<p>I am 35 years old, (no, i wasn't scared when they invented trains) and decided to go to a technical college . I have been doing electronics for a while as a hobby and got to a point where i coldnt go any further without some math and advanced materials. I went to the college and took a placement test. I made a 99 on reading, a 94 on writing , a 64 on pre algebra, and a 17 on algebra. This is where it all goes wrong. As the tests show i needed some math which is why i was there in the first place. I had never took any algebra in my life, but somehow they said since I scored high on the other two, they transferred over to the math and I got placed in intermediate algebra. The counselor asked me if that was ok and I like a dummy said yes. I thought they would teach me what i needed to know, i mean it is a school isnt it? If i had taken space shuttle building, wouldnt they teach me how to work on the space shuttle? </p>
<p>Several days later i went to get my books. They were out of the math and 2 other books i needed. I asked when they were comming in and the woman assured me in a couple of days. So i start school and im sitting there watching the instructor and thought it sure would be nice to have a book to go along with her. 2 other students didnt have books neither. I went to the bookstore 4 tiimes afterwards and i still didnt have any books. I told them to ship my mathbook to my local bookstore so i wouldnt have to drive so for to get it. 3 weeks later I finaly get my math book ! 15 minutes before my first math test ! Needless to say i made a 49 on it.</p>
<p>So i was behind everybody else already and tried catching up, but it was impossible with me working 60 hours a week and going to school full time. I started failing everything, math , english and even my electronics course which i knew so much about. I tried going to the financial aid office to have me put in a easier math. He said something about fining me, feeing me and probation. I felt like i had robbed a bank. I walked out without saying anything else. </p>
<p>Iv been there about 2 months now and im failing still. I dropped math and got put into a easier one, but my electronics instructor said i cant do his class without the advanced math i needed.</p>
<p>I dont think im that dumb, but i need to learn in steps. I has been 20 years since iv taken any math or anything. I thought i would take a year of math before i even started my electronics course, but i guess they dont see it that way. Iv been playing paper tag with financial aid for months now and just got an answer. It's in some kind of code, ill have to get one of them to decypher what it says.</p>
<p>It would be nice to start over fresh,with books in hand, but i know it doesnt work that way. Another thing im worried about too is my GPA. I found out that if i dont get a good GPA i will have a tough time getting a job if i want to go into this field .</p>
<p>Any thoughts or ideas are welcomed.</p>