<p>Or that's what my placement tests tell me. I just took the MSU one and placed into College Algebra. That's pretty bad, considering I was planning on attending Mac this fall. What do I do? I'm beginning to think that it's too late to sign up for CC courses.</p>
<p>Math just kicks my ass everytime. English, social sciences, and even regular sciences aren't too hard but I never place well with math. My standardized tests in everything else are good, but math is horrible.</p>
<p>What do I do? Will courses at the local CC get me to a decent level?</p>
<p>Goodness - you sound like my son. Math was just painful for him, each class more painful. Of course you belong in college, sounds like you just aren't destined for a math heavy major. Don't beat yourself up over it. Take what you have to take to fulfill your requirements and once you settle on a major take anything you have to take for that and then forget about math. I'm the daughter in a 5 engineer family who did not "like math" and took math right up until college and it almost killed me - took math for non math majors in college and never looked at another math book except for statistics in grad school. The only B of my high school career was Trig. and it could easily have been a C except for much, much help from engineer father. My life is and was never over because of math and neither is my son's life "over" who is taking math for the liberal arts to get his college math requirement out of the way. I still helped my sons through Algebra I and remembered stuff that is well over 35 years old in my brain. I didn't need Diffy Q to have what I consider a successful life.</p>
<p>I'm sure there are other students who need to take college algebra, otherwise colleges would not offer the course! So don't beat yourself over this. If you were admitted into Mac, you belong to Mac. You'll do fine.</p>
<p>It is all right to take college algebra at college. The course is a base for additional math-related courses. Just try hard to learn it well this time. Have no fear.</p>
<p>It's good to focus on your strength not your weakness. I have a D who is not so hot in Math either but as long as she does not plan to major in Math then it's ok.</p>
<p>Nah, I just took the MSU test on a whim to see where I was: Now I know, but I'm going to a much more selective school which doesn't offer the course. The lowest "real" math course at Mac is Calculus.</p>
<p>They probably do have a non-credit course in math which you may need to take. If you haven't got other plans for the summer, perhaps doing some math review would be a good idea. If you do have to take a math course at Mac, be sure to find out what sort of math resources are available to you. I'm good at math, and I still occasionally had to go to the math help center to get pointed in the right direction on tricky calculus problems.</p>
<p>Could you work with a tutor this summer? I'm thinking that working 1-on-1 with someone skilled in math tutoring might be more helpful thnt a class in identifying your particular road blocks.</p>
<p>"It's good to focus on your strength not your weakness."</p>
<p>Would you say the same thing about a math/science geek who was all but illiterate? You might see the advantages of that individual working on their weaknesses and developing at least enough skill to achieve some basic level of communication. We live in a society which is increasingly dependent on technology. Math is the essential tool for technology and the sciences. I believe a severe weakness warrants some correction. I suspect most of us would benefit more from correcting our weaknesses and benefit less from a marginal improvement in our strengths for the equvalent amount of effort.</p>
<p>One does not need college algebra-level math to be an educated person.</p>
<p>FWIW, my engineer buddies have to rely on the kid with the History degree to calculate a 15% tip, so there's a wide gulf between math that you need for living and college-level math.</p>
<p>
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One does not need college algebra-level math to be an educated person
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</p>
<p>That's an awfully low point at which to draw the line. As a student at a community college that sees even the weakest students struggling yet capable of grasping College algebra (not to mention the many that have moved on to the Calc sequence), I think it's very important to at least gain some sort of skill in mathematics. I think most colleges agree too as one or two college level math courses are usually a degree requirement these days.</p>
<p>Remember, by College algebra you're talking about what many people at these types of colleges (Mac, etc.) would have taken their freshman/sophomore year of high school or earlier.</p>
<p>I don't know what Mac is, so you have me there.</p>
<p>There is an opportunity cost to requiring, say, two relatively low-level math courses. I see this manifesting itself in the fact that few of the college grads I interview have any depth of knowledge in their major. I'd rather have them spend those two courses getting some more depth in the major.</p>
