I am currently having a frustrating time in my second semester of honors pre calc as a sophomore. I made an A in the first semester, but as soon as we started trig I’ve went downhill very fast. I am simply not good at trig, I try my best to understand it but it won’t click for me. I am looking to make a C+ this semester in honors pre calc unless I can somehow make a B- if I manage to do well on the next few tests(honestly unlikely). I plan to major in a scientific field such as pre-med, biology, or chemistry- I am not sure yet. Biology and chemistry were both very easy for me and I was able to make high As in both while enjoying them. Algebra 1 and 2 were also a breeze for me and I made high As in those also, but I didn’t like geometry too much and made an A first sem and B second sem(which also had trig). Generally my math and science skills are very strong, but trigonometry is simply a weakness of mine, and I don’t plan on taking Ap calc because of that. This being said, would colleges look down upon this C I might make? I’m frustrated because I don’t want to make a C in a subject that colleges might look down upon because I’m majoring in science, which is not too much different from math. My gpa is pretty decent (will be 3.66 unweighted even after I make a C+) for what colleges I’m aiming for in my state, but I just want to know if getting a C in a subject (math) close to my intended major (science) will be very negative or not.
For pre-med or biology, you generally need to take calculus, though a light version without trigonometry may be available at some colleges. For chemistry, you are more likely to need the full version of calculus with trigonometry and more math.
AP calculus AB in high school will be a slower gentler introduction to calculus (though with trigonometry) than taking calculus in college after two years off of math. Not taking math for two years after being two years ahead in math may look odd as well.
my kid had a C+ in his first semester in pre-calc in 10th grade. (Though he had some compelling personal reasons). In fact he got a B in the second semester. He did wind up attending Berkeley.
I would make sure you do what you can to try and get that B this semester and work really hard in 11th. 10th and 11th are your most important grades. GPA is an important component to getting into a good school, but so are test scores, your essays, your ECs, course rigor and so on.
You’ll need to take calculus in college if you plan to major in science, and your C will be offset by a good calculus grade, but if you stay away from that type of math the C folllowed by no calculus will be a huge negative.
If you plan to major in science, you have to get away from the mindset of “it’s a weakness of mine so I’ll just give up”. It will create problems for you in college. Find a good tutor and try to work through your frustration. You might be pleasantly surprised.