So I love weather and Meteorology and been my dream since I was 6. I am going to Penn State (one of the best schools for the major). Im scared about the math for the major.
To get a degree you need 3 semesters of calculus (1-3) and a semester of Diff equations.
I am not good at math. I will graduate HS though pre calc, but it hasn’t been that bad. I got an A in Algbra 2 last year and I will probably get a B+ in Pre calc.
I am willing to do whatever it takes to pass the classs but I am still scared because a lot of kids in my school are in calculus BC and a few are in Multi variable, so I am behind the average. Maybe I am over analyzing because our school is one of the highest scoring public schools in the state (SAT wise).
I am just really scared… will it really be that bad?
Why would you say you’re not good at math? You got an A in algebra 2 and are on track for a B+ in pre-calculus. That indicates some level of facility in math to me.
You’re not behind the average. Being in calculus 2 and multivariable calculus in high school is above average; lots of high schoolers don’t even make it through calculus in high school. You’re doing fine, and if you do well in the math you take in high school you should be pretty well-prepared for a math-heavy major. I have a friend who majored in math in college; she started with pre-calculus. In college! She has a master’s in biostatistics now.
Stay calm and do your best. Evaluate your performance, and if you need to, talk to your math teachers now in HS and your math professors in college about your abilities, and ask them to realistically evaluate your potential to perform well in a meteorology major. But from what you’re saying, you sound fine!
First, A in Algebra2 and B+ in Precalculus is very good. Precalculus is the normal advanced math class for seniors going to selective 4-year colleges.
Now, details… are you in Precalculus Honors? Does your Precalc class include analysis? Limits? Would you be able to review some precalculus and calculus over the summer, through Khan Academy for instance?
It’s MUCH more important to be at ease with precalculus than it is to be very advanced.
A key element is that there will be tutors for math: make sure you attend ALL study sessions, do ALL the problem sets and go to office hours to discuss your errors, etc. You’ll only have 4 hours a week BUT you’ll have at least 1 hour of office hour (you’ll need to go even if your friends don’t - success depends on it) and attend the study sessions (expect 2 hours a week minimum) plus the homework (about 8 hours a week). The sample exams are posted so students can practice and come prepared - use that resource. In the end, plan to spend about 15 hours each week doing math. Spend the time, don’t skimp.
Also, Penn State has different sections for Calculus. DO NOT take the “Calculus for biological sciences” (premeds are cut throat) nor “Calculus for Engineers” (because… engineers :p)
I looked it up and the class is called Math 140G, it’s just for your college. https://math.psu.edu/undergraduate/courses/math140 https://www.math.psu.edu/sites/default/files/public/migration/math140topics.pdf https://math.psu.edu/undergraduate/courses/math140/sampleexams