<p>Hi, I’ve got accepted to Columbia General Studies,
I am a transfer student and going to attend this fall semester 2014.
I am looking forward to major Financial Economics.
I am transferring from community college and I’ve heard about
tough work loads from Columbia, which is not my main concern.
I have to take calculus 1, 2 and 3 to graduate and I already took the first one.
My main concern is, I know this depends on students and professors.
Is it really tough to get an A or to pass the course in Calculus?
I am considering to take Cal 2 from other college while I take other courses at Columbia.
I will appreciate for advice. </p>
<p>I took a Calculus II course at Columbia this summer as a visiting student. It was definitely not too difficult, and I was able to get an A with minimal effort. It was the first college course I’ve ever taken, and I too was nervous about notorious Columbia workload- but it was beyond manageable. </p>
<p>Of course, I’ve heard summer courses tend to be more lenient grading-wise, but the extra-intense workload makes up for it, I think (the course was condensed into only 6 weeks). And from what I gleamed from my fellow students, the calc seq during the year is at a similar difficulty level. I heard from my classmates that Calc II is the hardest of the three- simply due to all the technicality involved- and Calc III is almost staggeringly easy. But Calc II itself was not really challenging. </p>
<p>As for my prof: he was amiable, lucid and helpful. The curve was generous (he curved to a B-, I think? Not bad). Plus, there’s even a math help room in the building (replete with graduate students) if you’re having trouble with homework.They’ll gladly help you out with whatever you’re working on. The teachers and atmosphere are pretty conducive to success in my opinion. </p>
<p>As for the students- I didn’t sense too much cutthroatness or senseless competition, but that is probably colored by the fact that it’s the summer. I can’t really speak to the experience during the year. </p>
<p>What I sensed though, is that Columbia math only gets hard when you get past the introductory stuff- when the math becomes more abstract, more rigorous. But as for the basics- Calc II, III, linear algebra etc? They’re really not too bad. And since they’re not altogether that conceptual, handwork trumps innate ability. So give it some effort and you can get an A fairly easily, even if math isn’t really your thing. </p>
<p>Good luck, and congratulations on the acceptance! I would say take Calc II at Columbia for sure, you’ll do fine 
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