Should I rethink?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>So, I posted here a few months ago about having trouble in calculus. Well its almost finals, and even though I'm going to study hard for it I would probably need a high C or B to get a C for the class so I can move on. And there is more to the story then that:</p>

<p>The college (Florida Tech) didn't receive my final transcript from RCC in Virginia so I had to take Calculus 1 AGAIN! Now i resubmitted it, but considering my poor performance in Calc 1 I don't think they'll give it to me. </p>

<p>I have struggled immensely with Calculus 1 for the following reasons:</p>

<p>My GSA insulted me when I got bad grades on things, and mocked me when I got A's</p>

<p>My Professor, although one of the nicest guys I know on campus and a pleasure to listen to, doesn't give formulas for the 'long ways' of doing things, so if I forget a step I'm screwed on a quiz or test. </p>

<p>I REALLY want to be an engineer, and I'm not an idiot by any means nor incompetent with math; I got a 100% on my midterm for intro to engineering, but unfortunately that means little to my parents, the school or whoever else if I get a D or F in Calculus. </p>

<p>So, the big question: Should I rethink my major?</p>

<p>My biggest strengths are primarily sciences, english classes (I do pretty well), social sciences etc. </p>

<p>My big issues here: I like computers and would prefer to be an computer engineer to a computer scientist or software engineer, I like the hardware side immensely. </p>

<p>I just don't think I have what it takes to pass the stupid curriculum.</p>

2

<p>So, from my perspective (struggled with calc in college many years ago and switched majors and a son who did the same struggling but will graduate with a CS degree next semester) if you don’t “get” the material in calc 1, calc 2 is going to be an absolute bear. I would suggest that you try to eek out a passing grade this semester and get a private tutor, whom you like and who is a good teacher, to work with you right from the start once a week. Some people get calc without hardly doing problem sets others have to really work hard at it but in the end as long as you understand it you will be fine. The math requirements for CS vs. CS Eng. are not that different I believe.</p>

3

<p>You’re major tends to be from the skills you already have. Engineering requires math, chemistry, and physics in a more complex specification. If you find yourself struggling in calculus 1, the most basic of college level math, then you are likely to struggle in engineering courses.</p>

<p>IMO you should really consider a new major unless you can commit to yourself that you will do whatever it takes to succeed.</p>

4

<p>@keesh17
At FIT at least, they only require Calculus II for a BS degree. You sound like you know what you’re talking about.</p>

<p>@CornandTOOTHPICK</p>

<p>Maybe you’re right, but consider that I already have Chemistry out of the way (Thanks to RCC) and CE’s don’t do much with chemistry, at least from what I know. I was pretty good in Physics the first go-round but I do have credit for that class. Gotta see how the transcript plays out. </p>

<p>I’ll consider what you’re saying, but its not the stuff I really need to know, such as integrals and derivatives, but the long-way of doing it. </p>

<p>The only issue here is if I don’t do an engineering or applied science I really don’t want to do English, Business or Biology or something. I’d have to find something to fit me and I honestly don’t, especially since I want to move to Hong Kong or Japan, there’s little value in those degrees.</p>