Math Classes

[bighomage]

I'm starting college next year and I have the option of testing out of Calc I and Calc II. If I tested out of both, I would be taking Linear Algebra. I plan on being an Economics/Math major, so I will have to take higher level courses at some point. I will be pretty busy next yeat, because the workload at my school is heavy, I will have a campus job and I will be pledging a frat (there goes my time for poker and lurking OOT [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]).
As busy as I'll be, it seems like the easy answer would be to just take Calc again and get the easy A. But I'm left wondering how important it is to get ahead in math. In high school, taking the higher track and taking AP Calculus definitely helped with college applications; will taking Linear Algebra right away help me get summer internships, into better graduate schools, or a better job? Also, do you think taking Linear Algebra would help me get better recommendations from the math department?
So, take the easy way out, or strive for higher?

[asofel]

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I'm starting college next year and I have the option of testing out of Calc I and Calc II. If I tested out of both, I would be taking Linear Algebra. I plan on being an Economics/Math major, so I will have to take higher level courses at some point. I will be pretty busy next yeat, because the workload at my school is heavy, I will have a campus job and I will be pledging a frat (there goes my time for poker and lurking OOT [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]).
As busy as I'll be, it seems like the easy answer would be to just take Calc again and get the easy A. But I'm left wondering how important it is to get ahead in math. In high school, taking the higher track and taking AP Calculus definitely helped with college applications; will taking Linear Algebra right away help me get summer internships, into better graduate schools, or a better job? Also, do you think taking Linear Algebra would help me get better recommendations from the math department?
So, take the easy way out, or strive for higher?

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linear algebra is easy. Test out of calc as you'll hate yourself if you have to relearn how to find the derivative of x^2.

[pshreck]

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As busy as I'll be, it seems like the easy answer would be to just take Calc again and get the easy A.

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Famous last words.

Just test out and move on.

[Blackjack]

Why bother getting an "easy A." You've already taken the class. Do you not value your time? Or your tuition money?

Grades don't mean [censored] in college if you arent learning anything.

Blackjack

[bighomage]

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Why bother getting an "easy A." You've already taken the class. Do you not value your time? Or your tuition money?

Grades don't mean [censored] in college if you arent learning anything.

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I'm on full tuition scholarship and I'm most worried about getting a good job. Aren't my grades going to matter a lot for graduate school and internships? I've also got other challenging courses I'm taking, so I don't think taking one blow off class would be a total waste of my time.

[Blarg]

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Why bother getting an "easy A." You've already taken the class. Do you not value your time? Or your tuition money?

Grades don't mean [censored] in college if you arent learning anything.

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I'm on full tuition scholarship and I'm most worried about getting a good job. Aren't my grades going to matter a lot for graduate school and internships? I've also got other challenging courses I'm taking, so I don't think taking one blow off class would be a total waste of my time.

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Don't listen to many of the posters in OOT -- grades can mean a hell of a lot, practically everything, in getting you into good grad schools or jobs. By the way, barfing a few nights a week with your frat buddy goons can destroy that, but then again connections can help replace competency easily.

The real questions are, do you think you can profit more by learning something new, and do you think you're going to have problems getting A's if you don't take the easy ones?

If you're there to learn, you could be rewarded with lower grades, which could definitely count in your future prospects. Then again, if you've got it in you, so could your graduating with higher level classes.

As to the other question, if you feel you are going to, say, stink at English and history but excel at math and sciences, the time you free up from math classes by doing stuff you already know could be used to raise your English or whatever scores. Time is finite, and there are usually choices in college where you have to spend it. Sometimes it's better spent on stuff you're not as good at, instead of stuff you're fine at, leaving you with a higher level of (recorded) accomplishment.

That's not as easy a thing to work out as one would hope, and you'll probably get a great deal of bad advice about it here on OOT.

Personally, I'm an old-style throwback who thinks college is really for learning and experiencing, and you should challenge the hell out of yourself and see if you can be right on the edge of your capabilities, so you learn and experience the most. Now, I mean academically, but that's just me. There's also the social aspect, and frat boys might want to extend themselves to see how many times a week they can throw up, pass out, and piss off their balconies. Either way, there's a lot to be said -- I guess -- for pushing things to the limit in college. It's not like you can go re-live it if you go through it making it as dull and safe as possible.

There's always that conflict between extending yourself and inviting what looks to outsiders like lesser accomplishment as a possible outcome for doing so, and playing it safe and looking outstanding doing it. Pretty personal decision there how you're going to play it. I think we in OOT can give a lot of bad advice about it, but not that much good advice, and ultimately it's a very personal decision that we don't know enough about you, your goals, and what you feel about yourself to say much about that's worthwhile.

[bighomage]

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Famous last words.

Just test out and move on.

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Haha. I don't get it. Am I just going to hate myself if I have to take calc again?

[asofel]

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Famous last words.

Just test out and move on.

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Haha. I don't get it. Am I just going to hate myself if I have to take calc again?

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Yes

[pshreck]

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Famous last words.

Just test out and move on.

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Haha. I don't get it. Am I just going to hate myself if I have to take calc again?

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Yes

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First, you will hate retaking a course.

Second, you have to realize it will be far from a guaranteed A. College is not like highschool. Screw up on 1 exam, and say goodbye to a chance at an A.

[deacsoft]

You have a great pace going. Don't mess it up now. Get as far ahead as fast as you can. And by the way, any math class should be an easy A if you can read, follow directions, and remember formulas.