one semester past trigonometry (final course was called Analytic Geometry). My first interaction with Calculus was my freshman year…</p>
<p>…still graduated as a Math/CS major.</p>
<p>Honestly, your fine and please don’t let anyone discourage you. I came into my freshman year taken Precalculus with a B.I honestly knew nothing about chem other than protons and neutrons, and took nothing at all from physics. And took neither in senior year so I obviously didn’t remember anything.</p>
<p>I came into college, everyone had basically taken Calc AB. I ended both calc 1 and 2 with A’s and not an extraordinary amount of work. Chem was pretty easy to pick up to as it was general . I hate physics as a subject but its still not too bad to end with a decent grade.And I wasn’t in the library all day either , there was still time for fun. </p>
<p>I did take AP classes but in nothing related like psychology bio and economics. </p>
<p>Yes SOME people will know more, but some won’t. Obviously you need to study. After freshman year the playing field really evens out too.</p>
<p>A lot of the posts on College Confidential are from top students, some of them heading to tippy-top schools. Don’t be intimidated by that. </p>
<p>Engineering is HARD for everybody. They key is to keep up with you work and seek help when needed. Most engineering programs have excellent support for freshman years - advisor help, group tutoring, etc. Good luck!</p>