Dropping out of Differential Equations (college course)

My Daughter is a senior at High school, and is taking differential equation( college Course) through local community college. She thinks this course is too hard for her and wants to drop out that class. If she does drop out, will college rescind her admission? Her high school transcript does mention her taking this class.

Your daughter needs to discuss the problem with the high school guidance counselor. If the counselor is not familiar enough with the rescind policy of the college in question, he or she can call and ask.

But she listed it on her college applications, right?

Unlikely. However, she will need to notify any colleges to which she has been accepted or is still awaiting decisions. If the college has an issue, they will tell her. But they do not like surprises.

thank you for your quick response. Yes, she did listed it in her college apps.

If she thinks she can pass the course, switching to pass/fail (if allowed) may be preferable to dropping the course.

She should try to figure out why she’s struggling in the course, especially if she plans to take more math in the future. Did she skip a level or two of math and now regrets it? Is it being taught poorly? Is it simply too much work on top of her other classes? My partner is a mathematician, and he has many students each term who struggle with the material but never come to office hours or ask for help.

My husband is an engineer…and a LOT of college students including engineering majors have trouble with this course.

Absolutely, discuss this with the school GC, but unless this will prevent her from graduating from HS, I can’t see that it will be a huge problem. At this point, did she get a midyear grade? What was that?

Instead of dropping out, if she fails the the course will it affect the admission?

@ thumper1 She is at the top of her class, loves math, but her online tutor at community college is of no help. she got her mid year grades, and she is all A’s in all her classes.

If the options are dropping or failing, then dropping is preferable. Failing is much more likely to result in the admissions being rescinded.

Additionally, you might want to ask probing questions of her. She finds the class “hard.” What does that mean? Hard as in danger of failing or hard as in harder than HS, but still above the median on exams?. College classes are supposed to be harder, so it might be a bit of culture shock. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, the class is not an easy class anyway. So she might want to levelset her expectations instead of dropping the course. Particularly if she’s planning something in STEM in college, I would suggest sticking it out if she’s anticipating a C or better, without hurting her other grades.

Also, as mentioned above, she should take advantage of office hours/study groups/etc before throwing in the towel.

DiffEq is a second semester College Sophomore level course so she should not be worried that she is not ready for that class in HS. I should think she would have enough HS math credits for graduation.
Talk to her GC…most likely she should let the colleges know she has dropped the class.

Agree with post #8. My only comment it appears that she is not getting an A instead of failing the class. I think some are assuming failing. It sounds like my daughter who freaked out getting a B in BC first semester.

I was asking about her midterm grade in Differential equations. Was that an A also? If so…what is the issue?

My opinion…you can love math, but still find differential equations to be a VERY VERY difficult course. VERY. Even at the already in college level.

This is an online community college course, half semester course which started in January.

@jigjo Can you get her a tutor? We learned the hard way last year that math shouldn’t be taken online, especially college level math by high schoolers. My D took Calc 3 online and it was very stressful for her. We got her a tutor then it clicked and she got an A. She made sure to rearrange her schedule for DiffEq so that she took it in person and it was so much more enjoyable and much easier than Calc 3. I don’t think it was the material being easier, but it being taught in person rather than online. YMMV

Don’t do anything to hurt her college chances. If you can take the class pass fail do it. You have gotten some good advice in this thread

What grades has she received on any work so far in the course?

She is at 70% for 5 units. Failing grade is 60%, 5 units more to go

This is an online course? I would,have her drop it. But FIRST talk to the HS guidance counselor. Make sure this won’t be an issue…on any front.

Thank you all for the suggestions. Will definitely have her talk to GC, which will happen next week due to spring break. Will keep you all updated.

“Diffy Q” is a known very difficult course for college level engineering students. There would be absolutely no shame in dropping it as a high school student taking it through an unconventional arrangement which has less than ideal support. Run it by the colleges but expect it to be fine.