Want to do engineering- but not great in math

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>I'm thinking about majoring in engineering but I'm unsure if that would be a good choice considering that my grades in math aren't well. I'm not in advanced math anymore, but I loved advanced physics this past school year. So much so that I'm taking AP Physics and AP Bio (another favorite subject) my senior year of high school. I know that I have to get over the brick wall of math is I want to go into engineering, but I don't know if colleges would even accept me since I'm not great in math.
If I have a 3.7 unweighted GPA would that count for something?
I'm worried because last year I had a horrible final grade in the high 70s for Algebra 2/Trig, and only a 90 in Pre-Calc this past year. In my senior year, I'm taking Discreet Math because I can't go into AP Calc of course.
I would be willing to work hard, but I dunno if I'm hoping for the unattainable.</p>

<p>Thank you for your time,</p>

2

<p>Wait, why can’t you go into AP Calculus? You said you took pre-calculus, so what is stopping you?</p>

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<p>You have an interesting brain o.o. You say you have trouble in math, yet based on your love for physics, I’m assuming you are doing well in physics. That’s odd because physics is essentially applied math. I think you issues with math may be a psychosomatic issue. </p>

<p>Anyway…
If you really are struggling with highschool math, be cautious. College math is at a level beyond Ap classes. This is not to say you couldn’t do it. You would just have to trouble shoot and figure out why aren’t you performing at the level you want. </p>

<p>But yes, why can’t you go to Ap Calculus? Even if you didn’t make the BC cut, there is still the AB option. </p>

4

<p>Yes, you will have to take calculus in college if you do not complete it in high school. College calculus will cover material at a faster pace than high school calculus AB.</p>

5

<p>You may be in the same situation as my younger son - in order to get into AP Calculus, his school requires certain minimum grades in Algebra, Algebra II, Geometry and Pre-Calculus. However, his school does make exceptions for students who can make a case that AP Calculus is necessary post-graduation even if they don’t have the grades for automatic admission to the AP class. Maybe your school does that as well? </p>

<p>That said, taking Calculus in high school is not necessary to get into an engineering program. It will be necessary, however, to have a very good foundation in mathematics. You should try to address whatever caused your to perform poorly in Algebra II before selecting engineering as a major.</p>

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<p>Is not necessary but it will be a check against you if calculus is available but you didn’t take it.</p>

7

<p>Since I was in regular Pre-Calc and not advanced Pre-Calc, AP Calc isn’t an available choice for me. It would have been great if I could so then I could see if I could handle that level of math.
I really did used to love math. If elementary activities were still relevant, I was in the Math Olympiad Team and would love going to all the math fairs. I think the reason I performed so poorly in advanced Algebra was because I wasn’t used to studying for tests in math because I would just automatically understand it. That horrible way of thinking made me feel embarrassed to study algebra at home. So although I did well in regular Geometry, taking regular Algebra 2/Trig was a killer since algebra in general is difficult.</p>

<p>Would it make more sense to find a major/career in the sciences that I like- since I always was in advanced classes in science, went to a couple of science fairs, and had an internship in a (small) lab? I feel like even then I wouldn’t have a strong chance because that year I took Algebra 2, I was in advanced Chemistry and didn’t study as hard as I should have (feeling embarrassed to study something I didn’t understand automatically still followed me a bit) and I got a 78 as my final grade. I did fine in my Regents state exam, but still.</p>

<p>I want to look more into engineering majors, but if it’s already too late to make a strong case for myself maybe I should look into the sciences.</p>

<p>At this point, I hear the sound of flipping burgers. </p>

8

<p>It is certainly not too late, though you will have to get over your fear of studying. Is there any form of “regular” calculus you can take? That would be more useful to you than discrete math unless you want to go into computer science and would be better in terms of getting into a program. Even without that though I am sure you will have no problem getting into an engineering program somewhere. You just need to develop study habits.</p>

9

<p>Every kid who is gifted at math experiences this, the point where they actually don’t just “get it” and have to pay attention, study and maybe get help. It happens at different levels for each student. Usually they respond one of two ways. They give up, develop a math phobia and convince themselves that they aren’t cut out for math or they quickly recognize that the game has changed, they adapt by developing new math habits and they keep kicking butt. You are attempting a third way. You gave up, but then recognized what happened, that it is certainly fixable, that you aren’t simply bad at math, but just hit a big bump in the road.</p>

<p>The problem is that math is very cumulative. Your experience going forward will depend largely on your past success. I don’t think you’d feel comfortable if you simply charged forward without backfilling your foundation. </p>

<p>Although it’s nice to have some Calculus before engineering, most programs are designed to start the Calculus sequence as a Freshman. They’ll go fast though, faster than math has ever gone in high school with no hand holding. </p>

<p>Knowing all this, my advice would be do anything except take Discrete Math. It will be of little use and you’ll be one year removed from the math you really need.</p>

<p>Take this test: <a href=“Preparing for Calculus”>http://calculus.math.rpi.edu/rsc/&lt;/a&gt;. It was developed by the Rensselaer Math Department to assess students’ readiness for collegiate calculus. You may surprise yourself and do well, but if you don’t, don’t worry. It isn’t designed to confirm how awesome you are. It’s purpose is to reveal where you need to work on your foundation. </p>

<p>During the summer spend time on Kahn Academy, starting with the lowest level concepts you struggled with, moving forward as far as you can, devoting time every day to this task. </p>

<p>Finally, ask your school if you can take the advanced pre-Calc class instead if Discrete and still meet your graduation requirements.</p>

