I'm freaking out!

[freshbeatschris]

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Okay, guys. You all have talked me through a lot of obstacles over the last 3 years. I know I have freaked out about a lot of things and you all have reassured me and were completely 100% correct that there was nothing to worry about.

... but I am freaking out about calculus. My mind just Does Not Work This Way! I know there are some of you out there that get it, it comes easily to you. I am not one of those.

My instructor is, how can I put this lightly, not very good. My algebra and trigonometry background are pretty weak.

I have a calculus exam tomorrow, and although I have studied 2 to 4 hours every day for the last week, I still am terrified that I am going to fail this test.

Even more than that, I am terrified that I am not going to pass this class.

Every other class that I have taken, my mentality has been "It's got to be an A or nothing." With this class, I pray for C's.

I could really use some words of encouragement right about now. I seriously fear that I might have a panic attack tomorrow in class. Is there anyone else out there that struggled with calculus like I am now?

Thanks in advance
Chris

 

[MaybeCO2010]

I feel the exact same way about.... Physics!! I have my second test tomorrow... I just pray for a 70!! It just does not get in my head.

Are you referring to ... Calculus with Analytical Geometry I? I took that class over the summer. It was either a very easy class or I had a great teacher.

However this really doesn't help you or answer your request... the only thing I can say is memorize the formulas and know when and how to use them..... hmmmm, maybe I should be doing the same with physics?? I absolutely h----a----t----e this class!!

Okay, guys. You all have talked me through a lot of obstacles over the last 3 years. I know I have freaked out about a lot of things and you all have reassured me and were completely 100% correct that there was nothing to worry about.

... but I am freaking out about calculus. My mind just Does Not Work This Way! I know there are some of you out there that get it, it comes easily to you. I am not one of those.

My instructor is, how can I put this lightly, not very good. My algebra and trigonometry background are pretty weak.

I have a calculus exam tomorrow, and although I have studied 2 to 4 hours every day for the last week, I still am terrified that I am going to fail this test.

Even more than that, I am terrified that I am not going to pass this class.

Every other class that I have taken, my mentality has been "It's got to be an A or nothing." With this class, I pray for C's.

I could really use some words of encouragement right about now. I seriously fear that I might have a panic attack tomorrow in class. Is there anyone else out there that struggled with calculus like I am now?

Thanks in advance
Chris

 

[pAwSN]

Is it calculus I or II? Relax...I'm taking calc II right now and yeah sucks too. Freaking out on the test is jsut gonna make it worst. I made several really stupid mistakes on my first test because I was really afraid of failing. I didn't do that bad but not as great as I has hoped. Just do a lot of practice questions from the book. focus on what you are doing wrong by doing practice questions that you have answers to. O and remember to memorize some of thins you need like Trig functions and special derivatives or integrands. I freaked out and forgot like the simplest things. it will be ok just relax...i'm sure if you have been studying everyday you will be fine. good luck and realx

 

[karariki]

don't know how to make u feel better, but i could describe my own experience w/ this subject.

i took calculus when i was in highschool & it was hell. i cried every time i received my test back. i really did.

had to take it again in college & it became easy to me. i know, it's strange. but it also kinda makes sense. to those who are mathematically challenged like us, the teacher makes a huge diff. my highschool friends also had a bad experience w/ calc like me, but they did very well in calc once they're in college.

maybe u're just like us. maybe right now u'r stuck w/ a really bad teacher who can't explain well. i think it's still okey if u fail calc right now & make up for it later w/ an A when u retake it.

if u don't ever want to take this class again, then u should consider tutoring. it's only 1/2 semester so far. u still have time to improve ur grade.

besides, there's very little calc in the PCAT.

good luck. 🙂

 

[freshbeatschris]

i think it's still okey if u fail calc right now & make up for it later w/ an A when u retake it.

if u don't ever want to take this class again, then u should consider tutoring. it's only 1/2 semester so far. u still have time to improve ur grade.

besides, there's very little calc in the PCAT.

good luck. 🙂

The only problem is I've already taken the PCAT, I'm already accepted to one school. This is my last chance to pass calculus. I tried taking it last semester but had a solid F going so I dropped it.

