<p>@AsleepAtTheWheel : There are boatloads of math 111 and even 112 sections (there are also like 4 sections of math 112-Z. I think it has also increased because math 119, b-calc, disappeared). These, like those at many schools between 15 and 20 or so are taught by grad. students and post-docs and some are better at teaching than others I believe, so be careful…You don’t want weak instruction setting your son back. He isn’t pre-med where most of them can just take their 1-2 math courses, steal the A from the worst instructors, and run with it. He may have to actually use the skills he was supposed to gain from his math classes.</p>
<p>And yes, too many students forfeit AP credit for the “easy A”. I particularly love the silly ones that do it for Emory’s general chemistry sequence. Hardly none of them even make an A- or B+ (and to make that, it’s usually the ones in the easiest sections). I feel that students who do things like that with math and science courses are weakening themselves all the while playing with fire in some cases (with chem, biology, and physics. Not so much math, most of those intro. courses actually are simple). They learn redundant and boring material while denting their GPA’s. Sounds like a great combo huh?</p>
<p>I feel students should have reservations about that with chem and biology just as Tech students have reservations about re-taking the intro. physics or math sequence. Seriously, why would you take courses with anywhere between a 2.3-2.8 average hoping for an easy A. That course GPA (between C+ and B-, and in the case of biology, a solid B) indicates to me that instructors know that many students have a large exposure to the material and are even aiming to challenge those folks. Often the advanced or intermediate courses that AP students could place into have softer curves and more components to pad exam and quiz scores, yet students still refuse or are afraid. The naivete and lack of contemplation is beyond belief.</p>