<p>Hey I'm an incoming freshman, and took a math placement exam lazily back in June just so I could qualify for college algebra. This morning, I decided to take the exam higher in level and the score needed to move up to the second round of maths is a 65. I scored a 68. The math course I would like to take would be "Finite Math", but I've gotten two different opinions on the matter. One was since I barely met the score requirement I should stick with College Algebra, the other one was that if I try my hardest I shouldn't have to waste my time with College Algebra.</p>
<p>P.S. I took Pre Cal in 11th grade and Stats in 12th. What are your guys suggestion on the matter.</p>
<p>Also I've averaged a B in math in both those course and Algebra I/II</p>
<p>Judging by this article ([What</a> is Finite Math?](<a href=“http://www.sscc.edu/home/jdavidso/MathAdvising/AboutFinite.html]What”>http://www.sscc.edu/home/jdavidso/MathAdvising/AboutFinite.html)), Finite Math is everything but Calculus, and has a lot of things dealing with statistics, which you took in 12th. From that information, I would say that you should take Finite Math. Just be sure you don’t slack off during the course and you should be fine! =)</p>
<p>It depends on how confident you feel about your math abilities.</p>
<p>When I first started college, I decided top drop one below where the placement exam put me. I think it was the best decision I could have made. It is better to repeat 80% of a class than to go on later and not have a good grip on 20% of the foundation material.</p>
<p>Peppington,</p>
<p>What are you thinking of majoring in? Does the Finite Math class fit your major better than College Algebra does? And how much mathematics will your major require?</p>
<p>While the traditional algebraic skills taught in College Algebra do play a role in Finite Math, they do not play anywhere near as central of a role as they do in pre-calculus and calculus.</p>
<p>So, my advice (as a math prof) is the following:</p>
<p>If you didn’t do any preparing for the second placement test but just took to see if you could move into Finite Math, then you are probably adequately (but not exceptionally) prepared for Finite Math. And if you are prepared to work hard in the class; do all the assigned homework even if it is NOT collected and graded; and go to office hours and the college tutoring center if you start to have problems understanding the material, then you should be fine in Finite Math.</p>
<p>If you think taking College Algebra will be an “easy A” because the course will cover much of the same material you learned in HS Algebra I&II and Pre-calculus (and somehow make Finite Math easier in the future), then you need to be aware that many, many students who have successfully completed HS Algebra I&II and Pre-calculus have real problems with College Algebra because they do NOT put enough time into the class since they think the class will just be a review. So they develop bad habits: frequently skipping class (since they already “know” the material, why bother with going to lecture?); not doing any homework (teacher doesn’t collect it and it’s just “review” anyway, so why bother?); and trying to cram everything into short-term memory just before the test (worked in HS, so it should work in college, right?).</p>
<p>You might want to talk to the instructor of the Finite Math course and ask some questions about what background material is really needed to succeed in the the course.</p>
<p>If enrollment numbers are not really, really tight, you might also want to attend both a College Algebra class and a Finite Math class during the add/drop period and make the decision after you have a chance to see what the requirements are in both courses.</p>
<p>Good luck</p>
<p>I plan on majoring in Economics and according to my school curriculum, they recommend you take Finite Mathematics and Business Calculus over Pre-Cal in the Economics degree plan that is.</p>
<p>Unless you’re a math/science/engineering major there is no real advantage in accelerating in math courses in college. The courses typically are deeper and much harder than high school courses and gaps in understanding of concepts can be very difficult to make up. In light of your “B” high school grades in algebra I would recommend that you take it slow.</p>