So I failed College Algebra 3 times and I was wondering what steps should I take to retake it again. I refuse to let my dreams go to waste, due to not passing Algebra! I am determined to get my degree! That said. What should I do?
Have you analyzed what went wrong?
You have to talk to the school to see what your options are. Some may require that you take remedial math to get up to the correct level. Others just will not let you take a class more than 2-3 times. You need to find where you stand with your college.
My daughter just finished a required math class today. At her college, they would have required her to take 3 remedial classes to even be admitted to the lowest course that could meet the requirement for a degree from Arts and Sciences. At our local university, they offered this course and because she had a high enough gpa in high school, she was waived in. Also could have been admitted by taking the remedial course, a certain score on the ACT, and about 3 other ways. Her college will accept the course as a transfer.
It wasn’t easy. She did ALL the homework, went to EVERY class, made friends in the class and stayed after most days to study in a group, and had help from her sister and boyfriend. She put in the time for this course this summer.
How much help did you seek during the term? If you’d been working with the teacher or TA all along then you should be able to talk to them about what was working (or not) and how to change your approach. And if you weren’t working with them I might suggest that’s a great place to begin the next time you tackle the class.
Also, what program are you in that requires College Algebra? Can you get around it with some other course?
Have you been tested for a learning disability? I have dyscalculia and I worked so hard to scrape by with a C in college algebra freshman year. I met with the professor before every class, got normal tutoring three times a week, got special tutoring offered by the disabled students services, and spent a ton of time on it.
Is this a remedial course? If so, there might be special tutoring and/or extra support offered. I’d meet with an advisor when you can to discuss your college-specific options and how you can pass this course.
I failed Algebra once in HS took it again and passed with a D. I took HS Geometry and Chemistry (which is essentially Algebra and earned a B minus) . I took the university’s Math and English placement tests at orientation and my shocked advisor thought impossible I could score as bad as I did on the math placement test and also test out of both required English courses. I took the Remedial Math as a college freshman and earned an A (like a 100% A). I signed up for Algebra the next semester and failed it, solidly failed it, even with attending group tutoring sessions. Retook it, with a one on one tutor supplied by the Math Department and nearly failed it again, barely passed with a D; it definitely dented my GPA, but I lived with the D and was grateful that I didn’t have to take it again. Talk to your Math Department and advisor. But, unfortunately, most degrees require Algebra or Finite Math as a minimum. It is possible that your university might allow you to demonstrate your Math competency with a Logic or Statistics course. You never know until you ask. You may want to think about being tested for a learning disability like dyscalculia.
Perhaps taking the class at a community college during the summer night help. Intensive and repeated tutoring may be an option. Finding a teacher that is a good fit for your learning style or has test and other requirements that suit you better.
You could be evaluated for LD. However, you may not receive a diagnosis Further, accommodations are provided for functional limitation and might include extended time or a reader or… Disability services do not include course waivers and tutoring or modifications in course requirements. For example, a student with a visual impairment that prevents access to print text may be accommodated with a reader, electronic text or assistive technology in real time. Course content is not modified because students must be qualified for the class while accommodations compensate for functional aspects of a disability. Please understand that my 20+ career has centered on disability services. Hence, when evaluation is recommended, a diagnosis does not materially change requirements.
An article that might give you an idea:
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/human_guinea_pig/2006/11/the_math_moron.html
I started college in Intermediate algebra and got a D, then retook Intermediate algebra to improve my GPA and got a B, then I took college algebra and got a B, took trig while taking college algebra but dropped trig, and then I took trig over the summer and got a B. I am now in Calculus I.
I think the reason i got a B in college algebra without retaking is that I had a good professor that I knew before I took the class because I worked with him in the tutoring center at my college, really liked him, and saw his good reviews on ratemyprofessors.
Don’t give Up! I don’t know what your goals are but it doesn’t sound like you are planning on going on to STEM but because that is what I want to do I asked if I should give up several times on this site when I did bad in Intermediate algebra & trigonometry and most people said no. one person said he failed algebra (not sure if it was Pre-algebra, algebra I, Intermediate algebra, or colllege algebra) four times, took a break from school, came back after a few years and did well in his math classes, and is now at UCLA studying electrical engineering. Sounds weird right? We don’t think things like that are possible “but with hard work and persistence anything can be done”.
Before you retake the class, I would evaluate several things. Were you prepared for the class? Do you need to drop down a level before retaking it? Did you go to tutoring, professor office hours, or use other resources for help and asked everything you may not know and practice those problems there? Did you do HW and practice everyday? Did you slack off and not go to class? If you think you have a learning disability, I would get in contact with a mental health agency to evaluate you. If you have a learning disability, get in contact with vocational rehabilitation and then they can get you the tools you need to succeed. They can you get you private tutoring for free, smart pens that help record lectures and/or take notes, and many other things. Vocational rehabilitation has helped me a lot! I would encourage you to practice all you can with a math program that you can do math problems with and measures your progress like edready, khan academy, or aleks before retaking the course. Lastly, please find a professor that works for you. Look on ratemyprofessors and work with tutors in the learning center at your college as many are also faculty to help you find a good professor.
Good luck! I wish you the best!
Khan Academy. It’s free, online & done at your own pace.
What degree are you working toward? Is there a similar degree that wouldn’t require college algebra but Statistics or something else?
Could you take a course equivalent at another college?
An issue is that math is often sequential and a pre-requisite, meaning you could be stuck, not able to take major classes because of this.
What’s your GPA? Are you a sophomore?