<p>I am coming here to try to get some advice from those that are currently in the process of going through an Engineering Major or that have already completed it. I'm wanting to try for an Engineering degree (not sure exactly what branch yet) because I have a really high interest in how Math, Physics, etc can be applied in everyday life to make things better for all of us. </p>
<p>The issue for me is that I have a fairly pronounced learning disability in Math. I have my entire life through school. When I was in High School I didn't get very far in math because of it and wasn't allowed to go past Algebra 1 because they didn't think I could accomplish anything past that. But as I mentioned above, Math has always been something that interests me which is why I don't want to let this limitation I have stop me. </p>
<p>I have already took my entrance exam for the college I want to attend, and spoke to an Adviser. I go in next week to set up my classes for the Spring 2013 Semester. When I took the test I did so at the main campus (will be attending a off campus site the first few semesters) and as I expected I didn't do great on the math portion and will have to start at the bottom and work my way up. While talking to an adviser at the campus, she believed it would be possible if I was truly interested and if I tried my best to get through the maths as fast as possible. </p>
<p>I just couldn't help but walk away a little worried. It is something I really want to learn and do with my life. But I am wondering if maybe I am reaching to far. I have heard many people say things like "If you don't like math you will never succeed with something like Engineering." and in my case it's not that I don't like the math, it just takes me longer to comprehend and learn it than the average person. And I really have to have teachers that are willing to help me when I have questions. Luckily I will be going to a CC my first two years so it will be small classes so hopefully I can get the assistance if needed. </p>
<p>But what do you think? Is it something worth trying for, since I do have the interest in it? Even if it takes me a little longer to learn it than others. Or am I setting the bar to high?</p>
<p>If you can’t do calculus and calculus-based physics, you can’t do any engineering. That much is fact.
Find a way to be able to learn math, or you’re not getting anywhere. There simply is no way around calculus. A CC is a good idea though.</p>
<p>NeoDymium, Thanks for replying. Yeah, I completely understand that Calculus is a fundamental part of Engineering. Which is why I am putting so much thought into it. It’s something I want to do, and want to be able to achieve and fully understand those levels of maths. It’s just a matter of the time that it takes me to actually learn it all versus people without disabilities in math. </p>
<p>I know it’s going to be a hard thing to accomplish, especially since I am pretty much going to have to start over fresh as far as math goes and build my way up to Calculus before I can even really get into the core classes for Pre-Engineering which I am hoping to complete at the CC. </p>
<p>It’s just a daunting task, I have myself convinced that it is something I want to do and accomplish. But how that would play out, I really don’t know.</p>
<p>One piece of advice that’s always stuck in my head is this: What you get out of something directly corresponds with the amount of effort you’ve put in to it. Although I am younger than you I believe that this advice is applicable. If you really have an interest in math and are willing to put forward the time and effort to succeed at it, then go for it!</p>
Now that is a bit of a problem. You need to ask yourself this: what makes it different this time around?
Is it because this time around, you want to learn? That’s not enough. I’ve had motivation like that during the first 2-3 months of school. Trust me, one major setback and it all evaporates in the blink of an eye (and it’s never going to come back in the same way). You really have to have something more to make you keep on it.
