About to fail Calculus 2, are my chances at a UC over?

Transfer Students UC Transfers
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<p>Basic info:</p>

<p>Looking to transfer to either Davis or Irvine as a Computer Science major. I also want to shoot for San Diego, although I will probably not get in. I have exactly a 3.0 GPA, and I will be applying Fall '12. I currently have one D on my transcript in a Chem class, but I have retaken it for a B. So that's what was factored in my GPA calculation.</p>

<p>Here's what happened. I was struggling with Calculus 2 the whole semester; it's the most grueling math class I've ever taken. I studied everyday, did all the homework, studied with smart people, even went to the Math Lab for help. I still pulled off C's on all my tests. It was highly discouraging, but I keep pressing forward hoping my hard work would pull me through. The previous exam on Infinite Series annihilated my grade to a low D, and my chances of passing the final exam and the class are HIGHLY unrealistic, although I will still study. What makes me want to cry is that I legitimately studied, just to fail. I admit I am a mediocre math student, and I generally get C's or B's in math classes. But Calc 2 destroyed me.</p>

<p>/sobstory</p>

<p>At this point I will have 2 D's on my transcript, both in pre-req classes that count towards my major. I was a lazy bastard in Chem, so that D was just silly, I almost wanna kick myself. I have retaken it for a higher grade, however. But Calc 2 hurts, and I truly have no excuse for failing. I tried and failed. Dunno what else to say. I will retake it next semester, and I know what I need to fix to improve test grades here. However I'm worried if I killed my chances at going to the UC's I listed. I know CS in Davis isn't terribly popular so I'm crossing my fingers for it, Irvine is going to be a bit tough, and San Diego is likely out of reach. I wanted to know what you guys think if. If I retake math for a higher grade and keep up good grades everywhere else, would I still have a chance at getting in somewhere?</p>

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<p>I feel sorry to hear this.
Basically i just read the title " fail cal 2 " and major " computer science."
with my knowledge around CS major, i know they require math level up to different equation or linear algebra beyond cal 2. If you are struggling with cal 2 right now, how can you move up to the next level? I say work hard, find some interest in math so u can survive long term. All CS major require high math level.</p>

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<p>Ah, that sucks. Where did you take the Calc II class? Can you take it next semester with an easier professor?</p>

<p>Are you sure you want to stick with CS?</p>

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<p>Where did you apply? maybe you can get into UCR or UCM?</p>

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<p>@Ferrari - Calc 2 is notorious for being the hardest math class. Many of my friends in CS/engineering have retaken it at least once, and those who have advanced onto higher math claim that its much easier than Calc 2. I was doing fine for the most part, but my grade sunk right at the very end. I guess its the final result that matters. I think I can do fine in other math classes…</p>

<p>@asphyxiac - I took it at DVC. Yes, I signed up for another professor, at LMC however. All the classes at DVC got filled up in a matter of days. I truly enjoy programming and learning about CS, and I’m gonna stick with the program until I finish it. Even if I have to go to some CSU to finish it, so be it. Ideally I would want to go to a UC though.</p>

<p>@TaLLL - nowhere yet. I’ll be applying next year</p>

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<p>Since you retook the chem class and got a B, your previous grade does not matter and does not factor into admissions decisions for UCs. It is like the old grade doesn’t exist. So don’t worry about that. As for calc, try your best and see if you can pull off a C. If not, retake it next semester. Maybe try a different professor? Don’t be discouraged!!</p>

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<p>@infloo.
Really? Cal 2 the hardest? Im not trying to pretend to be a smart guy, but at my CCC 99.9% of all students are saying cal 2 is easier than cal 1. It is because if u know the basic, and understood all the cal 1 material, then cal 2 is just a review.</p>

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<p>@Ferrari4XD</p>

<p>I disagree with that statement. Calc 2 was arguably more difficult than Calc 1, and I think it’s a generally accepted notion that integration is more difficult than differentiation. There are some tricky integrals and you deal with infinity a lot more.</p>

<p>@OP</p>

<p>Since you are applying in the Fall, just retake Calc 2 for a better grade. You really don’t want a C in Calc 2 as a CS major. Some programs require a B average or higher in major coursework, so yeah. It would be better to retake it in the Spring, then take Calc 3 next fall, and Linear Algebra in spring '13.</p>

<p>As long as you retake the course, you will be fine. They will consider your new grade in your GPA and disregard the old course grade. Please don’t take a C. It will hurt your GPA immensely, and it’s not worth it if you have the time to retake the course.</p>

<p>Also, spend some time this winter reviewing Calc 2 material. Check out the videos that Patrick JMT posts on YouTube, and use MIT’s OpenCourseWare Scholar lectures/course materials. I will be happy to help you if you PM me.</p>

<p>Links: </p>

<p><a href=“http://patrickjmt.com/[/url]”>http://patrickjmt.com/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mathematics/18-01sc-single-variable-calculus-fall-2010/[/url]”>http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mathematics/18-01sc-single-variable-calculus-fall-2010/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>^@ lol maybe its just me then.</p>

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<p>Honestly, I do agree with you, OP. Calc 2 is notoriously the weeder in all of the lower division math requirements. What seems funny is that only a small portion of the math they require you to take are actually used in computer science. So I understand your situation, and your legitimate interest in computing.</p>

