<p>Uh oh, I just took the placement test & got placed into Calc II last night… kinda scared now after reading this haha.</p>
<p>imbri, just because you placed into Calc II, does not mean you can’t take Calc I as a freshman. Think about starting at Calc I. You’ll perhaps get a better foundation of Calculus for Calc II, more confidence, get a term to learn your way around Carleton(learn which profs to take and not to take), and get a better grade.</p>
<p>^Yes, actually I’m pretty sure she has to start with Calc II. Departments really frown upon repeating courses if you’ve placed out of them because they see it as “GPA stacking”. For example, I placed out of Intro to Stats with my AP score, and the math department required me to start at the next level in the stats sequence (I couldn’t take Carleton’s intro course). I also placed into Spanish 103 through the placement exam, and since it’s only offered in the spring, I wanted to take 102 in the winter to refresh my Spanish from high school. The Spanish department explicitly told me that I was not allowed to do that. It turned out to be fine–I’m finishing 103 now, and I’ve done pretty well.</p>
<p>Imbri, don’t stress about it–nearly everyone in Calc II will be in the same position, and the Math Skills Center is a great resource.</p>
<p>That doesn’t make sense. What if you’re a pre-med student and the med school you wanna go to requires Calc I. They don’t like you using AP credit on required classes in med school I’m pretty sure.</p>
<p>I know a person who placed into Calc III, then dropped into Calc II, and then dropped into Calc I (all within the first two weeks). I think it’s possible, but you need to talk to the department, and explain them why. I will ask the department chair/advisor this week and let you know for sure.</p>
<p>Oh good. I was thinking of just getting a “Calc for Dummies” book to refresh my mind over the summer, so I’ll probably start in Calc II (hopefully during winter term), but I’ll probably still be visiting the Math center quite a lot!</p>
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<p>I’m not sure I understand what you mean. I don’t know much about med school applications, but what difference does it make if you take Calc I before college or during college? If you go on to do well in Calc II, doesn’t that indicate that you have a thorough knowledge of the concepts covered in Calc I? I would think it would be better to get Calc I out of the way before college so that you have time to take a more advanced class instead.</p>
<p>All I know is that I have personally asked about possibly “downgrading” a level in both math and Spanish, and both times the answer was a firm no.</p>
<p>I talked over this issue with the department today – I was told that if you placed in, say, calc 2, you will have to take the class and see how it goes. If within the first two weeks (or whatever the drop/add deadline is) you feel it’s too hard to handle – you can move down to calc 1 to review the material. So that should work out for you!</p>
<p>^ Okay, that’s comforting to know. Thanks everyone for the input!</p>
<p>“All I know is that I have personally asked about possibly “downgrading” a level in both math and Spanish, and both times the answer was a firm no.”</p>
<p>Wondering if this also applies to Bio 125? The website says that you can place out of Bio 125 (and into Bio 126) by getting a 5 on the AP Exam. My son got a 5 his junior year (seems like eons ago, to him), but is still interested in taking Bio 125. </p>
<p>Also, would getting a 5 on the AP Bio exam preclude him from taking the Dyad A&I Seminar that includes Bio 125?</p>
<p>^I would email the professor who will be teaching Bio 125 in the fall and ask.</p>
<p>Getting a 5 on the AP does not preclude a student from taking Bio 125. As someone who got a 5 on that exam, I had a really good experience in the dyad. Was some of the material review? Sure. But a lot of it was new, and Susan (Bio) and Roy (Philosophy) are both baller profs. I recommend the dyad!</p>