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Education choice about calculus

Discussion in 'General' started by dogdude16, 11 Mar 2009.

  1. dogdude16

    dogdude16 What's a Dremel?

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    Hey Everyone, I live in the states and am a senior in high school going to University of Michigan. My school does trimesters and i am in my third trimester starting to take calculus. It only has 4 other kids so I am worried I won't have anyone to help me and am busy with AP computer science, english, and golf. I kinda am thinking about dropping it but was wondering will that screw me over for college, like it is really good to have that background in high school before college.

    The other thing I have to check on, is that will U of M strongly frown upon it because they like rigorous course work.

    I was just looking for some thoughts. Thanks
     
  2. askbob

    askbob What's a Dremel?

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    suck it up. Calc is easy if your not on the borderline of being retarded.
     
  3. jhanlon303

    jhanlon303 The Keeper of History

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    No knowledge can be taken away!

    For the real world, I'd blow off golf and do the math. In my senior year in college there were only me and 3 girls in advanced math. Hit up the high school counselor and ask about peer help.
    Lots of help can come from people NOT in the class.

    I was a national merit scholar and the only person I trusted with that knowledge was the counseling staff. Unless they are just there for the paycheck counselors are a good resource.

    Started college 1965, graduated high school 1968 - counselors.

    john
     
  4. dogdude16

    dogdude16 What's a Dremel?

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    Yeah, I can't give up golf, me and my buddies have trained for golf for a long time and last year we placed runner up at state finals.

    i know i should stay with it but i don't want to die from the stress. Also calc is last hour and sometimes I have to leave early for golf.

    I guess ill talk to the counselor but shes not the biggest help.
     
  5. GoodBytes

    GoodBytes How many wifi's does it have?

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    Cal 1 (derivatives) is easy.. not ultra easy.. but easy. As long as you practice often you should get an A.
     
  6. Dizman

    Dizman What's a Dremel?

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    I'd suggest toughing it out, you'll live and you'll appreciate it in the long run. I didn't take math my second semester in my senior year, and I regretted it this year (freshman in college).

    That being said, I doubt U of M would have much of a problem with it. Plenty of my peers (CS at rochester institute of technology) came in without any background in calculus.
     
  7. talladega

    talladega I'm Squidward

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    I had opportunity to take Calculus in grade 12 as I was 1 year ahead in Pre-Calc but decided to be lazy and only have 5 classes throughout the whole year (max is 10, min is supposed to be 6).

    Now I will be going to college this fall and will be taking Calculus. I sort of wish I would have taken it in highschool as then it would be much easier than it will.

    I also only got my provincial highschool diploma and not the school division one because i didn't take Physics in grade 12. I wish I would have now.

    Don't be lazy. Take the class. Suck it up and you will be thankful later on.


    Edit: This post made me sound like a lazy ass that did nothing in school. Infact I was on Honor Role every year and got my IT Diploma. So I wasn't as bad as I made it sound. :)
     
  8. killerobot

    killerobot What's a Dremel?

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    Take the class. Are you planning on majoring in CS? My roommate's CS degree requires Calc I. It's nice to get it done in high school and be ahead when you start college.
     
  9. wolfticket

    wolfticket Downwind from the bloodhounds

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    Don't drink and derive
    ...
    ...
    ...
    I'll get me coat :)
     
  10. stonedsurd

    stonedsurd Is a cackling Yuletide Belgian

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    As someone who just got into Univ, take it from me -- DO IT IN HIGH SCHOOL!

    It really helps, especially if you have an engineering major. It's not too hard in high school and makes college/univ a lot easier. :)
     
  11. Krikkit

    Krikkit All glory to the hypnotoad! Super Moderator

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    Anything science-based will need calculus, it'll be a real bonus not to have to learn in a freshman's refresher course for the first time!
     
  12. dogdude16

    dogdude16 What's a Dremel?

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    Hey guys I did decide it would be worth it so I am taking calculus, thanks for all the input.
     
  13. Ramble

    Ramble Ginger Nut

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    Do it. If you're moving into anything science (especially physics) calculus is everywhere.
    Learn to love the integrals.
     
  14. notatoad

    notatoad pretty fing wonderful

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    chances are you will be doing the exact same stuff in the mandatory first year uni calculus classes, if you've already gotten into university, i wouldn't bother taking it. if you haven't gotten in yet, take it. admissions people like to see calculus.
     
  15. cpemma

    cpemma Ecky thump

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    Except in English. Honor Roll, surely? :eyebrow:
     
  16. smoothie

    smoothie What's a Dremel?

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    I believe you'll be better off if you take it in high school; it will be easier to learn if you're exposed to it every day or so. Calculus will help you with a broad range of topics in biology, physics, chemistry, etc. If you have a good knowledge of the subject beforehand, it will be much easier to remember when you need to apply it to something in a gen-ed college class.
     
  17. jhanlon303

    jhanlon303 The Keeper of History

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    Calculus even works in electronics too. I used it a lot when designing analog to digital circuits.
    Sample an analog sine wave enough to reproduce it digitally was fun. Made a synthesizer and graduated head of my class in college.

    john
     
  18. null_x86

    null_x86 Thread Closer

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    suck it up. your gonna need it when you go into college, especially if your going for anything science related
     

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