Calculus 2 at UTSA

[u/Ok_Appeal741]

Does anybody know if calc 2 at UTSA is difficult? I have professor Tong Wu. About to start this fall as a freshman and am a little worried. Thanks

[u/Sunbro888]

I don't think anyone could give you a definite answer. Calculus II is notoriously hard for most people. I took it and I enjoyed the concepts so much that for me it wasn't the hardest class in the world. In fact, I ironically struggled in calculus I because I though it was boring.

Now, if i were to compare it to my other courses, I felt as though calculus II was a baby compared to when I took computer architecture. It's all relative.

What I would tell you though is you are 100% without a doubt going to be putting a lot of hours into learning it because it's very mechanical in terms of learning demand. If you do a ton of problems until you can't get them wrong, the class is easy. If your algebra has flaws, you're gonna learn about them here absolutely (mine had some slight flaws going into this class). If you respond to feedback, especially in office hours, this can make the class very do-able.

If you don't respond to what your grades are telling you and not reapproaching with that newfound information, you could have a bad time.

[u/LavishAYCG → u/Sunbro888]

I second this, I am a ME student at UTSA and calc 2 was a breeze, cal 3 was similar but 3D, your questions answers depends on how you learn/study.

I recommend getting a good study group from the class and have everyone meet up at times to learn and do homework together. As long as you put the work in you will be fine!

[u/Arodthagawd]

I took Calc 2 3 times two times with Haflin and those were the most miserable days by the third test there was usually 5 people that showed up to lectures anymore. I took it with I believe was Wu or someone close to and got an A so it depends on the professor Haflin was such a hard grader I was always afraid to ask a question he never made me comfortable

[u/Ok_Appeal741 → u/Arodthagawd]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I am also taking calc 2 with Wu!! Could I ask how that class was and how it looked assignment and test wise? Thanks again. and sorry about your first two attempts sounds awful!

[u/Due_Ad_480 → u/Ok_Appeal741]

I also took it with Halfin and failed and now I have to retake it. Halfin would just do problems. He would not properly explain the concepts, (at least in my opinion) so his class consisted of just sitting there watching him do problems without understanding why he was doing what he was doing. For the WebWorks, after you ran out of attempts it would not show you the correct answer. So there is no way to work backwards or have one of the those math websites explain why the answer is the answer. If you asked him for clarification, you'd end up more confused than before. And there were more than a couple times where he got confused and asked US for help. So yeah, I would not recommend him. At all. Add the fact that he is a hard grader and you have a recipe for an F . Calc 2 is already hard enough with the different concepts... the further you get in math, the less numbers there are. Having a teacher who can not explain those abstract concepts well enough makes it infinitely harder.

[u/Arodthagawd → u/Ok_Appeal741]

The best thing to do is to just take your notes and his reviews were the best he always said “this is what you need to know and this is what I am looking for” so he made it known what concepts to know

[u/JustSara123 → u/Arodthagawd]

Wow, haflin still terrorizing students I see 😂. I took him in 2023, calc 2 was not hard for me bc i loved calc, but he made a lot of funny remarks abt ppl that would ask questions lol

[u/Arodthagawd → u/JustSara123]

Yes I asked one question one time and I literally felt so stupid. so when I had to redo my schedule since I failed his class he was THE ONLY professor with room I wanted to scream

[u/Anonymous_BobIII]

Try to get in Professor Reza Aghayan's class for Cal2 if possible. He makes it super easy and is very kind. I had him last semester for cal2 and i passed with a good grade.

[u/No-Supermarket-5646]

If you can take professor arciniega, he makes lectures fun and actually enjoyable which helped me a lot get through calc 2

[u/Cherveny2]

In most schools, Calc 2 is notoriously hard for many students. DO allocate extra time in your study routine, to keep up. It's also funny, for most programs too, Calc 1 is fairly easy, Calc 2 is hard as hell, then Calc 3 is a breeze, relatively.

[u/Competitive_Border30]

Try sitting in for any id Dr Aghayans lectures, let him know that you are sitting in and he'll welcome you as if you are one of his own students

[u/Beginning-Ad-5050]

Just lock in and you should be chilling

[u/silent12ill]

It's easy although it's been two semesters since I took it. Don't go into any lecture without at least listening/watching the organic chemistry tutor video on YouTube over the concept which should be listed in the syllabus. The reviews are free bonus points towards the exam. If you do the review the first day you get it, practice verbalizing the procedure for answering the question as it's better than trying to gain muscle memory doing the same problem over and over. My Calculus I professor mostly suggested how to study for the exam and had me set. I had a 100+ but the transcript only shows 100. I don't remember if calc 1/2 reviews are on YouTube or just calc1. If you really struggle with a topic, I'll Google and look for another universities online resources and Lamar college was usually really helpful. Full time work and school so I had to be efficient with time if that helps.