<p>If you do all of this you’ll be right on track with most programs. More importantly you will have rebuilt your foundation and confidence which will ensure success going forward.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

10

<p>Here are some more placement tests that you can self-assess your readiness for calculus:
<a href=“http://math.tntech.edu/e-math/placement/index.html”>http://math.tntech.edu/e-math/placement/index.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://math.berkeley.edu/courses/choosing/placement-exam”>http://math.berkeley.edu/courses/choosing/placement-exam&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

11

<p>As many other posters said, you should try to take Calculus of some kind even if it is not AP. As an undergraduate Advisor at an engineering school, I see a lot of students who come in with AP Calculus and take the college courses anyway just so they have a really solid background. If you take a Calculus course next year, you will have at least been exposed to the material and be better prepared for your first year of college.</p>

<p>I also agree that you do not need to have AP Calculus to get into an engineering program. At my university, Illinois Tech, we have all students take a placement test and if they are not ready for the first semester of Calculus, we ask them to take a two semester sequence which slows the material down. This results in an extra course but gives students a better chance at getting te foundation they need to succeed in enginering (and science). I am sure that there are many other universities which do the same thing.</p>

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<p>Thank you for your replies and advice. I am definitely going to practice over algebra and gradually work up higher from there.
My guidance counselor said that since my schedule for senior year is already full along with zero-period classes, I should focus on the four APs that I enrolled in- especially AP Physics and AP Biology. Since AP Physics 1 is algebra based, he said to concentrate on that course to ensure mastering my math skills are well within reach. He suggested to look more into the sciences as opposed to engineering to be on the safe side. Either way I have to make peace with math, even if it’s just for myself, and maybe enroll in a Calculus course outside of my high school during the school year (i cannot get out of Discreet Math, I am stuck with that class for senior year). </p>

<p>Thank you all again for making me realize that it’s not too late to strengthen my math. I’m kinda even excited to work on those test links and study up over the summer. Hopefully it will go well :)</p>

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<p>The sciences are mostly just as math-heavy. Math is the language of science.</p>

<p>Also, it’s “discrete math.” Discreet means not standing out; discrete means consisting of distinct parts.</p>

14

<p>Are you certain you want to do AP Bio. You already know you like it. Cakc and Physics will be key to helping you decide whether you’ll like Engineering. If you can do them all… great. But make sure you have a lot of time for the homework and the involved Bio labs. </p>

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<p>I’ve started studying for those four AP since late June so that I could prep myself. AP Bio does take up a lot of effort to memorize the terms and I’ve looked up some of the labs online, which are pretty lengthy- but I want to keep this class as much as I want to keep AP Physics. Since I can’t enroll in a higher math course at school, I figured to self study and if I do improve significantly I intend on taking the SAT II Math Level 2 (or even level 1) in October. It is a lot of studying but I’ll get through it and find a way to manage it. </p>

16

<p>In highschool, I got a C in precalc and a D in calc. I decided to get a science degree and not pursue engineering because I wan’t “good” at math. Well, let me rephrase that - I wasn’t as naturally good at math as I was at everything else, and I never really had to study before in my life, all I had to do was listen and show up. Your problem may be studying, and math. So grind the f*ck through it. </p>

<p>Do what it takes to get accepted, even conditionally, into an engineering program. You can rule the world with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from an affordable state school - Rex Tillerson does. Learning the material is well and good, but learning the syllabus is more important. </p>

<p>I worked for six months in a science capacity before seeing that technical career paths for non-engineers was almost always second-rate. Seriously, you can do the same job with a science degree or an engineering degree, but with an engineering degree you’ll get paid more and have more long-term career options. I got sick of it and went back to school for two more years to get a second BS, but in civil engineering this time. </p>

<p>Don’t get locked into the mentality of “I’m not good at it.” Take an objective look at what you have to do, know how to work the system (ie TA study sessions, syllabus math, fighting back for test credit, etc.), and study smart and hard and get it done. </p>

<p>Right now, because I went back to get a BSCE, I make about twice what my smarter science friends who stuck with science make. And if you’re not committed to any particular discipline, I recommend Mech. Eng. You can do anything with that degree. </p>

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<p>Just another data point – one of my kids had a rough time with math in high school, culminating in a D in pre-calc in his junior year. He retook it the following year and got an A. Since then he just finished his freshman year of college as an engineering major, and got an A in Calc 1 and 2 (in fact he’s pulled a 4.0 overall in his final year of high school and first year of college). He attributes the change to two factors. First, he thinks he had poor teachers early on, or at least ones he didn’t click with. Second, he found calculus not at all as daunting as he was expecting; rather, he’s enjoyed the kinds of problems involved compared with prior math subjects. So regardless of when you end up taking calc, don’t rule out the possibility that you could really take to it in a good way.</p>

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<p>It may help you in Math (specially Calc) to find out ahead of each unit what real world engineering problem this particular technique will solve.
That’s what I liked about college math - instructors could generally explain the real world applications.</p>

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<p>You obviously want to do engineering for a reason. If you’re willing to put in the effort, you can get BETTER at math once you’re in an engineering program. It seems like you aren’t even bad at it to begin with, since physics uses a lot of math. Do what you can, but don’t let your perceived lack of math knowledge deter you from pursuing something that you want. Many people I know who got into great engineering programs aren’t math whizzes. They just aren’t super terrible at math. And even if you are, if you have the correct motivation/perseverance, you don’t have to stay terrible (I’m being redundant so I’ll stop here).</p>