Math course questions

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1

<p>So, I'm in a huge dilemma. Well, I started my Community College courses this Fall and I happened to place into Basic Math Arithmetic. Horrible! I know. </p>

<p>Anyways, a little background on my math. I've actually excelled in mathematics since I could remember, I came as an international student in the 4th grade and was 2 to 3 year's ahead in Math compared to my peer's, I was so ahead that I was skipped early into Jr. High from the 6th Grade. </p>

<p>What Happened? My parent's happened to move into a semi- poor neighborhood and I happened to forget the nature of what school was, I only took Algebra 1 and Geometry, which was in the 7th and 8th grade and totally left the world of math. Ohh, I also happened to get A's in both of the two math courses, but they were taken back in the 7th, and 8th grade. And yes, in High school I didn't take any math classes. Why? I honestly don't know.</p>

<p>Fast Forward 5 year's and now I'm 17 and currently enrolled in a Community College. As I stated earlier that I was placed into basic math arithmetic, but last week friday after reviewing and self- studying some basic algebra and geometry concepts for roughly 2 week's, I placed into Intermediate Algebra in my Community College, but I won't be able to enroll in the course until the Spring term starts. So, currently I'm in the Math arithmetic class and my question is, can I drop this class? Will it hinder my ability to transfer into a UC or CSU? </p>

<p>I personally think that I'm good in math and can excel with just self-studying, as long as I have good supplementary book's for review. But, I never took Alg 2 or Pre-calc in High school and since I'm placed in Int Alg, would it be a good option to self-study Algebra 2 concept's and try to place into Pre-Calc for this upcoming spring semester or just stay at CCC for 3 year's?</p>

<p>The reason that I'm fully engaged into my math studies now is because of the fact that I want to Major in Economics at either UCB, UCLA, or UCSD. I understand that you need to have completed the Calculus sequence up to Calculus 2, and after reading some other thread's, I've noticed that to get into Berkeley's Econ program, you need to finish the whole Calculus sequence. Can someone give me more insight into this, and at the current pace I'm in, i won't be able to fulfill that requirement, unless I place into Pre-calc next spring. </p>

<p>So, it would look something like this on the transcript if I get into Pre-calc next spring. </p>

<p>Spring 13: Pre-calculus.
Summer 13: Calculus 1
Fall 13: Calculus 2
Spring 14: Calculus 3</p>

<p>Intermediate Algebra option. </p>

<p>Spring 13: Intermediate Algebra
Summer 13: Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus 1
Fall 13: Calculus 1
Spring 14: Calculus 2
Summer 14: Calculus 3
Fall 14: Business Calculus, Math 16A
Spring 15: Business Calculus 16B</p>

2

<p>

I’m a bit confused only because it seems you’ve taken the math placement test more than once in a short time period. Typically, CCCs have a time limit on math placement tests where you must wait 1 year if you want to retake it (so long as you’ve not taken any college level math yet, and you need to show some sort of study prep taken - self or otherwise). Did you take the placement test once and place into basic arithmetic and then take it a second time in less than 12 months and place into Intermediate Algebra? Generally speaking, if you’ve placed into Intermediate Algebra, then you can, but are not required to take a lower level math class like basic arithmetic. So you should be safe to drop if if you know for sure that your CC will honor the placement test that put you in Int Alg. Both basic arithmetic and Int Alg are non CSU/UC transferrable and the grade you receive in them will not be taken into account for your UC/CSU transfer GPA, but they will be able to see them on your transcript. Pre-calc and above count for transfer, so those will effect your transfer GPA.</p>

<p>If your CC allows for you to retake the placement test (a third time?) and you place into pre-calc, then the same thing applies: you are not required to take a math class below that level and you can go straight into pre-calc, of course. I take it this would require that you take no college level math courses until SP13 to be eligible to retake a placement test. The only caveat I would give is to be sure you can pass Int Alg on the next placement test, otherwise you’re going to end up just delaying the longer math route.</p>

<p>Either way will not hinder your ability to transfer to a UC or CSU except for the fact of it taking a little more time to get all the right math classes you need for your major. Again, the grades you receive from any math level below pre-calc are non-transferrable and they will not care about them.</p>

<p>

Again, just a little confused. . . do you need to complete both Calculus and Business Calculus sequences? Typically majors will require only one or the other and not both.</p>

3

<p>Even if you remembered everything from your Algebra I and Geometry courses, you would still only place into Intermediate Algebra, which is the next course that students take after Geometry. It makes sense that you have forgotten too much to place into Intermediate Algebra.</p>

<p>If they will allow you take the placement test again, you will need to study Elementary Algebra concepts before you will successfully place into Intermediate Algebra. Get a Basic or Elementary Algebra textbook or a software program (I like ALEKS: [Mathematics</a> - Course Products: Beginning Algebra](<a href=“ALEKS – Adaptive Learning & Assessment for Math, Chemistry, Statistics & More”>ALEKS Course Products)) to work on this. There are also no-cost alternatives, such as the Khan Academy early Algebra videos ([Algebra</a> | Khan Academy](<a href=“http://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra]Algebra”>Algebra 1 | Math | Khan Academy)). If you work through the first 7 topics, you should be good to go.</p>

