How importance in calculus in high school?

NewHope33
Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:48:02 +0000

KGB - This question comes up on CC periodically. Many observations don’t apply to you … especially those that relate to how avoiding Calculus might hurt you with college admissions. You’re in … congratulations!! And since you’ll be taking Calculus in college you’re not affected by the “educated people should take calculus so they can communicate with technical persons” issues.

That just leaves the (relatively) minor issue of how to best learn and apply calculus. As some prior posters have suggested, it is easier to learn college-level calculus if you have had prior “practice” … ie. HS Calculus. Speaking from personal experience, I believe that people find it easier to assimilate Calculus as they get a bit older. “Greek to me” at age 17 … “Hey this is pretty neat” at age 19. That sort of thing. Finally, different colleges teach Calculus differently. My D tested out of Calculus I and Calculus II, but had trouble with Calculus III principally because it was taught a little differently.

Bottom Line: You’re fine, and things will work out great if you avoid the temptation to take courses with a Calculus pre-req at the same time you’re taking the Calculus.