<p>Mac is Macalester - the college the OP is going to be attending. It is a highly-selective LAC ranked around #25 in the nation, meaning he will be surrounded by some brilliant kids. All I am saying is that if one expects to be "educated," a foundational knowledge of math is easily just as important as one in history, english, science - all of the other things schools' cores usually encompass.</p>
<p>OP - If possible, I'd really recommend taking a College Algebra course at the local community college. You'll find the atmosphere is not intimidating in the slightest and you won't be singled out for taking what many Mac students would perceive to be "HS math." I don't really know much about Mac's curriculum, but at WashU (where I've been accepted), the lowest math class available was "Foundations for Calculus," which is a class that focuses on trig and precalculus concepts - stuff that will be built upon a firm understanding of College Algebra. It would be very wise to get that class out of the way now at CC.</p>
<p>If the college requires calculus, then I'd agree that you should take a CC course beforehand (especially at "Mac's" tuition rates).</p>
<p>If math is not required, and you don't think you will need it in your career, as an employer of college grads I'd rather see you spend that time on your major subject.</p>
<p>If - as you suggest - it is a testing/placement issue and not a sheer lack of math skills, I'd move on and not spend the time/effort to fill that hole if you don't need to. </p>
<p>As to edad's point: I'm presuming he is not majoring in math. Are you saying he can't be well-educated without, say, calc? Clearly, he's already had significant HS math (or else why would he be disappointed at his placement?), and since math is easily digested at high levels by young people (I know many 8th graders taking calc), why does he need college math?</p>
<p>Why does he need college science? He's taken that in high school as well. Why does he need a foreign language, history, english, etc. Most students have taken courses in these subjects as part of their high school curriculum but colleges still require them to become better educated in a variety of subjects. As for Mac, like most colleges it simply requires classes in the science/math field. Therefore, the OP could theoretically take only science classes and forego math altogether. However, as the mission of Macalester and most LACs is to provide their students with a solid "liberal arts education," he will probably be encouraged to take at least one college level math class.</p>
<p>Well, if anything, the OP will have to take a bit of math just so they earn a really good score on any college exit exams (if applicable) as well as on the GRE and the like. I think it would be hard to only take a little bit of science and then try and force yourself to remember your old high school math for GRE prep and the like. Not to mention an exit exam. </p>
<p>Now, if OP's major is Literature or something. Then, I say take the College Algebra online through BYU or any other nationally recognised college which has an Independent Studies Department online. I think the University of Indiana also has one. </p>
<p>One can also self study College Algebra through a nice book. Like, the Schaum's Outline College Algebra book. Then, you can make up your own little test once a week and take it closed book. That would be the cheapest way to build up your math foundation, but you would have to be organised.</p>
<p>None of this is a super big deal at all. </p>
<p>But, I totally agree with Brand in that one does need some math. I mean, for something as nice as an Astronomy class, one would need some math. </p>
<p>It is no super big deal. OP just has to build their maths skills up a bit. Could be worse, really.</p>
<p>The great thing about math, IMO, is that even if you aren't naturally gifted at it (and I count myself as someone who struggles with math), you can still learn it and do well. Commit yourself to spending some time either self-studying or taking a CC course before you go to Mac, and you'll get yourself on firmer ground.</p>
<p>this is what my oldest did
she only took precalc and stats in high school.
She has a math disability & when she took the math placement test at community college she only placed into algebra- ( it was a computer test)
She took a year off before college from high school & her school also only offered calc which was required for her major.( bio)
She didn't take it freshman year, because she was already taking a big load at a very demanding school ( reed)
However, the summer after freshman year, she retook precalc at the community college, and took calc in the fall at Reed- with tutoring and helpful professors she made it through.( and completed her degree in bio including organic chem)
Im sure Mac has the same resources-
but I do not think it is too late to take math at CC- in fact they often even have accelerated courses ( work at your own pace) you could take during the summer and with some supports like tutoring and guide books- I bet you could get up to speed
( you really know * many* 8th? graders taking calc?)
what math program does your district use?
Our district is having a time.</p>