<p>Having said that, it will still be tough if you are not a mathy person. My advice right now would be : 1) If you seriously think you can’t pass the course, bomb the final. You may think I’m being sarcastic, but no, if you are willing to retake it, there’s no point in working your butt off and “accidentally” get a low C. 2) Spend your winter break reviewing all the concepts you have learned so far, use available resources like Schaumn Outline, Calc 2 for Dummies, and this one: [Pauls</a> Online Notes : Calculus II](<a href=“http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcII/CalcII.aspx]Pauls”>http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcII/CalcII.aspx). I found the last one to be extremely helpful when it comes to concepts, especially when my professor is so vague in describing them. 3) Use ratemyprof, ask around for people’s opinion, and register for a nice professor. If none of them works, you can stick to the last resort, but I don’t really recommend it since you won’t learn much: Register for Coastline Community College’s Calculus 2 Online Course. It’s 100% online, you only need to pay an extra 50 bucks for the access code to submit homework, but you have to be motivated to complete all the required work.</p>

<p>[/ end advice rant]</p>

<p>Again, if you don’t care about grad school (which you most likely don’t IMO), definitely bomb the final and retake it next semester. Good luck, and hope this helps!</p>

<p>I hate to sounds douchy but eff off please Mr. ■■■■■. Your smirk with 99.9% people think calc2 is easier than 1 and then “maybe it’s just me” is just pure annoying. No flame.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the insight asphyxiac, and those links are helpful as well! Let me just get something straight, its better to fail the course and retake it for a higher grade later on, rather than settle for a C right now? Of course neither option is pleasant nor would it look good on my transcript, but I have to soften the damage as much as possible.</p>

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<p>@sparkyboy <3 you</p>

<p>@OP</p>

<p>Yeah, if you’re going to retake Calc 2 in the spring then just go ahead and take a D. That way, if you retake it and pass (hopefully with an A!) in the spring, that will be factored into your GPA when you apply in Fall '12. The UCs will not care about the D as long as the course is repeated.</p>

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<p>@Sparky </p>

<p>are you kidding me lol, cal 2 is easier than cal 1. 99.9% of the people i met are all say that cal 2 is easy. I’m not sure which ccc are u guys at op and sparky, but cal 2 definitely easier than cal 1 for real. Cal 1 is just an intro which they will throw a lot of nasty stuffs at you. Once you get over cal 1, cal 2 is much easier. Also the same thing goes with cal 3, Cal 3 easier than cal 2. Linear is a cake, and different equat is sooo fricking nastyyyyy.</p>

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<p>Really? I always heard Cal 2 is harder than Cal 1 and Cal 3</p>

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<p>Calc 1 is way easier than calc 2. Not that Calc 2 is hard or anything. </p>

<p>If you didn’t apply anywhere yet, just retake it and get a better grade. There’s no changing the past. Just show that you can do better.</p>

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<p>sorry but what chapters does calculus 2 include? and calculus 1?</p>

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<p>I know it’s off topic but I agree with Ferrari. Calc1 sucked!</p>

<p>Back on topic, yeah there isn’t much you can do. Follow the plans laid out by Spark and Asph(Take the D and retake it for the best grade you can). </p>

<p>I usually recommend to not show up to the final and do something else but I would stay and take clean notes and take a good look at the final. Note everything down with an idea that you’ll be looking at it again. Patrick JMT link is a great recommendation also. I used those videos all the time! Also look into auditing a calc2 class during the winter or something. It would be best to audit a class with the same teacher you plan on taking in the spring. Always a good idea to have consistent material and face time is always a great help.</p>

<p>And don’t worry too much about the “My chances are destroyed right?” mentality. What you’re really doing is questioning your whole entire academic path. If you are dead set on comp sci then do what you can to get your gpa as high as you can when you apply. Don’t talk yourself out of applying to schools. You miss every shot you never take so you will apply and you will do your best. If you get in then awesome, if not then you know it wasn’t meant to be. But don’t talk yourself out of something based on self defeating shiz. Good luck inf!</p>

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<p>This thread is starting to turn into the debate which calculus course is harder than one another. Well, I say elementary algebra and basic arithmetic is the hardest, anyone objects to that?</p>

<p>I, too, recommend not showing up on the final and forget the current teacher if you think he/she sucks, BUT, if you want to get a sense of what the final exam looks like, just show up, look over the problems, see which sections they cover mostly, and hand it in. It doesn’t hurt, since due to academic integrity, most profs would not open your exam and say: “Hey you idiot, why are you handing in a blank paper with a smiley face on it?” or something like that…</p>

<p>I think a senior member on this board, killmyentourage, said that she took calc 2 at coastline and it was easier than the normal f2f class, so you might want to take that under consideration. I suggest this option again because only 30-40% of the material in calc 2 will show up in future classes. Getting out of the class, you should be able to do parts, trig sub, parametrize, and polar bear(oops I mean polar coordinate :D) in order to do Multiple Integrals and Vector Field. If I’m not mistaken then that is it. Linear doesn’t require any knowledge in Calc2, and DE only requires some integration techniques (yet again), and some knowledge about infinite series, especially power/Taylor/Maclaurin series.</p>

<p>

Using the Stewart’s book, which I think is the most popular in undergraduate text in calculus right now… the chapters in limits, derivatives, applications, intro to integration, applications of integrations are included in calc1. In Calc2, they throw at you some gay stuff in the beginning like hyperbolic and inverse trig, which you will rarely ever see again to weed out the fainted heart, then the very important chapter in techniques of integration, then infinite series, and finally parametrize a function and polar coordinates. Hope this helps :)</p>

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<p>@infLoop: Take Calc 2 either at Chabot or Las Positas College.
PM me for more information :]</p>

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<p>is calc 1 dirivities and calc 2 integrals? because i was so proud when i passed the second quarter calculus. OMG was it hard. i’m not too much of a math person either. concepts dont click as fast with me as other people do. luckily the course was structured so that if you passed the final exam you passed the class, regardless of what your grade was before. ^_^</p>