<p>I am going to be a chemical and biomolecular engineering major. I took some precollege summer courses (physics1 (mechanics) and intro to problem solving(using matlab) and math (precalc and calc 1) because this was part of my admission to the school. I was excelling in HS and getting straight As in math and maintained a high GPA. But, i wasn't an all A student in science in HS.... Now I feel like I'm failing and fall classes haven't even started yet. This summer, the school has definitely made me feel stupid. I'm not understanding the physics concepts and intro to problem to solving using matlab seemed pretty challenging to me. Math, i'm doing horrible because its my fault(i forgot all about calculus) and i focused more of my time in physics and problem solving class instead. I think i'm a horrible test taker as well. Do you guys have tips to help me survive my first year of college? Do i need more practice and focus or is engineering not for me in this case?</p>
<p>Getting straight A grades in high school math and then struggling in precalculus may be a sign that your high school is weak academically. A good high school would have students at least ready for calculus 1 in college (or higher if the student completes a calculus course in high school) without needing any precalculus courses to prepare for calculus 1.</p>
<p>Physics 1 can be difficult if you have a weak math background. Indeed, the listed prerequisite for Physics 1 at PINYU is Calculus 1, with Calculus 2 as a co-requisite.</p>
<p>Well for calc 1 and precalc, I forgot alot of that since I took it my sophomore- junior year. i spent my senior year learning linear and calc3. The only main thing i’m concerned about is physics1 which yes in my school you need calc 1 as a prerequisite (I already have the credit with calc 2 credits). I took basic high school physics and well it was soo easy that it didn’t involve more thinking but it was more like plug and chug. Any tips on how to approach problem solving questions using matlab?</p>
<p>I think it varies. I don’t think engineering is particularly hard (it’s demanding and time consuming, but not hard, because it’s logical, there’s a logic and rules/axioms that tell you what something is. Learn the rules, voila!). The “hard” part is the practical, creative part (i.e. filling blanks where there’s no theory or which is application of theory to some unknown uses). Struggling? You didn’t get the rules or miss some. Solutions: look for alternative explanations than the ones that were offered, do practice problems or tests to demonstrate empirically what the stuff is about and why it’s so, do something else and come back to the problems on a later time, always remember that’s it’s supposed to be entirely logical (if you catch the “common thread” in the logic). That’s also because physics is very approachable as a purely mathematical subject, when you disregard experiments and focus only on the theory.</p>
<p>“Any tips on how to approach problem solving questions using matlab?”</p>
<p>Having basic programming experience helps as well as forgetting that you’re using a computer or doing programming. What you’re really doing is maths (this is important) and using an advanced calculator (this is purely mechanical).</p>
<p>Also a general tip for physics would be to study the maths of the physics. Because the calculations of physics are really mathematical manipulation (with physical quantities). I.e. if you struggle in calculations, it’s not really struggling in getting the physical concept, it’s struggling in the manipulation and mathematical rules/logic, likely.</p>
<p>Strange… when I was in high school, a student who completed calculus 1-2 in junior year was typically one of the strongest students in math, who wouldn’t forget it so quickly, especially if s/he were taking calculus 3 (building on and reinforcing the calculus 1-2 knowledge) immediately thereafter.</p>
<p>ucbalumnus, sounds like one of those students that was really great at recognizing patterns and could plug and chug. Too many high schools lack the teaching of logic, but are pretty great at memorization. Memory can only go so far…</p>