I am majoring in Neuroscience next year going into my second year of college at a University after CC. I am debating on majoring in Kinesiology because that has peaked my interest too. I have to take calc 1 & to be honest, I am TERRIBLE at math. I am scared I am not going to do so hot. If I do plan to do it, my advisor said I could take the class at a CC since it will be easier & If i were to take it I would take it during the summer, so that would be the only class id worry about. My plan so far is PA school. Should I not do Kinesiology because I am terrified that it wont look good on my transcript?
The professional school won’t care whether your major is kinesiology or neuroscience. If one of the majors requires less math and you’re weak at math, choose that one. Your GPA is most important. I doubt few/any PA schools require Calc 1.
BTW…it’s piqued my interest. 
For a list of PA programs and their pre-reqs (including number of hands-on direct patient care hours required for consideration):
http://directory.paeaonline.org
It appears most/all PA programs require a semester of statistics.
If you want to go to PA school, be sure to check that kinesiology and/or neuroscience will offer you the coursework needed to meet pre-PA requirements–like microbiology w/ lab, genetics, etc.
Its not about my major, its about the calculus part. I have to take it for Kinesiology to graduate as in Neuroscience there is a substitute. I will have to take Stats too for sure for PA school.
Both of the majors have the science part to it. I have a list of all the Pre-reqs that I need, but Calc 1 is required for Kinesiology to graduate as where Neuroscience is not. I am interested in both majors, but I feel as if Kinesiology would be more helpful and maybe a minor in psych/neuro.
PA programs do not care what your undergrad major is. The thing they look at is your cumulative GPA, science GPA and whether you have fulfilled the pre-reqs.
Would kinesiology give you better options for a career if you aren’t able to get accepted to PA school?
Calc is very hard for someone who is weak at math. If Neuro doesn’t require Calc, then continue as that major.
Think ahead…if a year from now, you have some horrible Calc grade that is ruining your GPA, you will regret that choice…right?
I feel as if kinesiology would, but I will not accept not getting accepted. I plan to work my ass off. I just find it more interesting, but the calc part is what is holding me back.
That is true. Neuro & Kin. both interest me, but Kin. interests me a bit more. The only part that is holding me back is the calc part.
Ok, you say you’re bad at math–How bad is TERRIBLE?
How did you do in pre-calc in high school? How did you do in algebra 2?
If you were a B student (or better) in high school math AND you’re willing to take Calc 1 at CC (or take a less rigorous Calc 1 class that may be offered at your college–like foundations in calculus, calc for non-physical science majors, etc) AND work your butt off (and get tutoring) you can probably eke out a B or B-.
While not helping your GPA, a B or B- won’t kill it either.
If you were a B-/C student in high school math, would you be willing to take pre-calc/college algebra at college to strengthen your math fundamentals then try to take Calc?
(And sometime attitude is everything. I had taken calc 1 & 2 when I was in college–got a C and D. Never took another math class, changed my major out of science. 12 years later I needed to take calc for a computer science program I was enrolled in. I had total meltdown over the idea of taking calc. Honestly I was lying on the floor sobbing out loud about it. My husband cajoled me saying that he had tutored his lab tech through calc and if his tech could pass calc so could I because his tech was dumber than our dog and I was much smarter than either his tech or his dog… LOL–if I hadn’t loved him before, I loved for this. BTW, I was 5 month pregnant at the time and working full time as an English teacher. I took calc 1 in night school, worked diligently at it, did homework everyday, went to tutoring at the college at least once or twice/week–and I got a B+. Not perfect–but good enough I could finish my program.
MORAL–Sometimes good enough is all you need.)
When I say I’m bad, I feel as if that I wont succeed. I cannot really judge myself from high school because I was not a great student in high school up until junior year. Freshman year I finished with a 2.1 and got my GPA to a 3.0 senior year. My first year of CC I finished with nearly a 4.0. Moral is that I got my butt in gear. As for math, I have always struggled. In Algebra 2 I passed with a B/B- without doing homework. This year I took finite math & I passed with a B+ the homework is what saved me.
Finite math is the highest math I have ever taken. I have never taken Pre-calc or Trig or college algebra. & I love your story it is really motivational. If I were to take it, I would take it, I would take it in the summer at a CC. If I got anywhere in the B/B- range for Calc I would be happy to be completely honest. Also, grades are not everything. I plan to have a very high GPA on top of extra circular activities, clinical hours, volunteering and etc. Hopefully one bad grade wouldn’t kill my chances at PA school. Plus, Calc is not even required for PA school. Stats is. Calc is required for Kin. if I go that route though. Neuro & Kin. both interest me, but should I give up a whole major because of my fear of one class?
Since you got a B+ in Finite Math (which includes pre-cal & trig), then you should go ahead and take Calc1–take it at your CC if you are more comfortable with the teaching & support services there. If you work really hard, do your homework, get help when you need it–you’ll pass. And I think you may even surprise yourself by doing better than you think you will.
Sometimes we are our own worst enemy when it comes to getting destructive ideas out of our heads.
And, you’re right one C won’t kill your chances for PA school. If you want to major in kinesiology–face your fears, take calc, and go for it!