Calculus 1...

[pokeprad]

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So here is my story. I took Calculus 1 last summer and took a W. Then I took it the following fall semester and got an F. Then I took it again in the spring semester and got a D. I just finished taking it again this summer and I am hoping to get a C. I am just completely losing motivation as I just don't have the focus or the drive anymore to do anything. Anyone else in a similar situation?

 

[ktran17]

what parts of calculus do you find difficult? Do you actually do all the assigned hw? Do you read the book? I never actually read my calc book until Calc II. It was a very read feeling lol..

 

[pokeprad]

For the W I was going to a chem class in the morning and I had the calc class in the evening. I just couldn't keep up with the courseload. For the F it was a late start class and the hw was online and overwhelming. For the D the hw was assigned but since it was not collected I decided to skip doing it. For the hopeful C I got overconfident after the first exam ended up with a D on the second exam and skipped more than half the questions for the final.

 

[pitutinho]

First of all why are you taking Calculus if you seem to struggle so much with it? Does your major require it? As I've read by many posters on here a lot of med schools don't require Calculus but I could be wrong. I would highly recommend going to your professor's office hours, watching tutorial videos on www.patrickjmt.com, and most of all DOING MANY PRACTICE PROBLEMS. While it is true that math comes more naturally to some it does not change the fact that the best way to learn math is by doing it so just PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!! I'm a math major and I can honestly say that the best way I learn math is by doing math. I would also highly suggest you hire a tutor if you still continue to struggle so much after taking Calculus 1 three times... Seriously just PRACTICE!

 

[ktran17]

calculus I was very easy for me because i took it in highschool, but calc II was another ball game. In order to get an A in this class I did the following, read the book , do hw, and do lots of questions.

To the above poster: Although calculus may not be a requirement, I think its an extremely important class to take, for any major. It helps you think in a very abstract way and helps with physics 😀. Calculus is just plain awesome 😛.

 

[pitutinho]

calculus I was very easy for me because i took it in highschool, but calc II was another ball game. In order to get an A in this class I did the following, read the book , do hw, and do lots of questions.

To the above poster: Although calculus may not be a requirement, I think its an extremely important class to take, for any major. It helps you think in a very abstract way and helps with physics 😀. Calculus is just plain awesome 😛.

I definitely agree with you but the OP seems to be struggling quite a bit with it and honestly has really affected his/her gpa because of it.. Unless his/her major requires it I just simply don't understand the insistence on taking the class.

 

[ktran17]

Well, I would have to disagree with you because at this point the Op has no choice but to retake it until he or she passes. If he/she chooses to take a lower level math class, it might suggest that he/she is giving up and choosing the easy way out. Additionally, retaking the class will help him/her if he/she chooses the DO route 😀. If he/she has no taken it, I would agree with you, but now its too late.

 

[pokeprad]

I am a guy and I am taking every necessary step to ensure that this fall semester I set aside every possible distraction and just study. I have already talked about it with my parents and they have agreed to keep my laptop and phone until the fall semester is over. Hopefully I can get a C in calc 1 and study hard for calc 2 in the fall. This is my last chance for transferring from a cc to a UC. If this doesn't work out then I am going to be stuck going back to CSUN.

 

[pitutinho]

I am a guy and I am taking every necessary step to ensure that this fall semester I set aside every possible distraction and just study. I have already talked about it with my parents and they have agreed to keep my laptop and phone until the fall semester is over. Hopefully I can get a C in calc 1 and study hard for calc 2 in the fall. This is my last chance for transferring from a cc to a UC. If this doesn't work out then I am going to be stuck going back to CSUN.

Well I truly wish you the best of luck and hope you get an A in your class! I think the best advice anyone can give you is to find out what you're struggling with in Calc 1 and address these struggles with practice. Again PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! Just set out time every day and seriously just do problems and you'll be fine. Best of luck!

 

[ktran17]

That's interesting, my cousin currently goes to CSUN and recently just finished Calc. I. I can assure you that shes not the brightest when it comes to math, but she studied her butt off and managed to pull a B. You can do it! Good luck!

 

[pokeprad]

Well I truly wish you the best of luck and hope you get an A in your class! I think the best advice anyone can give you is to find out what you're struggling with in Calc 1 and address these struggles with practice. Again PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! Just set out time every day and seriously just do problems and you'll be fine. Best of luck!

Thanks. I really appreciate the vote of confidence. 🙂

 

[pokeprad]

That's interesting, my cousin currently goes to CSUN and recently just finished Calc. I. I can assure you that shes not the brightest when it comes to math, but she studied her butt off and managed to pull a B. You can do it! Good luck!

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I originally was accepted as a freshman out of high school to CSUN but after a semester I realized how miserable I was. My family lives only two miles away from CSUN so I never got the dorm experience and my grades suffered the fall semester there. Getting into a UC, then medical school, then finishing residency as an ophthalmologist. That is my goal.

 

[chemistryguy]

Since you took it so many times, Im guessing your algebra is a bit rusty or lacking. You should do all the homework and make sure you know how to do everything on your own. That means not looking at solutions until youve done the problems yourself, and make sure you read the book.

I would probly advise against Calc II, it is an extension of calc I, but if you algebra isnt too good then youll probly have trouble with the integration techniques and series youll learn in Calc II.

 

[V5RED]

For the W I was going to a chem class in the morning and I had the calc class in the evening. I just couldn't keep up with the courseload. For the F it was a late start class and the hw was online and overwhelming. For the D the hw was assigned but since it was not collected I decided to skip doing it. For the hopeful C I got overconfident after the first exam ended up with a D on the second exam and skipped more than half the questions for the final.

This sounds like a lot of excuses to me. The first screwup seems acceptable since summer classes are pretty fast paced. The rest of the ones seem like you were just being lazy.

I am a guy and I am taking every necessary step to ensure that this fall semester I set aside every possible distraction and just study. I have already talked about it with my parents and they have agreed to keep my laptop and phone until the fall semester is over. Hopefully I can get a C in calc 1 and study hard for calc 2 in the fall. This is my last chance for transferring from a cc to a UC. If this doesn't work out then I am going to be stuck going back to CSUN.

Is there a reason you want to take calculus 2? I just finished calculus 3, and in order of difficulty here are all of the calculus related classes.

From easiest to hardest: Calculus 1<Calculus 3<Precalculus<Calculus 2.

I just don't see you passing this class given that it took you 4 tries to even pass calculus 1.(a D is failure in my book)

 

[AestheticMed]

Geez, your school let you take Calc 4 times?

 

[Deathstar]

wtf? Taking the W was smart, but getting an F during a normal semester? I wish you the best of luck

 

[MeowMeowCAT]

On a positive note, a C is better than an F. But according to the W-F-C trend, that looks really bad. Especially the part where you failed the class after withdrawing the first time...Dude, what the hell? That's not how you treat W's. 🙄

If you can guarantee that C, then I guess you don't have to stress too much about it, at least you finally got a passing grade. But you really will have to push your ass in Calc 2, if you really want to show actual "improvement" in terms of math on your academic record...And then there is Physics 1/2 later on that might be a wake up call.



Regardless, assuming these are your first two years, that's when Calc I is usually taken, it's way too early to be messing up your GPA. These years should be essential for building the foundation to your GPA, so as to be your safety net for the much tougher classes later on.

I am just completely losing motivation as I just don't have the focus or the drive anymore to do anything.

Way too early to be losing your motivation as well. If it's really that big on issue maybe consider switching to a major that you actually enjoy more. Sure, easier said than to convince yourself to do so and leave pre-med behind...But doing something that you are already losing motivation for, will/might just make it tougher as you go.