I’m about to finish my first semester of community college.these are the grades I predict,GPA,and Credit Hours.a C in intermediate algebra, B in Introduction to Ethics,a W in English composition,and grades in classes I took dual credit in high school with 8 credit hours and 2.5 GPA.I chose to attend community college because I wanted to upgrade my academic foundation to be ready for a rigorous university program! I graduated high school with a GPA somewhere between a 2.8 and 3.0 but with no AP or honors courses and only a few extracurricular activities.I did well in most of my math courses in high school but started with pre-Algebra and finished with Geometry which isn’the far enough for Science or Engineering but didn’t get far because I kind of dropped out for a year but then went back.Intermediate algebra is mostly the same course as algebra 2.I know there’s a lot of people who believe you have to be super good at math and will discourage me but i don’t need rude answers.I really enjoy all science and do like math because it’seems challenging.I like to believe that a new topic in Math is hard at first but with continuing practice you can get better.I really am interested in studying Civil or Environmental Engineering,Meteorology,Geology,or Zoology which all require calculus and higher math. It’s been a hard transition to college because of illness,working a lot of hours to help myself a little,adjusting to the pace,and learning how much studying and work college demands.I also haven’t enjoyed community college because they lack organizations that interest me and don’t offer any courses in Zoology,Meteorology,and Environmental science.I wanna transfer to Purdue University and I need a high GPA to transfer into there Engineering,atleast a 3.0 but better to have a 3.5 or above because it’s competitive.I really don’t want this semester to determine how i’ll do in the future but next semester because i’m taking College Algebra and Trigonometry in the same semester and if I can handle this or not will determine if I can handle studying engineering or science majors. A C in intermediate algebra probably means I have a weak foundation foundation for all my future math and science courses.this summer I plan to work on a math program called edready to strengthen my foundation so i’ll be ready for college algebra and triginometry. my advisor doesn’t discourage me because it’s only my first semester and he said he has seen a lot of students who do bad first semester bounce back after that. I don’the care how long it takes me to achieve this goal.i know it sounds like i make a lot of excuses but I wanna know about people who have been in my shoes.
Don’t give up on STEM. If it is what you are truly interested in, you will regret it if you give up.
I haven’t had exactly the same experience as you, but I can tell you a bit about my last few years.
It is my 5th semester of community college. I graduated from high school in 2014. I was a pretty bad student (I still am, I’m working on it), but I was lucky enough to take calculus and some AP classes in high school. So when I started at CC I went right into calc 2; I dropped it the first time and and I got a B on the second attempt. I have a pretty bad track record with: a few C’s, 3 F’s, and more W’s. My GPA is at a 2.9, and it could be anywhere from a 3.2 to a 3.5, depending on the grades I get this semester. I am aiming to transfer for engineering. As long as I pass all my classes this semester, I will have one more semester to finish my last 3 classes at CC. I have thought about giving up a few times and majoring in something that might be a bit more fun and a lot easier, but I think about my future, and I think about my past, and I think about how since I can remember I wanted to become a scientist. I still don’t know exactly what kind of scientist, but I have always known it is something I need to do, maybe just to prove to myself that I can, or maybe because it is actually my calling. I am attempting calc 3 for the third time this semester and I think I will finally pass it, maybe I’ll even get an A. I have excuses too, stress, depression, being broke, working, etc., but I still think I should be doing a lot better than I actually am. A year from now I should be getting ready to transfer to where ever I get in.
I guess what I’m trying to get at is, in a way I feel like I have been in your shoes. My first semester I dropped calculus and failed physics. I bounced back the next semester and got an A B B (calc, physics, chem). but then again I my bad work habits got the best of me and I dropped a really important class. Bad starts aren’t always a bad thing. You can learn a lot from them, and what you learn can make you better. But be better than me, I took my bad start as a joke and sometimes I still don’t take school seriously. One thing I would’ve done differently is I would’ve taken on a lighter workload. If you are working while going to school, you don’t need to try and take 3 classes at once. Try to spread out the tough classes. If you are taking a hard math class, think about taking something you might find interesting like history or film or astronomy, as long as it is relevant to your major or for IGETC.
