Anyone here started undergrad in a low math class?

[k12123]

I'm a bit worried because though i dont have a problem understanding math, i never took calculus in high school (i was in a humanities magnet program, so my focus was on that), so that means i have to start in college algebra, anyone here started in a lower math class? I'm worried that i'm not going to perform as well when i get to higher level like calc and stats, and also, it might hinder me from graduating in 4 years. Thanks.

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[BDIX727]

Speaking from my personal experience, I started off in Intermediate Algebra a little bit over a year ago. I just finished Calculus 1 and scored an A.


I would say College Algebra or Intermediate Algebra is where about 80-90% of the students begin. I cannot answer your question about how you well do later on in the more advanced math courses but it can all be solved with genuine hard work.

I don't struggle but I still stay in the tutoring center at my college 3-4 days a week just for the piece of mind. I would recommend this for you til at least the midterm to judge your competency in mathematics.

 

[k12123]

Speaking from my personal experience, I started off in Intermediate Algebra a little bit over a year ago. I just finished Calculus 1 and scored an A.


I would say College Algebra or Intermediate Algebra is where about 80-90% of the students begin. I cannot answer your question about how you well do later on in the more advanced math courses but it can all be solved with genuine hard work.

I don't struggle but I still stay in the tutoring center at my college 3-4 days a week just for the piece of mind. I would recommend this for you til at least the midterm to judge your competency in mathematics.

That's a great idea, thanks a lot!

 

[WildEMDoc]

I started in College Algebra. Math is all about how good of a teacher you get. If you start in college algebra they will give you everything you need to succeed in pre-calc. You may have to work a little harder than everyone else in CA but you should be able to finish fine, and be set for your future math classes.

 

[the duck]

Its a little different for me, since I homeschooled at started taking classes at a CC when I was 15, but I started at Alg 2 in college. In calc at the moment, so far nothing but A's in math 🙂

I think there are some people who are naturally gifted at math, but for the rest of us, its really "you get what you put in."

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

I'm a bit worried because though i dont have a problem understanding math, i never took calculus in high school (i was in a humanities magnet program, so my focus was on that), so that means i have to start in college algebra, anyone here started in a lower math class? I'm worried that i'm not going to perform as well when i get to higher level like calc and stats, and also, it might hinder me from graduating in 4 years. Thanks.

 

[ISUBird100]

I started in college algebra and got a C. I moved onto finite math the next semester and dropped it because I was doing terrible. I had no idea how to study for a math class my freshman year, and my grades reflected that.

I got some tips from my friend, and I was able to do much better in chem, physics, and stats. For me, math is not only about doing as many problems as I can find, but doing them repeatedly as well.

 

[Geneticist]

When you test into Calc I at an engineering school as a freshman (who never studied in high school) and get the most difficult math professor on campus... well... let's just say **** hits the fan. I got a B-. 🙁 I sure wish I would have tested into college algebra or something a bit easier for starters...

 

[BDIX727]

When you test into Calc I at an engineering school as a freshman (who never studied in high school) and get the most difficult math professor on campus... well... let's just say **** hits the fan. I got a B-. 🙁 I sure wish I would have tested into college algebra or something a bit easier for starters...

How does this have anything to do with the OP's question?

He isn't into Calculus, I'm assuming he isn't going to a "engineering school" and it wouldn't have anything to do with you getting a B-.

 

[Geneticist]

How does this have anything to do with the OP's question?

He isn't into Calculus, I'm assuming he isn't going to a "engineering school" and it wouldn't have anything to do with you getting a B-.

Alright I'll take the bait...

He's concerned with not being able to perform well once he gets to Calc. I was simply giving my prospective on higher level math which was the question, was it not?

 

[BDIX727]

Alright I'll take the bait...

He's concerned with not being able to perform well once he gets to Calc. I was simply giving my prospective on higher level math which was the question, was it not?

You did not start in a math below Calculus, which he has. He is specifically asking if those starting in College Algebra or lower struggle in more advanced maths.

You don't fit it at all, you "struggled in Calc" and you did not take a Pre Requisite math.

 

[Geneticist]

You did not start in a math below Calculus, which he has. He is specifically asking if those starting in College Algebra or lower struggle in more advanced maths.

You don't fit it at all, you "struggled in Calc" and you did not take a Pre Requisite math.

I must have misunderstood then. I thought he was discouraged, from the tone of his post, to be starting in a lower math and also discouraged by the fact he's not good at math and will have to take higher level maths. I was simply trying to give my prospective that it can always be worse. 🙁

 

[ILikeDrugs]

I started with Geometry lol. I forgot everything from high school (Algebra I,II, Geometry, and Stats). So my sequence was a repeat from high school. Geometry (summer I semester at CC) -> Algebra I (self-paced fall I first half) -> Algebra II (self-paced fall I second half)-> Trig (spring I) (graduated with psych BA 3 years later)-> pre-calc (first semester of pre-med) -> calc (second pre-med semester). Somewhere in there I took stats through the psych department before I got a BA. I didn't take pre-calc and calc before I graduated because I was a psych major and had no intention of going for an MD. However, I could have taken pre-calc and calc during my second year at community college if I wanted to. You should have no problem completing your math requirements before you graduate or even before you apply to med school at the end of your junior year. In order to do well in calc and stats you just need to take algebra and trig. There is no reason for you to take a class lower than algebra such as... well I don't really know what come before algebra. I think its pre-algebra?