You're perfectly set up for higher order Differential Equations then. Matrix operations are the only thing I dread, and go figure they rear their ugly heads again in Diff Eqs.

Personally I suggest grabbing the "For Dummies" series BEFORE you take the class. That way you have some idea of what you are going to deal with.

Calc 1 circles around: Graphs, Continuity, Limits, Derivatives, and introduces Integrals (both as anti-derivatives and the actual function)

Graphs/Continuity should be easy, just memorize the basic graphs and if you can factor (and remember when things arent continuous) you're fine with Continuity.

Limits are a fairly basic concept: As a variable reaches a number, what value will you get from either side of that number, but not at that number. Its like saying "okay what would y= when x=3 with the function (x^2-9)/(x-3)" since you can factor the x-3 out and get simply x+3 the answer would be 6. However limits dont need to factor it, pretty much you end up taking the values close to 3 (2.9 2.99 2.999 3.001 3.01 3.1) and figure out what you approach.

Derivatives just builds off limits and the slope function (change in y/change in x). You remember that, right? But what you're looking for is the slope at a point, instead of the slop over 2 points). Well instead of calling it y we call it f(x) and the change we want will be 0 (thus narrowing it down to a point), but since it's a limit we name the change as h. Thus we look at it this way:

Change in f(x)
-------------
Change in x

f(x2)-f(x1)
----------
x2-x1

the difference between x2 and x1 is h so x2-x1=h and x2 = x1+h

f(x+h)-f(x)
----------
h

Now we want this at 0 so we add the limit which would be "lim h->0" and that just goes before the function. Thus giving you the slope at some point (x,f(x)).

You'll do a few of these from the limit (which pretty much involve finding ways to cancel out the h), then you'll prove the various rules, then you'll just get handed the rules and your teacher will be like "haha, all you had to do was this all along "

Alright, so you work with harder and harder derivatives until you think your eyes are going to pop out from your brain swelling. Then you will get the concept down and be able to figure a derivative in your sleep.

Then you work with reverse derivatives which are called antiderivatives. Pretty much use the rules from before but just reverse directions (simple rules, it wont be that hard).

Then you will work with Summation Notation, which you probably already have some idea about. When you're done there your teacher will say "time to find the area under functions" and you'll get a bunch of stupid ways to do them involving limits at infinity and the sum of an infinitely thin rectangle with width (change in x) and height f(x). You'll be so good at drawing sigmas that you'll be doing them in your sleep. Ultimately you find out that these are called "Integrals" and you will find out that they are antiderivatives (usually).

That's the end, hope to do well on the final.

Then enters Calc 2, which was described before but is simply "Hey, we're going to work with integrals until you can do them on your toes, oh and we will throw in series and sets right at the end of the semester while you are panicking about your finals coming up.

But when you get done you cant just give up. You have now just spent an entire year of your life learning how to work with 2 dimensional stuff you never will, are you seriously going to waste a year of your life when 1 semester more will make it all worth it? Of course not. Now you work with multivariable calculus and if your school will let you/you want to go into science take differential equations at the same time.

Multivariable Calculus is simply 3 dimensional calculus and the concepts of working in 3 dimensions. And differential equations are simply a function, it's derivatives, some function involving them, leading to some answer. Your goal is to then figure out what the original function was that all those derivatives are derived from. Very useful if you are working in any science, or if you want to map human behavior/snake behavior/anything's behavior.