I didn’t take any calculus in high school. I took algebra 1 in 8th grade, geometry freshman year, algebra 2 sophomore year, and then took AP stats junior year and no math class at all senior year of high school, and then during placement tests for college I tested into calculus. I didn’t think anything of it, but now that I am almost two months in and feeling really behind I am starting to realize that maybe I should not be in this class since I had no knowledge of calculus whatsoever before this year? Do most people take calculus in high school? Everyone else in my class seems like they know what they are doing right when we begin to cover new material, almost like they have already learned it before in high school. Does this mean I am in the wrong class, and what should I do about it now?
At my high school, pre-calculus was offered, but students could only take calculus if they took algebra in 8th grade.
I have a friend in a very similar situation to you. He took pre-calculus junior year, but didn’t take a math at all senior year. However he also tested into calculus and felt very overwhelmed just like you.
He ended up talking to his academic advisor, and they decided that switching to a lower level class was best for him. I think you should also speak with your academic advisor before making any decisions.
Do you know what you want to major in? If you want to do something in STEM, you should try to get help from someone, such as a tutor. If you’re interested more in the humanities, I don’t think it would be that big of a deal if you dropped down to a lower level class. However, there are many students in the same situation as you. For most high schools, it is standard for students to take algebra 1 in 9th grade and finish with pre-calculus in 12th grade. You’re not expected to enter college having a background in calculus, but many kids do take AP Calculus, or some other calculus class, in high school.
Lots of students re-take calc in college for various reasons. Some of them are there for the easy A, too, since they already took it. It doesn’t even sound like you took pre-calc, and you had a 2 year hiatus from related math. So… your struggles are understandable. I have a few questions:
- Is it too late to drop? Guessing it is at this point, but just asking.
- Why are you taking this class? Is it a requirement for your major or post-graduation plans? Do you plan to take more math after it? What are the implications of a bad grade in this one class?
- How bad is your grade right now? I ask because I flunked my calc midterm first semester of college. I studied my tail off for the rest of the semester. Made flashcards of every nuance of every concept, every weird homework problem, etc. Carried the darned things all over campus -- studied them while in line at the cafeteria, etc. I aced the final, and ended up with a B+ in the class. But I wasn't completely floundering -- just hadn't done a great job of REALLY nailing the studying and memorization for the first semester.
I agree that a chat with your academic advisor ASAP also is a good idea.
Currently I am in the business school and during my orientation they said I should take either Math 211, which is the “easier” calc class for people who aren’t majoring in a math-related study; or Math 221, which was slightly more difficult and was recommended for anyone who would be majoring in a more math-heavy study. Although I am in the business school I knew I might want to switch my major to computer science so I signed up for Math 221 so I wouldn’t have to retake a math class if I wanted to switch to computer science. And as the year goes on I’m feeling more and more like I want to switch my major to computer science or add it as a double major, so I really don’t want to move to Math 211. I’m at UW Madison BTW if that matters.
- I already took my first midterm so I'm assuming it's too late to drop. I got a B on it after studying a lot and basically teaching myself everything from online tutorials.
- I'm not sure if the specific class I'm in is required, but I know for the business school I have to take at least one math class, and this happens to be the one I tested into. I'm assuming for computer science I will have to take more math though :(
Don’t assume anything…look up the drop deadline. You may have a “late drop” period where the class does show on your transcript with a W, but that’s better than an F, if it comes to that.
You skipped Pre-Calculus, that is probably causing a huge gap in your knowledge.
Agree, although it doesn’t sound like an F is very likely if you got a B on the midterm. That should pretty good at UW Madison without having had pre-calc, you should feel good about it. Is there a grade you have to get to stay in the business program? Yes, CS typically has more math required. I found this on the UW Website as part of the CS degree requirements:
“Two mathematical courses that presuppose basic calculus. Suggested courses are Statistics 324 (Introductory Applied Statistics for Engineers) and Math 340 (Elementary Matrix and Linear Algebra). Other courses that can be used to fulfill this requirement are: CS 412, 416, 435, 513, 514, 515, 525, 526; Math 234, 309, 319, 320, 321, 322, 331, 375, 376, 419, 431, 443, 461, 475, 521, 541, 542, 567, 571; Stat 309, 310, 311, 312; ECE 331. For the purposes of this requirement, Math 375 may not be combined with Math 234, 320, or 340, and CS 412 may not be combined with CS 416. The math department may have additional restrictions on giving credit to certain pairs of math courses.”
I guess my take is that you are doing okay, and you should stay in it. Keep doing what you are doing, and go for help from your TA if you get stuck. If you feel like you are getting more behind, find a tutor.
A B in college calculus is a solid grade. It won’t keep you from getting a good job in business or CS.
I think that it is inevitable that different students will come in with different amounts of preparation in different dimensions. You are probably ahead in some other ways, but you are a bit behind in this particular subject. You just have to put in extra effort and catch up in this one subject.
You will need to study extra in this class. You probably should seek out help from the professor for example during the professor’s office hours. Another option is to get a tutor for this class.
If you want to do much in the “TEM” part of STEM, or in physics, then you will need to know Calculus well. Thus it is well worth spending the extra effort in this particular class. If you got a B on the midterm, then with extra help you should be able to do okay in this class (and a B overall is not terrible – you are going to get some B’s now that you are in university).
My D took no calc in high school and started in calc in college. She used Khan academy a lot and also spent a lot of time ‘teaching’ a soccer player friend who missed a lot of classes. This made her pay attention in class because she knew she had to help him and, while they were reviewing the work he missed she could tell if she was a little light on the concepts too. She put in a lot of time for that class.
I am frankly impressed that you are pulling a B without having had high school calc or even pre-calc. Don’t beat yourself up. This is supposed to be a hard class.
You may want to get a tutor now even though you are currently doing rather well. Tutoring sessions designed to keep you from falling behind are a lot better than ones that are trying to help you catch up. Also, you might not be able to find a tutor when you need one if you wait till nearly the end of the semester. Dial back on other activities if you feel yourself getting overwhelmed. You can always pick them back up next semester.
Summarizing:
a. You stopped taking math in high school after algebra 2 (and took AP statistics as an elective).
b. You got to college at Wisconsin - Madison and took a placement test which indicated placement into calculus despite not having had precalculus in high school.
c. You took the harder calculus Math 221.
d. You are currently getting a B in the course.
What’s the problem? (It is not required to have had calculus in high school in order to take calculus in college.)
Pretty much all STEM programs are designed with Calc I as the math starting point. Even if you were a math major you would not be behind.
You find it hard because it’s likely all students took precalculus in high school and took math through senior year, and at least half the students in 221 also took calculus. So, for them, it’s a fast-paced review. You’re trying to bridge the equivalent of 2 years of math over a couple months.
And you’re pulling a B on the midterm, which is amazing. 
Now, I’d expect that class to require about 12-15 hours of prep, alone. If that’s how much you’re spending on it, that’s good and normal.
What’s your current grade in the class?
Wisconsin Math 221 is a 5 credit course, so the nominal workload is 15 hours per week total (including both class time and out-of-class time). It looks like the OP is getting a B in the course so far.