<p>Too late to withdraw at this school…I’m not yet totally convinced that math is not my thing, but if I do, I can perhaps follow in a siblings footsteps to computer science, or take the “simpler” way out and go for chem.</p>
<p>@someone, are you suggesting that I take classes such as pre-calc, and math in society? Maybe to supplement my schedule if I do intend to go with the math major, but those classes are not going to comprise of the core classes.</p>
<p>And the smart guy isn’t a friend, just a classmate, but I think he’s a junior so that may explain the work ethic.</p>
<p>Even though I am a hs student, the registrar still treats me as an undergrad student, even more so because they have paid for my tuition this this year. Last day to withdraw has long passed. Finals are next week.</p>
<p>The sliver lining in the situation is, IF I am able to get a 100 on the final, if I calculated correctly, my final grade will be a B. The damn class was too hard; professor is willing to replace the lowest of 3 test grades, 58, with the final exam’s grade.</p>
<p>Neither pre-calc nor math in society will count toward meeting college graduation math requirements for any science, math, CS or engineering major.</p>
<p>Math in society won’t be calculated into your BCPM GPA calculations for med school and is widely (and rightly) seen as a fluff, padding the GPA type class by med school adcomms.</p>
<p>I think what somemom was suggesting is that you back off from taking multiple math major classes until you feel your skills and self- discipline are up to the task. Perhaps consider re-taking Calc 2 to consolidate and solidify your skills before you move onto to more math classes. Or maybe just get some intensive tutoring before moving to the next class.</p>
<p>Or take a break next semester and taake no (zero) math classes. Sometimes a mental break after a tough semester is what one needs to come back refreshed and ready for a challenge. (D2 quit math after finishing her minor freshman year, but after a semester with no math classes missed the subject and signed up for a math major.)</p>
<p>Or call it quits after this class and major in a discipline which doesn’t require any more upper level math classes. (Which wouldn’t be econ, chem, engineering, CS, or physics–all of which require at least 1-3 more semesters of math.)</p>
<p>Sneaking in posts between real work responsibilities, I was a bit terse above. If you are sticking with a math major, do not skip any foundational course, even if you AP out of it. That means potentially retaking Calc 2 in order to do well. Even ‘math people’ can become confused if the new information is coming at them too quickly; as your math courses develop to a higher level, you will find it to be much more complex. Give yourself every advantage to succeed.</p>
<p>If, in fact, this class and work really is too easy for you, Sheldon, then that is good news as you ought to be able to get 100% on the final and replace that bad grade.</p>
<p>Read Curmudgeon’s advisory thread. Plan your schedule to allow you to succeed, spread out the math & science requirements in such a way as to give you the best chance to get As, no one will be impressed by how tough your schedule is if you take 18 units of hard core math & science. Make it a well balanced schedule and a well balanced life in undergrad so you can expect success.</p>
<p>For most medical schools, one term of Calculus and one term of Statistics will suffice.</p>
<p>Do not try to give anyone the excuse that you are doing poorly because the coursework is too easy for you. </p>
<p>
Statements like this either sound like a made up excuse with you not taking true responsibility for getting the requisite work done or make you sound too lazy, neither is good for medical school admissions.</p>
<p>So that’s what you meant by “too easy” of a class. What I meant by “easy” courses are the ones that are meant to be an easy A, intro to classes, film and literature, etc.</p>
<p>In no way did I mean that Calc 2 was easy, hell no. The theoretical 100 statement above is only false optimism.</p>
<p>The way I see it, I wasn’t able to get the study I needed because I was not fully immersed with college. I couldn’t go to office hours, pull all nighters at the library (I don’t even have a desk at home…); the home and high school environment was not conducive to college work.