But most importantly, answer this: Why aren’t you going to fail the same way you did every time before?</p>
<p>NeoDymium, I am not quite sure what you mean by your question. I’ve usually done pretty good at math, if I have the help to actually learn it. As I mentioned above, I am not able to learn it at the same rate as the average person. I am not sure why that is, I just know that my brain doesn’t allow me to process math as quickly as most. </p>
<p>I wish I knew all the fine detail, so I can figure out what might really help me overcome the learning disability but I don’t really know how to gain access to any detailed information other than the IEP I had all throughout school. </p>
<p>But as far as failing, I didn’t really encounter that extremely often with math. I didn’t get perfect grades, but I always usually passed. I guess it just depended on the teachers, and the extra help I got to actually be able to learn the subjects. </p>
<p>And I understand and respect the fact that it takes more than just wanting to learn the subjects. And I do appreciate you pointing that out. I know this is one of the toughest degrees out there, not even factoring in what branch of engineering you go into later on in the process. At least that is how it would work with me starting at a CC doing “Pre-Engineering”. </p>
<p>But it really is more than that to me, I do have that urge to learn all the subjects but it’s also something I want to do for me. I want to be able to feel proud of what I accomplished, and to actually come out of all this actually having a full understanding of what I learned and not just knowing how to do it from a textbook. But I also want to enjoy what I do once I am doing internships, etc. And I honestly feel like this is something I would love to do.</p>
<p>My question is, why will you be able to do math this time? Did your learning disability disappear? Did you find a new method of learning that actually works for you? Motivation doesn’t make your old problems go away because no matter how much you want to succeed; motivation is very fickle in the face of overwhelming difficulty.
Also, calculus isn’t a “one and you’re done” class, or even a class you should be fine with a C in. Calculus and Physics are the two fundamentals of all engineering work, and if the foundation is weak, you won’t make it in the end.
So I ask again: why will you be able to get a good grade now? What has changed?</p>
<p>I feel like that is a hard question, because I honestly don’t know how it will all be different this time. As I mentioned above, if I have the support from professors in a smaller setting such as a CC to help me get my foot in the door plus the motivation that I have to do it I really think I will be able to pull it off. </p>
<p>If I was taking it lightly, I wouldn’t come to a forum like this. So I want to thank you for being somewhat blunt with your questions. I feel like that will help me to look at things more directly and not have everything be so clouded. </p>
<p>So I guess to answer your question, as far as the learning disability I don’t think anything has changed. I don’t really think it’s something you can actually overcome, only something that might hold you back a little. But I still think that even with the disability, I will be able to succeed with the right help from the schools and simply the willingness to learn. </p>
<p>I know you mention how for something like this it takes much more than just a willingness, and I agree with you to an extent. But I feel like it is a key factor, at least in my situation.</p>
<p>If this is something you really want to do, then by all means go at it and give it your best! Honestly, the only way you will know is to give it a shot. You can over-analyze and question all day and night, but in the end, it’s still just speculation. All questions get answered when the game gets played on Sunday.</p>
<p>Although math is very important in engineering, the reality is, 99.9% of the time, in the real world, you are allowed sufficient time to solve a problem. That is, you can talk to others, use software, calculators, etc. to help you accomplish the task. School is a bit different, so don’t be deterred if you don’t do as well in a classroom setting. I wasn’t a good test taker by any means, since I didn’t work well under time pressure. </p>
<p>This hasn’t prevented me from becoming a working engineer. These days, I write software programs to do the math for me. And real-world math is usually never anywhere near as complicated as what you have to deal with in school. If you can add, subtract, multiply, divide, you will be fine most of the time.</p>
<p>My point isn’t that you shouldn’t try. What I’m trying to say is that you need to find that extra boost that will carry you through the experience. Sure you might be able to get through on motivation alone, but you’d have to be extremely lucky to do that (and you probably won’t learn it as well as you need to). And while you may be able to get by without any real understanding of more difficult math, as FIFighter said, I don’t think you’re really looking for a lower-level job that doesn’t require any real understanding of calculus or calculus-based physics. Sure you’ll have more time and programs that can help you, but those are useless unless you understand the underlying concepts that make that math work.
Maybe you have a problem with how you’re being taught? If so, something like [Algebra</a> | Khan Academy](<a href=“http://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra]Algebra”>Algebra 1 | Math | Khan Academy) would help. But you never want to have to rely on other people for help because they won’t always be there for you. The internet will be, so it’s a good resource. But it’s folly to expect that there will always be someone to help you in school. And if your problem is speed, then you didn’t learn your fundamentals well enough (maybe as low-level as arithmetic), and you need to get on that before school starts.</p>