<p>This year I'm a senior and I'll be applying to colleges in just a couple of weeks! I live in California and I'll be apply to CSU: Long Beach, CSU: Chico, and San Diego State. I know those colleges recommend taking 4 years of math. I am currently in Pre Calc and have taken Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra II. I started at a new school this year and unfortunately I got a math teacher that isn't the best at teaching math. Math is not my strong subject and I really need a good teacher in order to understand and pass the class. The way this teacher teaches and how she runs her class do not in any way help me learn. I am completely lost and I don't understand anything going on in class. I really want to take Pre Calc but I also know I can't take the chance of getting a C and lowering my GPA (I hope to graduate with honor chords and getting a C in a class is not ok with me). I was wondering if it's really that imperative that I take a 4th year of math? Will I still be able to get into SDSU with a 3.95 GPA and a 1600 on the SAT without that last year of math? Please help. I can't spend the remainder of this year stressing about passing math as well as balance the stress of college and college applications.</p>
<p>I’m thinking hospitality business management or public relations.
I know for business majors you should really take 4 years of math. But my sister is majoring in HBM and she said she only had to take 2 math classes since the major, although in business, doesn’t really have much to do with mathematics.</p>
<p>Can you switch to a different math teacher?</p>
<p>The Hospitality and Tourism Management major at San Diego State requires Math 120 (calculus for business) or Math 150 (calculus 1). You should really complete precalculus in high school so that you do not have to waste time and tuition taking it as a remedial course in college in order to prepare for calculus.</p>
<p>Can you get a tutor? Have you spoken with this teacher about your difficulties with the class? Do that first. She should have suggestions for you.</p>
Probably not what you want to hear, but you don’t need a good teacher. A good teacher helps immensely, that is true. But there are so many resources out there to help you learn the material. </p>
<p>iTunes has tons of math classes available free for download, as do many colleges. The Teaching Company makes DVDs (expensive) that you may be able to borrow for free at your local library. There are wonderful books that are like SAT prep books but for specific subjects in math and science, called something like the “Algebra Problem Solver” or whatever math topic you are studying. There are thousands of web sites. The Khan Academy has gotten rave reviews. There are your fellow students, who you could ask for help. I could go on and on, but the point is that you are not up a creek if you don’t have a good teacher, you just have to take some initiative.</p>
<p>Go to your guidance counselor and see if it would be possible to switch to a different teacher or even a different level math class. If that’s not possible you could always try to get a tutor or stay after school with your teacher. Try Khan Academy it is very helpful with step by step video lessons. Good luck!</p>
<p>The schools you named recommend 4 years but require only 3. The csu’s use an eligibility index. There is an online calculator that you can use to see your score. Does your high school offer College Algebra? If you switch to it, you may get a better teacher and it’s a college prep class. Good luck!</p>
<p>The OP’s intended major requires calculus (although a “calculus for business” course is allowed). Taking precalculus is generally needed before taking calculus, so taking a lower level course now or not taking math at all would mean taking precalculus as a remedial course in college.</p>
<p>While the CSUs would likely not notice for the purpose of admissions as long as the minimum math for admissions is completed, there is more to high school course selection that just getting admitted to the desired college. Proper high school course selection is needed to prepare for college work in the intended major.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone! I decided I’m going to stay in the class and just try my best! I’ll definitely look into Khan Academy and the iTunes math classes. Thank you so much for the suggestions, they were a big help. :)</p>
<p>A transcript without precalc is going to stand out, and not in a good way…especially in a pile of transcripts where almost everyone else has not only precalc, but also calc AB, Calc bc, or even classes further advanced.</p>
<p>In addition, you are going to be setting yourself up for a harder time once you get to college. Almost every major has some sort of math requirement, and even a basic college statistics course assumes command of precalc. One of my sons was a public policy major…he needed three semesters of statistics/analysis (which assumed a basic calculus background) to complete his undergrad degree, and additional courses toward his masters.</p>
<p>Also a lot of major require calculus–for example, I am not aware of any business degree that does not require at least a semester of calculus and a semester of statistics. If you arrive on campus and cannot place directly into the required classes, you will be wasting time and money while you are forced to take remedial prerequisites.</p>
<p>Admissions is competitive across the board. Why give them an easy reason to reject you?</p>
<p>It sounds like you’re on the right track. One more bit of advice, though; I strongly suggest you get the book “Pre-Calculus Problem Solver” from Amazon or your favorite retailer. It has what you need, over a 1000 pages of worked problems. Learning math and science is more like learning to play tennis than learning History. Here’s why. You’ll watch the videos and it will all make sense. Just like watching videos showing how to hold the racket and hit a backhand. But your teacher isn’t going to ask if you’ve watched the videos, she is going to ask questions. And its funny how often you think you know it cold until you actually try to solve a problem. </p>
<p>That’s why the practice book is worth 10x or more the $19 they charge for it. Flip to the chapter that covers what your class is currently studying (after watching the videos, of course) and cover the answers. See if you get a few problems right. If not, look at the solutions. Repeat until you are getting them right. This takes time, and that’s the other thing many students underestimate. A rule of thumb in college math/science classes is to spend 6-10 hours outside of class studying and doing homework. It may take more, it may take less, but the point is many HS and college students try to do the work in just a couple of hours a week and then are dismayed because they just aren’t getting it.</p>
<p>So 2 pieces of advice: (1) get the problem solver book (2) commit to spending 10 real hours, no distractions, per week studying the material and doing practice problems. If you do this, I think you’ll find the tests will take care of themselves and you’ll be happy with your grade. </p>