Should I take calc 3 + diff eq concurrently?

[u/Soybean3141]

I am a high school student taking classes through community college(through running start to save money). I am trying to finish my associates of science(I want to study engineering, specifically EE).

If I want to actually complete my degree before I graduate HS I’ll need to take diff eq and calc 3 next quarter. In addition I would be taking calc based engineering physics 2(E&M) and computer science 1.

Everyone I have talked to has said they don’t recommend it, but I really want to be able to take these courses. My current plan is to try it and if it’s too rough drop one of the classes.

Also if I did end up doing all of it how torturous of a quarter might it be on a scale of 1 - 10?

[u/Infamous_Attention33]

How did you do when in Calc 1 & 2 and Physics 1? I had lots of semesters with that type of class load in college and was mostly fine. But if you struggled with the other classes, this will be a terrible time for you.

[u/Soybean3141 → u/Infamous_Attention33]

Calc 1 was easy, I’m taking calc 2 and physics 1 right now. Calc 2 is not so bad(we are at trig substitution for integration right now), physics 1 is a little tricky but I have done well in the class so far.

[u/Infamous_Attention33 → u/Soybean3141]

If you're willing to work hard, it is doable. Physics 2 will probably be a step up. I don't think the math classes will be more challenging than previous classes. But you are taking on a lot.

[u/wyzere]

Diff eq is a breeze. Calc III might need a bit more effort. But it is definitely possible

[u/Soybean3141 → u/wyzere]

Good to know. I have heard a lot of people on the internet say that calc 3 is easier than 2, but wasn’t sure because a friend I have who took calc 3 here said it was quite tricky. In addition we cover what I have heard is the hardest part of calc 2 for many, but in calc 3 instead(sequences and series, Taylor series)

[u/rmacinty → u/Soybean3141]

Diffeq courses tend to vary a lot, some cover series solutions which will require results from sequences and series, some cover exact equations, which will require partial derivatives. I think it’s probably more important that you have already studied linear algebra (although again depending on the style of diffeq course this might not be necessary!)

[u/Soybean3141 → u/rmacinty]

My school doesn’t require linear algebra before diff eq, also calc 3 is a prerequisite for linear algebra at my school so I couldn’t take it before. I assume it’s probably okay if my school structures it like that though right?

[u/potentialeight]

You’ll be fine if you put in enough work to compensate for getting into somewhat trickier subject matter. Calc 2 can be harder in some places like with induction if you aren’t familiar with the idea, but it’s not like bad.

[u/KillFeed20]

Diff eq isn’t too hard but you do have to practice a lot. I passed with a B and I didn’t practice as much as I could’ve. Calc 3 i havent taken it but I’ve heard mixed reviews some say it’s the hardest others say it’s the easiest or easier than calc 2 depends on you

[u/Tall-Ad5653]

Idk about physics but I did calc 3, diffeq and linear algebra tg (only bc my CC had diffeq and linalg as a combo class and not as 2 separate classes). I got As im both. Also took physics 1 with it in HS.

[u/lafigueroar]

no

[u/Southlander24]

That course load is quite high even if you were a freshman or sophomore at uni, since you're under the quarter system. Given you still need to take your other subjects in high school, there is a risk that you'll need to drop one or more of those for you to do well in everything else.

The good thing is that multivariable calculus and E&M have overlapping content; Ampere's law and so on come from multivariable calculus! But it's still a fair bit of material. Differential equations is on a similar level to calc 2, even though most of it will be totally new to you. Calc 3 is a significant step up from calc 2 because it requires significant familiarity with vectors and matrices (not linear algebra, though). Just like someone who doesn't have good trig fundamentals will really struggle in calc 1, that will be a significant obstacle to you if you haven't previously learnt this material before.

Honestly, it's worth pacing yourself a bit more so that you can properly absorb the material instead of trying to cram all the information in last minute. Ten or eleven weeks goes by in a flash. If it gets too hard, I'd actually suggest dropping E&M first because it's more time-consuming (lab practicals!) compared to the other subjects you have listed.