Basically, I suck at math. I didn’t take a math class my junior year of high school and in senior year I took AP Calc but my school was terrible so I managed to get an A without ever paying attention to the content (and when I took the AP Calc exam I didn’t know what a single question was asking).
The last math class I took and paid attention to was like Algebra 2, but that was sophomore year of HS and that knowledge is gone.
I’m going into CompSci. I took the math placement test really late so I didn’t get to put in maximum effort so I only placed into Math113, college algebra and trig. I COULD place into Math140 if I took it again and put in effort, but I figured I might as well take Math113, learn the trig functions, and take Math140 the next semester. I already had my orientation and I’m registered for Math113.
But as a CompSci major, will I be able to have the luxury of taking Math113 now and Math140 next semester or will it make me graduate late?
TL;DR: Suck at math, decided to take Math113 (college algebra and trig) to give myself trig knowledge before jumping into Math140 (calc I) and failing, but I’m scared taking Math140 my second semester will make me graduate late since I’m a CompSci major. Is this true?
You should talk to an adviser about this. If u look at the 4 year plan, it does look like u have “room” in your schedule over the 4 years to take an extra math but the issue is that math140 may be a prerequisite for another class which would then potentially put you behind…especially if that class is also a prerequisite for yet another class, compounding the issue. If u really think u can place into 140 by retaking the math placement, have u considered taking a math class online or at a community college this summer just for your own edification (to replace taking 113) so that it prepares you for 140?
It’s absolutely best to start with 140, but I have a feeling that seriously, what you placed into is what you should take or at least do it over the summer. The calc sequence is no joke. You can do 140 second semester and be fine (although you’ll have to wait to start CMSC131 until then) but it’s no different than many people not getting a C in one of those math classes and being held back anyway. You’ll be fine. Just get your other gen eds started. This is not like in many schools where the “off semesters” don’t have as many section options for those classes. Students are flunking those classes all the time so they offer them a lot.