I took precalculus my last year in high school which was 2010. The Summer before my first year at the University of Houston me and a friend(He went to UT and I think he is almost in his residency for to be a Doctor) worked on my math placement test together .He basically did most of the work and I got placed into Calculus 1 with a score of 85.If I took the placement test alone I would have most likely placed in intermediate or college algebra but I really thought I could jump into University Calculus straight from High School Pre-cal as I’ve seen plenty of students do it.
I took Cal 1 the following fall and was lost as I forgot so much information which included trig functions/identities and algebra which included asymptotes and vertical lines. I dropped the class along with chemistry for engineers and switched my major to pre-business the following semester as I believed Engineering wasn’t for me because of the required math courses.
I took Business Cal(Watered down TRIG-less version of Cal 1) for my business major and after 3 times passed with a B as I dropped the first time and got an F the second time. In the second semester of my junior year in my B.B.A program I decided I wanted to pursue an Engineering degree alongside it. I never had an interest in a business degree and deeply felt I switched as a cop out from Engineering.
I’m now taking Engineering Pre-req classes at a community college as I’m following a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering plan through a University that our community college has a program with.I only need a 2.5 GPA for the first 2 years of degree that I wlll take at the community college to get accepted into the program and continue my junior year there.
The classes are all of the math classes,physics,chemistry,thermodynamics,etc-the first 2 years of courses of most Engineering programs.
Last semester I was excited to take these courses and thought it would be somewhat of a breeze like my business courses. Yet again I dropped Cal 1 which was an 8 week online course that was completely useless as I couldn’t get myself to practice the homework without an instructor.I stupidly made another attempt in the 4 week winter mini session and dropped it for my refund after the 3rd day.I am taking it again this semester which started 1 month ago and I am already behind again!.I haven’t dropped it yet because I will see the next month or so as April 3rd is the last day to drop, but I think I will have to because I’m failing from missing the first test(could be replaced by final exam grade).
This semester is my 4th attempt of this class and I am so fed up because I’m now hoping the 5th time will be the charm. For that to happen I’m going to take either Trig or Pre-Cal in the summer. But which will help me better so I can make an A the 5th time I attempt Cal? Should I take both trig and precal?
Sorry for all the fillers and details even though I’m asking such a simple question but its 7:12AM and I haven’t slept overnight.
If you want an honest opinion, forget engineering.
People who find Calc 1 easy can find upper level math courses in engineering very difficult.
Many students who thought they were good at math don’t make it in engineering.
It is one of if not the most difficult majors at any university.
The main reason I switched from engineering to business originally was because I should’ve took college algebra and/or PRECAL at UH before taking CAL 1 thus that failing grade my first semester caused my mindset to change the overall picture as I was only 17 as a sophomore(I graduated high school one year early and had almost 1 year of credits before I started my first semester)and impulsivly switched majors.Part of me believes I can do it if I take TRIG and/or PRECAL as that is what I was suppose to do in the first place. The other part of me wants to get my business degree out of the way as I just have 13 classes left.I will be 24 btw.
“I’m now hoping the 5th time will be the charm.”
It wont be. Engineering is not for most people.
You are not only paying tuition while trying this a 5th time, but losing out on earning a living,
losing out on finishing SOME college degree. Get the business degree done and move on.
You have to have math come relatively easy to you AND be willing to work super hard,
and only then do you have any chance at engineering.
Why do you think it so important to get an engineering degree ?
You need to find something that you are both good at and like.
Liking something does not mean it’s feasible.
I would like to play in the NBA or MLB but I simply never will
You should google “Calculus Cheat Sheet - Pauls Online Math Notes.” It’s basically every single thing you should know and memorize for Calculus 1. Make flashcards if you’re having a hard time memorizing the concepts. That being said, keep in mind that you still got Calc 1, 2 and 3 and then you have some differential equations right afterwards. If you can’t handle calculus 1 then maybe you major in something else.
It is a little odd that after only after taking calc 1 four times are you considering backing up and taking pre-calc.
But if you don’t want to give up on your engineer dream, perhaps you could take pre-calc this summer (non online) and see how you do. I would not keep taking that class over and over again - take it once.
It’s only going to get more difficult.
But if you want to give yourself a chance, take pre-calculus in the summer session. Dedicate three hours to each class period. Aim for an A - not an A-, an A. See if you can pull it off. If you can’t, drop the idea of engineering.
If you like technology, you could always add a MIS minor to your Business degree, or even try for a CS minor. It’ll still require calculus but you won’t have as much math (+physics, which is heavily math-dependent) as for engineering and as a minor it’ll be more manageable.
How are you financing your studies?
Lol Im a rockets fan and dreamed being in the NBA.
I pondered on your comment. I am going to finish my BBA although probably not in Accounting even though I got a B in Intermediate Accounting 1. Its just boring. I am considering human resources at University of Houston Victoria Katy campus since it is close by.What sucks is I have to pay a $3500 balance just to electronically send my transcripts and eventually register for classes this summer. I hate that colleges make us have a zero balance even for transcript requests.At least they don’t have an ap
For right now I will drop chemistry and calculus 1 and take intro to engineering since I will max my drop limit of 6 already with the first 2(Texas rule).
Lol Im a rockets fan and dreamed being in the NBA.
I pondered on your comment. I am going to finish my BBA although probably not in Accounting even though I got a B in Intermediate Accounting 1. Its just boring. I am considering human resources at University of Houston Victoria Katy campus since it is close by.What sucks is I have to pay a $3500 balance just to electronically send my transcripts and eventually register for classes this summer. I hate that colleges make us have a zero balance even for transcript requests.At least they don’t have an application fee
For right now I will drop chemistry and calculus 1 and take intro to engineering since I will max my drop limit of 6 already with the first 2(Texas rule).