<p>Alternatively, go see an Intermediate Algebra teacher in person to see if s/he will give you instructor permission to enroll in that course. If you show a transcript with your previous math grades, and have a good explanation as to why you didn’t take math later on, and why that won’t be a hindrance to you now, this plan might work.</p>

<p>You may not want to hear this, but it will be counter-productive for you to try to enroll in pre-Calculus without having the proper foundation of Intermediate Algebra. I can pretty much guarantee you that you will not be successful and will have to spend even more time repeating pre-Calculus later. The only way that you will be able to transfer into a major university Economics program is if you have high grades in your college math courses, and the only way that you are going to able to do that is if you start out lower than pre-Calculus. I would concentrate on convincing your CC Math faculty that you can start in an Algebra course, as opposed to Arithmetic, but as I outlined above, even then you will need to do some extra preparation.</p>

<p>As for Calculus, I’m quite sure that you will not have to take both a ‘regular’ calculus sequence and a Business Calculus sequence. At UCLA, for example, they require Math 31A and 31B as ‘pre-major’ calculus courses, and those are both regular calculus classes. I’m not that familiar with CA universities, but it should be easy enough to check their web sites to see their math requirements for Economics majors.</p>

<p>Al F.
Math & Science Dean
Everett Community College, WA</p>

4

<p>Alf, and turtle rock, thank’s for your replies! And sorry to confuse you guy’s. Well, I’ll try to clarify this a little more. So in the Summer, I enrolled in the College of Marin and placed into Math Arithmetic. In the current term, which is Fall, I’m currently enrolled in the DVC community college’s and I had to take a new assessment test, in which I placed into Intermediate Algebra, after self-studying Algebra and Geometry concept’s. </p>

<p>So currently, I’m enrolled in no math course, I kind of confused myself when I wrote that I am, but I’m not, anyway’s, next term I’m stated to start in Intermediate Algebra which seem’s like the most feasible and correct option. </p>

<p>My main problem is that, I’ve read through assist, and Berkeley’s Econ requirement’s and it states that you need two semester’s of Calculus. But, after reading some of the thread’s, forum member’s have stated that the new requirement is 3 semester’s of Calculus, Cal 1A, Calc 2B, and Calc 3C. So after more intensive searching through the net, I found that Berkeley’s articulation agreement with my college state’s that I only need two Semesters of Calc, but when I read De Anza college’s articulation with Berkeley, it stated that they need the whole Calculus sequence, and that has really confused me. </p>

<p>So, I figured that I’m at a disadvantage because of that requirement. Also, I figured that I should just stay 3 year’s at the CC, because it would allow me to finish up the whole calc sequence and just do the extra business Calc sequence.</p>

5

<p>

You are not mistaken: De Anza is on the quarter academic calendar system, and not the semester system that your CC is on. Therefore, 3 quarter length Calc classes are roughly equivalent (to in-class instruction time, and therefore covered material) to 2 semesters of Calc. Both schools reflect the same requirement accurately, it’s just that one has different academic terms in which the req is satisfied. You will not be at a disadvantage with 2 semesters of Calc when compared to students with 3 quarters of calc - it’s all the same.</p>

<p>If you were planning on doing the business calc sequence due to this possible disadvantage, then you can drop that plan unless you just feel like doing it.</p>

6

<p>Thanks so much turtlerock! I appreciate your help, ALOT! </p>

<p>Well, it makes sense for me to just start Intermediate Algebra next semester, and finish up Calculus 2B in the Spring of 2014. </p>

<p>One last question. Would it make sense to actually do Calculus 1A and Business Calculus 1, simultaneously? This is just from a theoretical stand point, but would doing both the sequence actually make me stand out from other’s, in term’s of course rigor? I understand that Extracurricular’s, GPA, essay’s weigh in tremendously, but would it be of any advantage or sense to do what I stated above?</p>

<p>Because, I forgot to mention that I’m also interested in applying to Berkeley’s Haas program, USC’s Marshall program, etc.</p>

7

<p>

Well, possibly. Since you are trying to transfer to a UC or private school (as opposed to a CSU which has a less subjective admissions process), then it may make a difference or give some sort of boost.</p>

<p>Now, I haven’t yet taken Calc, but I was on the understanding that Calc and Business-like Calc courses teach the same material, but the business-like calc course substituted business applications for some other things. IMO, it would be like almost like taking the same class, which would be redundant and possibly a waste of time if you still have other major requirements to achieve. It may be more beneficial to take other math classes (or economics, accouting or finance if your CC offers them) or to go as high as you can in the Calculus sequence. Or you can look into things other than extra unwarranted classes to boost your applications and admission chances, like dedicating some time towards a meaningful club, or take on an internship in your intended major to show more major interest etc.</p>

8

<p>You’re absolutely correct. From what I’ve heard from other student’s, business calc is watered down Calculus, but I’m not fully sure on that. It would make sense to just do Linear Algebra alongside Calculus 2B, and focus the rest of my attention on my EC’s and Club’s. </p>

<p>If you don’t mind me asking turtlerock, what 4 year are you attending or planning to attend?</p>

9

<p>I plan to transfer to either SJSU or CSUEB (Business Admin - Accounting, but it’s impacted at both campuses so am also considering Economics).</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I’m a little tied down to location, so I don’t really have big dreams of going to a far away UC or CSU, like CSUF or UCSD/I or something.</p>

<p>SJSU and CSUEB offer what I want.</p>