Starting in Calc 1?

starbright
Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:22:57 +0000

I’d just like to add that you should focus on learning rather than what’s on paper, especially with quantitative subjects. Too too many stories of US highshcool kids that gather lots of ‘math courses’ but actually suck at math compared to their peers in countries where it appears they haven’t travelled up as far.

Many university profs question the arms race of the AP curriculum because it gives students a false sense of achievement…they have the course(s), but in reality they have a superficial understanding of the material and not the conceptual depth of understanding that greatly aids their ability in university courses. Of course I"m talking on average, not about particular individuals.

Moreover, you can easily take a course several times and learn at a new level each time and foundational courses are really ideal for this entrenching since so much builds on them later. I know of quite a few schools that will not even give credit in engineering for AP calc, regardless of score.

So having said all that there is absolutely nothing wrong with, and in fact it’s very good, for you to take Calc 1.