<p>Hello! So I really love biomedical engineering and bioengineering, but I'm worried about a couple things. So my sophomore year just ended and I got a B in algebra 2. I know. Absolutely horrendous!! And its my only B and its not even an honors course. The whole semester I had a 4.0 then I messed up on one test, bringing my grade down to a B :(( if I can't even do math should I even become an engineer? Am I screwed for UC schools???? Am I screwed for any colleges in general? Since I got a B I can't go into honors pre calculus. Everything is ruined. Should I reconsider what I want to be? I mean I'm good at science but math is my weakest subject. :(((</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>No , I don’t think you are screwed. Let me give you a little perspective. My sister who got more than one B in high school still ended up at U of M on full ride academic honors. You are fine. If math is a weak spot for you I would get a tutor and stay in normal math classes. Sometimes it is better to show you have done really well in normal classes than to struggle in harder classes. It is about what you end up learning from the class not the title. In life people don’t care it you took AP calc early and did poorly. They care how well you can apply relatively basic math skills.</p>
<p>honestly don’t worry, people always get a lot of B’s. it’s not the end of the world, so keep your head up, and try for as many A’s as possible. I assure you 1-2 B’s are not going to prevent you from getting a top notch education. Bioengineering is a really exciting field which i’m planning on pursuing too, so good luck to both of us!</p>
<p>Thanks guys! I was really thinking I had a shot at getting into ucla…until today o.o</p>
<p>The two B’s I received in grad school were both in my favorite courses that I was darned good at. I ended up being the TA for one, and the other is my favorite course among 14 years of college. So, don’t worry about it, but look deep inside and see if you got a B just because, or you misunderestimated the class, or what not.</p>
<p>If you truly want to be an engineer, and can find a way to learn that math down the road, you can find a path that leads you where you want. Maybe you’ll turn it around over the summer and practice Algebra until you’ve mastered it. Maybe you’ll end up going part time to a community college to ensure you get A’s in Calculus classes and Differential Equations, then transfer into UCLA with a 4.0 college GPA. You’re young and you’ve got lots of time ahead of you.</p>
<p>Some of the best engineers I know struggled with math concepts, consistently got Cs, but got through with a good nose-to-the-grindstone attitude. </p>
<p>A math SAT below 600 in 11th grade correlates to lower expected graduation rates of engineering majors. That would be an indicator that you both struggle with concepts and make errors on concepts you understand. Engineering, being so math intensive, is less forgiving of multiple simple mistakes. We have all struggled with concepts.</p>
<p>I mean I’m not the worst with math. In fact I was really good at it when I was in early elementary. Its just that sometimes it takes me longer to understand certain math topics and I have to really practice to make sure I know I understand. During the semester I had maintained an A for a long time until I came across something that was really difficult, causing my grade to plummet to a B. Unfortunately I didn’t have enough time to bring it back up 
and I usually dont do really well on math finals ._.</p>
<p>One of the best young engineers I know was in “regular” math at the high school at which I teach. Never took honors, never took calculus in high school. Later won national honors, due to the student’s involvement in an engineering organization. Also has a wonderful job with Big Name company.
Calculus isn’t necessary in high school, neither are straight As, to be an excellent engineer. Determination and creativity are most important.
Can’t speak to what UCLA would want, but there are plenty of other good engineering schools around, if you are not a fit for them!</p>
<p>Let’s see…</p>
<p>1) My high-school GPA was barely a 3.0. I know it wasn’t a 3.1
2) My undergrad GPA was not even a 3.0…B.S. in Math
3) My graduate GPA was 3.8 (9 A’s, 1 C)…M.S. in Engineering</p>
<p>One phase of school does not have to dictate another phase of school.</p>
<p>Thanks guys! Unfortunately I think I need to rethink all of the colleges I’m interested in. Obviously I’m waaay over my head.</p>
<p>Grades don’t plummet from an A to a B… Considering HS is not normally on the +/- system its truly not that big of a deal, and DEFINITELY not a reason for you to rethink your college choices. Strive for the best.</p>
<p>I graduated HS with an astonishing 1.8 gpa…</p>
<p>I then went on to get a Bachelors from UNC Chapel Hill and am now about to start a Masters in Industrial Engineering from NC State.</p>
<p>Everything can always be repaired with hard work.</p>
<p>I second what Magnetron said. Look at your October PSAT Math score to help you decide… I would also take the October SAT. If you score below 600 on Math forget engineering (UCLA or otherwise). If you score over 650 forget the B, keep working hard and you should be okay UCLA or no UCLA. Don’t forget if you don’t go to UCLA now you might get in for grad school. The main thing is, there are plenty of engineering jobs so name of school is not critical.</p>
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<p>And I thought my Elbonian HS 6.5/10 average was the absolute rock bottom :D</p>
<p>Ya know what you are right about the SAT thing. I’m still going to reconsider a few choices when it comes to colleges :P. Fortunately I think I still have a slight chance at ucla and a great chance at ucsd, ucd, ucsc, and ucsb since they don’t look at freshman year 
(I faced anxiety and stress problems in freshman year :/)</p>