Just try to finish the math requirements before you transfer.
I meant to say Isnt it rather than isn’t which means is not in my second sentence in post #159.
It’s ashamed that I’m finding trig difficult because it is almost a totally different creature than algebra.
@SuperGeo5999 do not give up. I’ve read MANY stories of people who were “terrible” at math and even flunked out of the same course three times…then ended up doing great in it or at least graduating (if not going on to get a PhD).
Find a tutor who can figure out how to help YOU, believe in yourself and you will get there. You also might consider checking out the courses on Coursera, MIT Courseware or other free higher education sites. You never know!
@JeanJeanie people who did poor in math still went on to STEM?
Yes I’m confident in using online courses but I’m also confident about being able to learn subjects that interest me in other ways because my cc now offers more courses that are similar to those and I’m more confident then before about transfering to a four year institution where they offer a lot of courses.
@SuperGeo5999 Is not just math, there are other subjects that contribute to being on the STEM field. Chemistry, biology, and Physics. Students who did poorly in math find chemistry, biology or physics pretty easy. Many people say physics is heavy on math but really is just algebra and trig. If you take the calc-based physics then really is just easy. Simple as taking the derivative of a function to find the speed or acceleration.
However, I do have to admit I did fail physics last semester. But that did not mean, I’m poor at math. Just means I need extra help and find tutors that help me succeed.
There is a lot of trig, and some calc, in physics. If that foundation isn’t there, it’s not going to be easy.
It might not be easy regardless. I mostly enjoyed mechanics but I wouldn’t call it easy, for me at least. And E&M was a whole different beast.
Yea I heard E&M is on a different level compared to mechanics. My friend is taking it and he/she said is the way harder. At UAlbany, I have to take three physics courses for my major chemistry.
I’m hoping to talk to my advisor how my schedule will look like when I double major in math and chemistry.
@bodangles yes that’s why I tell people that passing Trig with a D and moving on is not in the best of my interest because it is used in calculus (some people say it is not used a lot in there and others say it is used a lot), it’s used in physics (even if I take the non-calculus based physics then Trig is a prerequisite for the regular), and if I end up doing engineering I’ll see it a lot in engineering classes. Even if i don’t do Meteorology or engineering, I’m confident that I can still do a major that requires 1 or 2 semesters of calculus, maybe some statistics (environmental science and wildlife requires it), 1-2 semesters of Biology, 1-2 semesters of chemistry, and maybe some physics (environmental science and wildlife don’t require it but can be taken as electives or additional science). I’m retaking the class to get a better foundation!
One more thing:
Wildlife and environmental science require applied calculus (it’s called brief calculus at my CC) and it only requires college algebra as a prerequisite (which I’m doing well in) but I still want to do the regular calculus since I don’t know what I want to major In, can still count for wildlife or environmental science, if I do Meteorology or engineering in graduate school then I won’t need to take as many prerequisites, and for if I do any additional math or do the calculus based physics as electives (which would require the regular calculus as a prerequisite and prepare me for Meteorology or engineering in graduate school since I may meet all the prerequisites). It makes total sense to retake Trigonometry for a better foundation!
@SuperGeo5999 Trigonometry WILL be used in Calculus. It won’t appear as much in Calculus I, but I recall some questions requiring basic knowledge of trig identities. Trigonometry will truly make an appearance in Calculus II. Therefore, it’s extremely important to understand trigonometry before moving to more complex mathematics.
@TransferStalker preach. I had a terrible trig professor and it screwed me over for precalc and calc II in particular. If I had known how important trig is for understanding Calculus and physics, I would have dropped the course and taken it with a better professor. Instead, I had to put in a lot of painful hours of self-study to catch up with my class.
People definitely shouldn’t shirk on their trigonometry proficiency – it’s one of those skills (like algebra!) that is fundamental to understanding much more complex mathematical topics.
Also, I’m sure this has already been mentioned in the thread, but people definitely shouldn’t give up on their STEM dreams no matter what! If it’s something you truly want, then you will find a way to make it happen. Sometimes that means more tutoring, more office hours with your professor, finding accommodations on campus for those with disabilities, etc. But never feel ashamed for not getting it. We all have to start somewhere. I had such poor math skills when I started college that I tested into elementary algebra; if someone had told me that I would be an astrophysics major and transferring with high marks in math and science, I would have laughed in their face. But it’s admittedly not for everyone, and that’s okay too. Just know what you want and pursue it with determination.
@GoldAstrNana So you were an astrophysics major? Keep in mind that if you got a C or better in Trig then there most likely was no reason to have wished to retake it.
@SuperGeo5999 yeah I’m an astrophysics major but I wasn’t one at that time – I was an environmental science major.
@GoldAstrNana what math classes have you taken and what are your grades you got in those courses?
@SuperGeo5999 I’ve taken the following:
Elementary Algebra - A
Intermediate Algebra - A
Trig - C
Precalc - B
Calc I - B
Calc II - A
Calc III - A
Differential Equations - A
Linear Algebra - A
@GoldAstrNana would you recommend calculus 2 over the summer? Or any math class over the summer?
@NASA2014 Not @GoldAstrNana, but absolutely not. I do not recommend taking ANY math/science course (barring a couple of exceptions) over the summer. Especially not Calculus II.
I took Calc 3 at my local CC over the summer after freshman year and personally it was fine. I worked part-time (~30 hrs/wk) and didn’t take any other classes. I don’t remember exactly how long the class was but might have been about 12 weeks or so.
I have no doubt it would have been harder if
- I had taken it at a four-year school instead,
- the class was compressed into a shorter time period, or
- it had been Calc 2, which I found harder than Calc 3.