Those who've taken summer math classes, I have questions..

[glucklich21]

So since I moved from Louisiana to Texas, I've been a year behind in math since 8th grade. Not from failing or anything, just Louisiana is a year behind as a whole. Anyway I graduated from HS a year early so the most advanced math I had was Pre-AP Algebra 2 as a junior. I've already taken college Algebra and I need to get my rest of my maths up to snuff as I've pretty much done with the rest of my other classes to work on my actual degree part and I'm ready to transfer to UT @Austin.

My plan is something like this:

Trig First 6th weeks summer->Pre-Calc second 6th weeks summer->Calc 1 Fall -> Calc 2 Winter

So basically what I'm asking is has anyone take a half summer math class such as Trig as I am planning? Recommend it? Not? etc? Just curious how you felt about it. Its 5 days a week for an hour and a half for 6 weeks. I think I can do it, but there's no fucking around with it. That's a lot of material to learn for that short amount of time.

[CabbE30]

Trig is easy. You got it dude.

[spike68]

Precalc in 6 weeks?
I'm not to sure about that. It does introduce a lot of new things. Some of it is related to the stuff you learned in college algebra, but only up until you hit unit circle stuff. Then it's all new stuff from there.
Now if you're willing to work your ass off in that class, then by all means take it, but just consider your options and the risks your taking in that class.
I say this cause I tried the same thing and ended up having to retake the class cause I failed.

[325ix]

I got tremors just looking at the title...

[acolella76]

Trig is pretty easy in my opinion, as long as you have a basic understanding of it you should be fine learning it in 6 weeks. Pre-calc was a little difficult for me, more so than Calculus classes. It is just a whole lot to learn and memorize, but if you can do that then you will be fine. I think you can do it... just don't slack off or you will get WAY behind.

[5Toes]

Trig is easy. Im in pre-calc 1 right now.. mostly review for me. I have a 3.9 in it at the local junior college

[eskimo810]

Well, I had a combined pre-calc and trig class junior year of high school and that was probably the hardest year of math class I've ever taken to date. I'm finishing up Calculus as a senior, and I can't tell if it's easy or just easier by comparison.

Regardless, if you do your homework and pay attention, there's no reason you can't keep up with whatever pace they may teach at.

[Jorgen]

Trig shouldn't be much of a problem. Pre-calc depending on the school could be an issue in a short timeline. I wouldn't be so concerned about beign able to pass it just being able to get everything you need from it to take later math classes like Calc and Calc 2.

I only took a summer math class once and that was Diff. Eq. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone to do that one. I think it was mainly the prof but it still was a ton fo shit packed into a short semester.

[einstein57]

Calc 2 sucks balls. Everything else was not too bad.

[JinormusJ]

No.

Only math class you should dare take in summer is Trig. Anything else, your better off crossing 2 miles of rusty nails barefoot in Antarctica in the middle of Black Summer with only your chonies on and a banana...

I took Calc last summer and gawsh.. It was the worst 4 weeks and waste of $1400 (AKA a whole nother e30) of my life. I may have shed a grey hair or two...
Just.. No.

[lambo]

Calc 2 sucks balls. Everything else was not too bad.

This. Calc 2 is the worst.

[GOOBER]

This. Calc 2 is the worst.

^truth, I had to withdraw from it this past semester now I'm taking it this summer. Got me a 28% on the first exam worth a quarter of my grade ;)

[brokenbimmer533]

I took Calc 1 in a 5 week session. UNL has Calc 1 as a 5 credit course. Class ran from 8-930 and recitation from 930-11, 5 days a week. It was awful, I would never do that again. Trig isn't bad, some memorization but not bad. I never took a pre calc class so I don't know what that entails. How much math do you have to take? Is it even worth it to cram that much math into this summer? If your going to be there for a couple semesters after you fulfill your math requirements why not just take trig and some other bullshit course that will be easier in a summer session. Im sure you can do it but its going to suck.

and Calc 2 is the worst. Calc 3, Differential Equations, and Linear algebra (matrix theory) are all pretty easy.

[freeride53]

Had my 2nd Calc midterm yesterday! Felt somewhat prepared for it, and finished the whole thing, feeling better than the first midterm.

The first midterm was limits, and mostly precalc review. Didn't do so hot on that one.
Now this one, was all derivative shit. Pretty cool stuff. Understood it wellish.

[FLYNAVY]

Summer classes are the easiest ever. Do the calc pre-req's then, and then you won't have to worry about them later. Calc is not really that hard, people just get wrapped around the axle about it. It gets tougher once you go beyond calc 1 & 2, but the basics are about as straight-forward as algebra is. Different way of doing things, but I wouldn't say the complexity is much greater. Like I said, people just get intimidated by it. Study, use office hours or TA help, get into a group study session, and you will be fine. For the later applied math courses, and junior/senior level engineering courses I took when I was in college, group study was key. Not in big numbers, as that just turns into a gong show, but 1-2 friends that you work well with.....I'd highly recommend that.