Calculus was the separator between a 3.8 GPA and a 4.0 GPA my senior year in HS.
It’s sort of a competency test.
Either you understand what it does and the relative value of it, or you don’t. The basic derivative, integral, and into polar notation. This is the gateway to more advanced concepts such as other coordinate systems, and partial diff EQ’s using them.
More like an IQ test. Either you had the goods to pass it, or you didn’t.