I’m sorry this post has become a mess. Look, just don’t give up. We need more people that think like you. That see math and science as a challenge and not as some chore or waste of time. We need people like you that want to become scientists. You can do it. You can get a 3.5+ and transfer to Purdue and study anything you want to study. I believe in you.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions or anything you can send me a message on here. Despite being a bad student I think I know a good amount about the community college system and about transferring, at least in California. Good luck.
“I like to believe that a new topic in Math is hard at first but with continuing practice you can get better.”
It is and with hard work you can ace any class. It just takes time, dedication, and the will to succeed - do you want to succeed at this or not?
“It’s been a hard transition to college because of illness,working a lot of hours to help myself a little,adjusting to the pace,and learning how much studying and work college demands”
it’s not easy… My girlfriend works two jobs and goes to the community college I go to as well. However I took 15 units and she took 3. She aced it and is done with English. Don’t overwhelm yourself it is not a race. She only takes one class at a time and can manage it and get an A without feeling overwhelmed. Try taking less classes or working less hours and applying for grants and scholarships. Some times in college you have to make some sacrifices, so keep that in mind.
"i know it sounds like i make a lot of excuses but I wanna know about people who have been in my shoes. "
Life happens it’s not like you don’t care about your life you took the time to reach out for help and that is huge. Learning this stuff will take time, you will have to sit down and try to learn it - at a desk in a quite room without distractions - no phone no tv no bullshit. Whatever you have trouble learning will be cause to get tutoring or going to your professors office hours.
The first course I took at my cc was algebra and I failed it. Big fat F still on my transcript from 2011, then I retook it and got a C. I was going for nursing and really didn’t take school serious. after a few years of getting w’s and f’s I decided nursing wasn’t for me. I took some time off and decided I wanted to become a game developer - I thought, I know how I failed - I didn’t study, I played video games, and I failed exams. This time around how about I study hard? If I work hard enough I can ace every class and become the best game dev there ever was right?
So the next course I took was trig (taken along side other courses but I will focus on math). I had to relearn algebra (it uses a lot) and trig - I worked my ass of but I got an A, then I took precalc (which is mostly algebra) and again I worked my tail off and got an A. Now I am in calc 3 and about to ace it as well as calc 1 and calc 2. I just got accepted to UCSC on a full ride and have a 3.9 GPA.
Point being, don’t let that grade discourage you. Algebra is used in every single math class you will take- you still have time to learn it, it is not a race. Make sure you learn your graphs - like you should be able to know what x^2, x^2, logn, e^x, 1/x, sinx, cosx look like at first glance and have them pop into your head instantly - it will make your life so much easier.
If I could do it then literally anyone can. Math is like you said, one of those things that you have to do to get better at. Pretty soon you will look back and be like damn I’ve come a long way.
Make sure you understand the homework and quizes and make sure that what ever you miss on an exam you go back and fully understand. Go to your professors office hours and get tutoring at your school for free (it should have free tutoring). Professor Leonard on youtube is a great resource and saved me during calc 2 (my professor was horrible!) - also Kant academy and stuff like that is good. Whatever works for you - you just gotta figure it out.
Good luck man, I know it can be hard but nothing worthwhile is easy. The thing is the higher you get up the less people you will notice around you and that is when you will start getting paid good money for being able to do what you can do.
It is
Don’t give up! Since your working so much and adjusting, I suggest taking fewer classes per semester but if you do take at least 1 class per summer and winter (if offered) to keep up. Things will get better I promise. Just keep working hard and make school your priority. Good luck and remember focus and you can do it!
You’ve got such great posts on this thread already, I hope my helps.
