<p>I apologize if this is the wrong thread to post.
Here is my situation: </p>
<p>First semester of college i withdrew from precalculus. Second semester, i finish the class with a grade letter D. Now i have the option to retake precalculus for a better grade this summer or just move on to calculus 1. MY question is which should i go with? Yes, i am aware that summer classes is a choice and i am really determine to finish college with at least a 3.7 cumulative GPA. Although my major is still up in the air, i am almost positive math will be a part of it. I just don't want a terrible GPA for my major. Should i speak with an adviser before i make any decision or would it be better if i just take precalculus for my third time, get an A and then move on to calculus 1 in the fall? I hear that if i decide to stick with the D grade for precalc, and move on to calc for the summer, i won't be able to go back and retake precal. is this true? Also, how would college look at my math history? 1 w, 1 D and then retake it and get an A hopefully? i know most grad school tend to overlook freshman semester and sometimes forgive if they see a strong trend but i am unsure. if anyone has experience something similar, please share. Thank you for taking some time to reading this and i hope to get some response.</p>
<p>really? no one? that makes me sad.</p>
<p>Well it looks pretty bad already that your going to take it three times. What makes you think you can get an A this time anyways? It doesn’t hurt to talk to your advisor about your situation though. If you have confidence in yourself then I’d say take the class, but then again if you fail once more (D consider pretty much failing) that would look even worse than before. </p>
<p>best of luck.</p>
<p>Dropping the class doesn’t count. What does matter is that you got a D, and now you are thinking of repeating the course. If you got a D, you probably aren’t well enough prepared for the next class, so whether or not it looks “good” on your record really doesn’t matter. You need to retake it so that you can learn the material before you move on to the next class.</p>
<p>Thank you for the responses. However, right now i am registered for calculus 1 for the summer & when i tried to register for precalc, it said i already took it. How can i retake precal when I can’t even register for it. While i do understand that retaking is is a better option in order to move forward, i am well prepared for the calculus course and can take on the coursework. My question is, will i be able to take calculus and go back and retake precalculus later or once i take a higher math course i cannot go back because i already pass the previous course (that being precalculus). Thank you all.</p>
<p>Why would you take a higher math class then go back and take an easier one? I think that with a D in precalc, you’ll have a difficult time in calc. I doubt they’ll let you take precalculus again, sorry.</p>
<p>kawsneffect -</p>
<p>You need to talk with your advisor and/or someone in the math department about this. If you really aren’t ready for Calculus 1, there probably is a way for your advisor or someone else to do a manual override so that you can repeat PreCalc. If you are ready for Calculus 1 (even though your grade in PreCalc isn’t very good), well then take Calculus 1, and accept that you are stuck with that D on your record. There is no sense whatsoever in taking PreCalc after you have completed Calculus 1. If you do well in the rest of your classes, this bad grade will just be a blip. It won’t ruin your record.</p>
<p>However, you do need to address your reasons for earning that D. Did you never turn in any problem sets because you figured it would be good enough if you aced the final? Did you ace the homework, but wipe out on the final? Did you just never quite “get” the math at all? This is something else that you should take up with your advisor and/or the math department. Clearly whatever strategy you used when studying PreCalc was not a successful one. Something will have to change in order for you to succeed in Calculus 1.</p>
<p>I understand. Well, I think it’s best for me if I just repeat precal. I’d speak with my adviser at my school. If i happen to ace the course this time around, will my D grade be replaced or will it remain in my record but my newer grade will be averaged in or will both be factored in? Thank you</p>
<p>If you are having this much trouble with Pre-calculus a major that requires a significant amount of higher math may not be feasible for you. Most colleges and universities will not allow you to register for Calculus I until you have passed Pre-calculus with a grade of at least a C.</p>
<p>It is not possible, on the basis of the information you have shared, to know whether your problems with Pre-calculus were in some way unique to that class or if you simply do not have a strong aptitude for Mathematics. As a rule of thumb, if your SAT1 Math score was over 600 than a major that requires significant coursework in math is a realistic possibility for you. If your SAT Math score was less than 600, majoring in Mathematics, Physical Sciences or Engineering will almost certainly be an exercise in futility.</p>
<p>My SAT was certainly below a 600 in H.s but that does not reflect how i handle a math course. I must say, math isn’t hard, i just need to put effort in reviewing & studying. </p>
<p>On that note, if i retake the course for my 3rd time, will the new grade factor into my cumulative GPA or will both?</p>
<p>How in the world were you able to register for calculus I when you got a D in pre-calculus?<br>
You are correct that SAT isn’t really a good indicator of how you will do in college. I had low SAT scores and have a great GPA in college.</p>
<p>Try to focus if you are planning on retaking. It looks really bad when you can NOT even pull out a C after 3 times.</p>
<p>“I must say, math isn’t hard, i just need to put effort in reviewing & studying.”</p>
<p>If that is your situation, then the trick to doing well in this class, and all future math classes, is simply to do every single problem in the textbook. If you have any difficulties with a problem, but you eventually figure it out, then go back again in a couple of days and do the problem again so that you can be certain you understand it.</p>
<p>As to whether the new grade will wipe out the old grade, or be averaged with the old grade, or appear alongside the old grade, that depends entirely on your current school’s policy. You need to ask them about it.</p>
<p>i’d definitely speak to my adviser about everything. I truly do thank you guys for the responses. Hopefully this time around i’ll ace it. You know what they all say, “third times a charm.” tho, a withdrawal in the first semester technically doesn’t count.</p>
<p>My mind is set in school from this point forward. I’d do some Ec and work study so i don’t look like a complete nerd but my priority is definitely getting great grades. Doing bad freshman year really motivated me.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about Ec so much. Focus primarily on your studies.</p>