Should I wait to take calculus at another school?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around whether a participant should wait to take calculus courses at a different school after transferring from their current community college, particularly in relation to credit transferability to universities outside their state.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express concern that the calculus courses at the current community college may not transfer to universities outside South Carolina.
  • There is a suggestion to compare the syllabuses of the community college's calculus courses with those at the prospective transfer school to assess equivalency.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of learning calculus as soon as possible, arguing that waiting could lead to struggles later on, regardless of credit transferability.
  • Another participant questions whether the transfer equivalency table from Washington State University includes courses from out-of-state institutions, suggesting it may primarily focus on in-state courses.
  • Some participants assert that the content of calculus courses is generally consistent across institutions, implying that the name of the course may not be as significant as the topics covered.
  • There is a discussion about the potential benefits of learning calculus even if the credits do not transfer, with some arguing that the knowledge gained would still be valuable.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether the individual should wait to take calculus courses. There are competing views on the importance of credit transferability versus the benefits of early learning.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need for official syllabuses and the specifics of transfer policies, indicating that assumptions about course equivalency may vary based on institutional definitions and requirements.

Connor
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The current community college I'm at offers courses titled analytical geometry and calculus and only transfer to the universities in my state as calculus courses. I'm looking to move outside of South Carolina and going to a school like WSU. Should I wait to take calculus courses when I transfer schools?
 
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Connor said:
and only transfer to the universities in my state as calculus courses.

Do you mean that schools outside your state will not give you credit for taking those courses?
 
Stephen Tashi said:
Do you mean that schools outside your state will not give you credit for taking those courses?
Yes pretty much.
 
Connor said:
WSU
Wayne State University (Detroit MI)?
Washington State University (Pullman)?
Wichita State University (Kansas)?
Wright State University (Dayton OH)?
Weber State University (Ogden UT)?
Winona State University (Minnesota)?
or maybe someplace else I missed?
:confused: :biggrin:

Whichever one it is, did you check there to find out whether the courses really will or will not transfer?
 
jtbell said:
Wayne State University (Detroit MI)?
Washington State University (Pullman)?
Wichita State University (Kansas)?
Wright State University (Dayton OH)?
Weber State University (Ogden UT)?
Winona State University (Minnesota)?
or maybe someplace else I missed?
:confused: :biggrin:

Whichever one it is, did you check there to find out whether the courses really will or will not transfer?
Washington State University
 
Connor said:
The current community college I'm at offers courses titled analytical geometry and calculus and only transfer to the universities in my state as calculus courses. I'm looking to move outside of South Carolina and going to a school like WSU. Should I wait to take calculus courses when I transfer schools?
Do you have the official syllabuses for your community college's Calculus 1 and Calculus 2 courses? Can you attempt to COMPARE them with the descriptions of the similarly named courses of the school at which you plan to later transfer? You could or maybe should also actually ASK the school to which you plan to transfer if these Calc 1 and 2 courses do or do not transfer credit.
 
symbolipoint said:
Do you have the official syllabuses for your community college's Calculus 1 and Calculus 2 courses? Can you attempt to COMPARE them with the descriptions of the similarly named courses of the school at which you plan to later transfer? You could or maybe should also actually ASK the school to which you plan to transfer if these Calc 1 and 2 courses do or do not transfer credit.
Well Washington state has this transfer equivalency table, and the courses from my school didn't show up?
 
Connor said:
Well Washington state has this transfer equivalency table, and the courses from my school didn't show up?
...and maybe your school's courses are excluded for a reason and are not equivalent to what Washington State U has. Next step is FOR YOU TO ACTUALLY ASK Washington State U.
 
Thinking about the title question: No! Do NOT wait. Take and learn what you can as soon as you can. Waiting is no good, because eventually you still must struggle to learn, so doing or starting early is much better than waiting and then struggling later. Transfer-ability is less important. In case you need to repeat for THEIR official courses, you would have already done some of the learning and may simply increase your chances to earn A's.
 
  • #10
Connor said:
Well Washington state has this transfer equivalency table,
Does it include courses from other states? I'd expect such a table to be targeted mainly at in-state students, maybe also nearby states like Oregon. I'd be impressed if it includes courses from lesser-known colleges on the other side of the country. :wideeyed:
 
  • #11
Every calculus course is taught the same. The name doesn't really matter. As long you learn the same topics in calculus 1
 
  • #12
Geo_Zegarra2018 said:
Every calculus course is taught the same. The name doesn't really matter. As long you learn the same topics in calculus 1
The intent is that O.P. wants to know if the credit will or will not transfer; and O.P. wants to still know if taking the course if not the credit transfers is or is not wasted effort or wasted learning. The suggestion was given that the learning will be very beneficial regardless of course-credit transfer-ability.
 
  • #13
I agree with symbolipoint's posts #8 and #9.
 

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