I’ve failed math so many times. In high school I couldn’t pass geometry. When I first started out at community college I was basically failing everything. I have 4 Fs in algebra I took a break from school with a 1.2GPA at the time. I came back determined and to honestly give it my all and actually see if I was capable of becoming an Engineer. Well long story short I worked my ass off and I salvaged my GPA. I now tutor math and if you ignore my old grades and look at just my current ones I have a 3.9 something. I’m going to UCLA this fall one of the best universities in the world. My advice is the same old tired advice you’ve probably heard your whole life. Work hard man, put in the hours and before you know you’ll be at a university working on your STEM degree.
What kind of engineering are you going for erichioro? What is your major JC2017? JC2017,when you said you had 4 Fs in algebra,does that mean you failed algebra 4 times?
@SuperGeo5999 computer science and engineering it’s like a mix of electrical engineering and computer science. And yes I failed algebra 4 times back to back until my school basically said you “can’t take it here anymore.” My home life sucked but despite that I know I could’ve done better. Anyway that’s in the past since I’ve been back I’ve crushed every math class I’ve had. In fact I tutor that subject now. If it wasn’t too late for me it most definitely isn’t too late for you. Like I said put in the work you’d be surprised at what you can do with a little bit of HONEST effort.
@SuperGeo5999 I think I might do chemical engineering, with bioengineering as my alt. major.
@Ruskointhehouse I never heard of needing calculus for Game design but it’s common for something to be required In school that you wouldn’t use in your actual major classes or on job or are you studying something different?
The semester just ended! I’m worried what my grades will be!
calculus is needed for physics which is widely used in game dev.
Also need it for linear algebra which is used a lot as well. Calculus 3 was all 3D math which is also used. I have noticed a huge difference in my over skills creating games in unity knowing about vectors and vector calculus. I loved it as well. Math is a beautiful thing and perhaps the favorite thing I have in my life. I am glad I got to learn math, and still can learn more.
There is a lot to game development, from making the engine to the art. The dean of math told me that the calculus and physics play a huge role in game development. He has a BS and actually worked in the industry but then got a PhD in aerospace engineering.
@SuperGeo5999
I hope you did well in your classes! I am sure you did.
If I get a C or D in the course,should I retake it?
If you get a D yes, if you get a C that gets a little more complicated. Your school may not let you retake a course where you got a C.
There isn’t a policy on re-taking classes that has anything to do with the grade but the only policy they have is there is a limit on how many times you can re-take a class! A D is passing at my school and is high enough to move on to the next math couse but isn’t good and means I missed more than thirty percent of the content! That intermediate Algebra course isn’t transferable becuase it’s Remedial but still counts toward my GPA.i’m still gonna work on a math practice program called EdReady over the summer to strengthen my algebra skills so I’m prepared for the next math course! I do think I’m capable of learning the math but life really happened this past semester and that’s why I’m taking a break for the summer!
Another thing Is my Advisor doesn’t recommend retaking classes with a C becuase one or two won’t hurt my GPA in the long run!
Don’t retake a class if you get a C.
I don’t think that there is much else that I would retake with a C, but intermediate algebra and possibly calculus might be the ones to retake. The issue is that these are used in so many other classes and having a solid foundation is very important.
I see that OP is taking a math program over the summer. I think that this is a good idea.
“There is a lot to game development, from making the engine to the art. The dean of math told me that the calculus and physics play a huge role in game development.”
There are plenty of games that have a lot of 3D graphics. I can’t imagine how you could do this without a very strong math background. If in a game someone throws something, how else would you compute its path in 3D (taking gravity into account also, of course)?
So I got a D in Intermediate Algebra! What should I do? This is a lot worse than I thought I would do!
Since she got D. Retake the class and do better! I had a D in calc 1 last semester, and got myself a B tho this semester
The class didn’t even count toward my GPA.should I still retake it or just work on a math program and work on some of the problems with a tutor over the summer?