I’m more of a library rat/social pariah than a party every night-er.</p>
<p>Did I work to my limit for the class? Not even close. I gave a half-hearted attempt and I was burned for doing so. This is the silver lining I have going forward in college.</p>
<p>In my DDs experience there are very few easy courses in college, even if it is coursework which is simple to understand, you still have to do the work, do it on time, prepare for exams, etc. It is very easy to get a B in an ‘easy A’ class ;)</p>
<p>Pulling all-nighter is a terrible way to study. (And a sure sign you’re studying all the wrong ways.) Hanging out in the library–totally unncessary. And any corner to study will do. It doesn’t even need to be particularly quiet or private. D2’s Calc 3 class (in high school) used to do their homework in chalk on a sidewalk at a city park. You know like during the opening credits of Eureka. (Absolutely true story, BTW. And seeing it on Eureka always makes me smile.) No desk needed. </p>
<p>You’re making excuses for why you’ve worked below your capacity. College level work is not about a place; it’s more a state of mind or an attitude. I’ve seen too many people do well in college while working full time and supporting a family to believe that being on campus 24/7 is a necessary component for success.</p>
<p>Like somemom says, there are very few “easy” classes in college, esp if you don’t have the self-discipline to do the work.</p>
<p>Not only would it be weird, but also dangerous if I were to take up on your park study idea.</p>
<p>You are right on about making excuses, but one cant deny having an older sibling play Call of Duty all night with loud music is a toxic environment. I am diagnosed with scoliosis so not having an adequate study area sucks.</p>
<p>All nighters work for me, I’m used to the physical and mental strain that accompanies it. I still remember I had a 15 page paper and an AB Calc final on the same day. I started the paper at midnight the day it was due and didn’t study a lick of math in weeks. I managed to get higher marks on both than the valedictorian going to Columbia who finished her paper months in advance and studied like hell. Keep in mind I barely cracked the top 10% of my class…</p>
<p>I still have the high school work habits; only do what is assigned and nothing more.</p>
<p>And exactly on point with the “easy” classes, that’s why I see myself faltering on at least a few of them.</p>
<p>There is nothing wierd with the park study habits. Holding class outside on the lawn is not uncommon at my D’s top school, and at many other schools from what I hear. Every student has their own study habits, but to limit yourself to a room and a desk is…limiting. I agree that the all nighter thing is wierd. My daughter has NEVER pulled one in four years.</p>
<p>The bottom line is: if you’re going to be a successful premed (=get into med school), you have to do well in school. Excuses and explanations don’t matter; results do. There will always be someone better than you out there. Your job is to convince a bunch of really smart people that you are smart enough, diligent enough, and driven enough to become a doctor someday in the near future.</p>
<p>(And for what it’s worth, I imagine there will be opportunities to change a lot in the future–your study habits, your social skills, your perspective on academics, etc. How you deal with these challenges will speak volumes about you (as an applicant, sure, but more so) as a person. Growing up is what college is all about. I hope you choose to embrace it!) Good luck!</p>
<p>Steady skills are critical in med school, my DD noticed that the worst part of the first term for her classmates was learning how to study. So many were the really bright kids who had never had to really work hard before, but in med school the information comes at you like water from a fire hose. Begin in your freshman year of college instigating strong study habits, avoid all nighters, get in the routine and it may serve you well later. DD had many friends who failed an exam or class and had to retake, mainly due to not knowing how to study best for their learning style.</p>
<p>I don’t think DD ever pulled an all-nighter, etiher, sleep is very important to her performance!</p>
<p>Calculus I, like your earlier courses in Algebra and Trigonometry basically requires you only to memorize the formulas, i.e. product rule, chair rule ect., and do the calculations correctly. If you can do that you can find the derivative of any continouous well behaved function. Calculus II is very different in that while there are some basic techniques you can learn for specific types of functions there are no formulas that will allow you to solve any indefinite integral or infinite series. For the first time in your study of Math you will have to employ a fair amount immagination, insight and ingenuity to find the solution. This is why Calculus II is the toughest of the three basic one semester courses in College Calculus and prematurely ends the careers of many aspiring mathematicians, physical scientists and engineers. This is one course that many students, even those with strong quantitive skills, are just happy to pass.</p>
<p>No, Multivariable Calculus is Calculus III. Students who get through Calculus II generally do not have serious problems with Calculuc III since it just Calculus I and Calculus II extended into three dimensions. The hardest part of it is probably the section on Vector Calculus. While it is definitely required for Math, Physical Science and Engineering majors it is way beyond any Math that one would encounter in medical school.</p>
<p>Would it be wise to have confidence in myself and stick with the math and risk another bad grade, or switch to a more traditional major ie. chem?</p>
<p>You have taken a hit on your gpa. If you take more courses in math that count in that category of math/science course AND DO VERY WELL in them, it would dilute the effect of that “C”, but there is no denying that the C will do damages. Depending on your major, you may not have that many courses in the Premed slate for which med school pretty much uniformly calculate a GPA. There are 2 GPAs eyed by medical schools’; one is that math/science one, and the other your total GPA. By taking another course that is in that math/science category and acing it the OP can raise that category GPA significantly as well as boosting the overall GPA.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but if I were a SOM adcom and I was looking over a student’s transcripts and I saw an overall good GPA and good BCMP GPA…and I saw some lone C that was from a math class taken in HIGH SCHOOL, my mind would not allow me to “weight” that C the same as if the class was taken during the college years. Educators know that boys “grow up” more in college. Their grades are often better in college. </p>
<p>Maybe I’m being overly optomistic, but that’s how I would be if I were an adcom.</p>
<p>Anyway…do the best you can. Consider retaking the class if you think you could get an A in it. If not, move on. And, if you don’t think you can get a high GPA in math, don’t major in it.</p>
<p>My older son was a math major. There aren’t that many high GPA kids in that major.</p>