Calculus after being away from algebra for some time. Help me.

You will be fine. You have a decent math background and you're not taking an engineering focused course, plus you have good resources. You will not be screwed. I know this because I also took calc many, many years after having had any math, and did just fine. Here's what you need to do (in my opinion): 1. Get the text book and start reading it. Don't worry if you don't understand all or even any of it. Just reading through it will warm your brain up, familiarize you with some of the terms, and make it easier to follow along in class. All through the quarter, read ahead, so that when the prof discusses something in class, it's not totally new to you. You'll have seen the equations, read the terms, seen the big-picture question you're supposed to be solving for. Don't worry if reading it doesn't teach you the material; just prime your brain to learn it from the prof. If you can start working on some of the early problems now, do that. If you find that it assumes you're familiar with areas of math that you just don't remember how to do, go to the Khan Academy and review these. I had never taken trig, and was totally freaked by these sections, and had I had Khan available to me, I would have been fine. You'll be fine. 2. Sit in the front row, and take notes on paper in pencil. Pay attention. Ask questions. Avoid people with laptops who surf the web, or text all through class. 3. Find someone else in the class that seems to grasp what is going on, and ask to study with them. Someone who is also struggling is not the right person to ask. Why would someone totally getting it be willing to study with you? Because explaining something to someone is a great way to learn the material; remind them of this if they raise this issue. 4. Do the homework the same evening that the material was covered in class, or first thing the next morning (depending on whether you're a night or morning person). Do it when it's fresh. Then come back two days later and go over everything you've done, to see if it's right. 5. Celebrate your achievements. Know you're awesome. Congrats on getting into grad school!!

My first thought reading your question was that you've got nothing to worry about. Two points: 1. You've been doing math recently, in the context of physics and stats; and it actually sounds like you basically like math, but that there's something about the mystique of "calculus" that has you nervous. There's really nothing so dramatically different about calculus; it's just new rules to follow, new symbols to recognize. 2. To continue with your choice of grad program, you just need to have passed the class, right? This isn't something that's going to go on your record, you don't need to have stellar grades and a recommendation from the professor. Commnity colleges especially tend to value effort and engagement. It's actually pretty hard to fail a class if you show up every time, and do the homework (in such a way that you understand how you did it). Don't let your perfectionism work against you. Stay calm. Follow capri's excellent study suggestions. Everything will be fine.

A lot of the answers above are good, but let me add one more thing. I've taught calculus for many years, so I can say with confidence that unless you end up having a nonstandard class (not likely), you do not have to know everything from precalc for a standard calc I class. Mostly you just need to remember the basics of algebra (equations, graphs) and trig functions. Actually, I think that calc I is a lot easier than precalculus, because there's a much clearer geometric intuition, and the problems aren't as messy. And if you do need to use some algebraic stuff that you don't remember well, you can always talk to your teacher about it. They'll be happy to discuss background material with you.

One of my favorite instructors in college said, "Calculus is the course where people finally really understand how to do algebra. Integral calculus is where people finally really understand how to do derivatives. And differential equations is where people finally understand how to do integrals." You have enough self-awareness to know that you're on the first step of this ladder. You'll do great!

I did this same thing after a 20 year break from my last math courses. A first-year calc class (and not even the math/science major one) is going to do a significant amount of hand-holding and re-teaching of (although at a higher speed) key concepts from lower level math classes. Don't take a 3 year break between Calc I and Calc II though. Ask me how I know that.

There is no passive way to learn calculus. Hard work is the only way. Get your pencil out and start solving problems. It is not hard, but it ain't easy. Anyone who is willing to work hard and suffer a bit can learn it.

I'd just get a book like "Forgotten Algebra" or "The Humongous Book of Algebra Problems" and work through it, for review.

All sorts of non-math-y people take, and pass, Calculus. Clear enough time to study a lot. Look for a tutor or study group in case you need extra help. Pre-reading the book is a great idea. Also, https://www.coursera.org/course/precalculus

I'm currently tutoring a student in a similar course, and from your background, it sounds like you are going to be just fine as long as you put in the work and get help whenever you find yourself stuck.