<p>im a freshman. I am currently enrolled in mat21a. So far I am TOTALLY lost. I have taken ap calc ab in highschool but I slacked off real badly so idk anything. I’m thinking of dropping 21a and adding 17a for this quarter and enrolling in 21a the next quarter just to do better in 21a next quarter but Idk if its a good idea… I’m undeclared major and am thinking about majoring towards engineering or science. I feel so stupid and lost in my 21a class. Should I drop?</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, who’s your professor?</p>
<p>Before you drop, have you tried going to office hours for your class’ TAs and professor? Does your professor give discussion quizzes so you have an idea of how you’re doing with the concepts?</p>
<p>Are you attempting problems? A lot of times a concept just doesn’t make much sense until you practice it for yourself. Even if a concept makes sense when it’s explained, you still need to practice to be able to use it effectively. For me, the solution manual helps a lot with practice problems; pick problems that are in the solution manual and are similar to the recommended homework problems, do them and use the manual to see if you’re on the right track. Then try the recommended problems on your own, checking the answer if it’s an odd number.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t recommend going to 17A only to take 21A in a later quarter. Why do another quarter of math that you don’t need, especially one that won’t count towards the major areas you’re considering?</p>
<p>I have proff deckert. I wanted to take 17a because I thought it would help me do better in 21a. And I believe 17a is toward bio sci? I am not entirely sure of majoring engineering. and also I find deckerts lectures difficult to understand because of his accent and writing. It would be also better if he had solutions to the hws he assign us and post up the lecture slides.</p>
<p>If you are totally lost in 21A after 1 week, drop it right now. Lots of people fail 21A, and you may become one of them; you won’t like starting off college that way. Either take 16A or 17A, or skip Math for a quarter.</p>
<p>One problem you’re up against is the curve. Even if you get lots of help, and get to the point at which you feel you know the material, there are a lot of people in 21A who did great in AP Calc. They are going to get the A’s and B’s. That leaves the C’s, D’s, and F’s for everyone else. You need a slower introduction to Calc.</p>
<p>I’ll also tell all something I found out from a friend. He switched into Computer Science after 1 year. He had taken 16A-C. The department let him take 21C and pick up the rest of the Math sequence from there. Not a bad way to go.</p>
<p>@beethbe</p>
<p>I thought the school doesn’t allow students to go from 17 or 16 and then to 21?</p>
<p>Generally, no. But, you can take 21C after you’ve gone through either 17C or 16C. Before you decide to do that though, talk with an adviser and see if they’ll allow it. beebthe1 named a case where it was allowed, but it’s always best to double check.</p>
<p>Though, I would say between dropping for the 16 or 17 series and taking 21A next quarter, the latter would be the better option. Again, I don’t see a point in doing more math than you’d otherwise need to. If you don’t mind doing extra math though (and/or feel you need the preparation for the 21 series), you can always switch to 17A or 16A this quarter then take 21A next quarter to fulfill math requirements for sure.</p>
<p>@phantom
What do you mean there are cases where its allowed?
Doesn’t davis follow one single conduct or something?</p>
<p>I was referring to what beebthe1 said about their friend who took the 16 series then was allowed to continue with 21C on.</p>
<p>Oh okay. Thank you phantom and beebthe</p>