What to take for summer courses?

[Spatium]

So I am just finishing high school and will be entering my first year of university in the fall. I have taken Calculus I at the local university already and am looking for a summer course or two to keep me busy for the summer!

I will be pursuing an Engineering Science degree (with plan to major in physics) at the University of Toronto and am wanting to take a math course, so the more useful it is to Physics the better!

I think in the May-June session I am going to take Linear Algebra & Vector Geometry (a first year course), but my indecision comes in for the July-August session, my options are:

-Sit in on Linear Algebra 2 (Course continues from LA&VG to cover eigenvectors and such) (The session is unfortunately full already :(, otherwise this would be my first choice, I could still go to the lectures though)

-Sit in on Calculus 2 (Once again... session full, darn my slowness!)

-Multivariable Calculus (Though I don't formally have Calculus 2 I have done a LOT of self studying and am confident in my integrating abilities for sure. Do you think it is feasible to go right to Multivar Calc with some additional self study perhaps?)

-Intro to Number Theory (A second year course I thought might be helpful to build general math knowledge?)

 

[mikeph]

Any options on statistics or C++/MATLAB?

 

[SolsticeFire]

By sit in do you mean audit? If yes, then it doesn't matter if the session is full, go there first and grab a seat :P

As for your options anything Linear Algebra helps you in physics. I don't know the whole Calc I and II shebang; I thought Calc II was multivariable calculus? :S Well that's how it was when I did it.

In any case Lin Alg > Calc IMO

Good Luck

SolsticeFire

PS: Number Theory won't help you in physics classes whatsoever but I'll still recommend for the experience :)

 

[SophusLies]

Any options on statistics or C++/MATLAB?

Highly agree here. I have only taken one summer class and it was only because of I had to. I would recommend getting into some sort of project for the summer. Learn a programming language and rip into physics from there. You can model so many things which makes programming and physics more fun. If you intend on doing physics as a major then programming will play a huge role when it comes time to look for a job. The quicker you learn hard skills the better.

 

[Spatium]

Thanks for the advice guys, I think I'm going to go for the credit of Lin.Alg.&Vec.Geo. and then audit Linear Algebra 2.

I've done a lot of computer science in high school and will have a lot more in engineering still to come so I'm okay with my programming knowledge for now.

And yeah I guess I should have posted a syllabus for the Calc courses. I guess at the local university Calc I covers limits, differentiation, applications, basic integration. Calc II covers integration techniques, improper integrals, infinite series and then of course Multivariable is self explanatory!

I may take the number theory course as well anyways if it is as "fun" as you say!

 

[hsetennis]

If you're the self-study type, programs like Hopkins CTY or Stanford EPGY are excellent as well as rewarding!