I go to the tutoring center on a daily basis. They know me pretty well by now. 😳

Chris

 

[ultracet]

The only problem is I've already taken the PCAT, I'm already accepted to one school. This is my last chance to pass calculus. I tried taking it last semester but had a solid F going so I dropped it.

I go to the tutoring center on a daily basis. They know me pretty well by now. 😳

Chris

what about summer school?

 

[freshbeatschris]

what about summer school?

UIC is a definite no to that one. Everything needs to be done by this semester. Midwestern is still a question on that issue.


... but do I really want to take a class that I am already struggling with and cram it down to half the time?

Chris

 

[Moxxie]

Have you been able to figure out what part of calc is giving you the most problems? Maybe if you dissect wha tyou're having the most issues with you can figure it out.

I really feel for you Chris. Math (especially calculus) is one of those subjects that you either "get" or don't. A lot of teachers and TA's are so good at math that they don't understand the thought process of someone that struggles. There was someone on this board that used to teach math (is it Rxlynn?) Maybe she can help you out, if not for this test but for the next one.

/hug Chris

 

[ginephre]

See if you can find a solutions manual for your particular book. I got one for my calc class last semester, and it really helped. You can do the homework and know if you are doing it right (and get a good homework grade) or go over chapter reviews before tests. My biggest problem with math has always been that I didn't know if I was doing the problems right, so I got into bad habits or made up rules that didn't always apply. Some people may call having a solutions manual cheating, but you still have to take the tests on your own! I swear that was the main reason for my grade! Good luck! 😉

 

[twester]

Okay, guys. You all have talked me through a lot of obstacles over the last 3 years. I know I have freaked out about a lot of things and you all have reassured me and were completely 100% correct that there was nothing to worry about.

Chris, do you get test anxiety? I know I do. I didn't even have an exam this morning, but I did the same surreal, nonsensical o-chem problem over and over in my sleep last night. Until I got up and watched TV for a while at 3 AM, that is.

When you do problems, do you get a solution? Do you know how you got the solution? Or why you didn't get the solution? Does your math department offer tutoring? Is there a past instructor who's abilities you trust? I've had some luck with past instructors being willing to offer limited help.

One thing that worked for me was to make sure that I read the chapter (all those words in a math book). I actually did the example problems. If I didn't understand, I didn't move on until I got it. If I was with a problem for a while and still didn't get it - I walked away for hours. Sometimes I'd came back and something would just dawn on me. And there's no substitute for working as many problems as possible (I had a copy of Schaum's from the library for extra problems to work).

Calculus is weird. I took it last summer and had a kind of ah-ha moment with it at one point (which came and went afterwards). It's a strange mixture of reason and memorization (ie. derivatives of trig functions?). Just hang in there. You're not dumb, you're not a slacker. I really think you'll be OK.

Let us know how it goes.

Troy

 

[BiOGoly]

My algebra and trigonometry background are pretty weak.

That is absolutely the number one reason why people drop calc! You just can't build a house from the top down my friend. Calculus basically ties together everything from previous maths from geometry to algebra II and trig...so taking it without a firm foundation in the prerequisites is a daunting proposition. I should know, I flat out failed Calculus when I took it the first time. After dozing through math in high school and never really absorbing the concepts, I completely fell apart when I was expected to use knowledge I didn't really have. I felt overwhelmed and feeling overwhelmed leads to crippling test anxiety. Before I retook the class I bought The Princeton Review Math Smart series I and II and REA Super Review Pre-calculus, both fairly condensed books, but very understandable. After mastering the fundamentals not only did I find Calculus easy, but I actually found it interesting. Since you are in the class now your best move is to focus on calc fundamentals and try to get through the next test, then nail the final. Forget trying to read the text book, study your notes from class and if the Prof gives crappy notes try to get some from the campus note taking service, or do an internet search. I find math texts generally plod along (my calc text was inscrutable) and unless you have enough time to properly decipher them they just make you more confused. However, the end of chapter problems are a good resource. Most importantly, CALM DOWN. Getting too worried about any test is self defeating. I've been there man, focus and be confident, you can do this!

 

[Rxbound]

I am no math wizard by any means, and I am faced with the Calc. battle right now. Practice, practice, practice. And when you can't do any more, stop for a while, do something you want to do, and then come back. It sucks, I know. But being a pharmacist is the goal, and this hurdle can be cleared... 👍

 

[Sefowa04]

Does everyone else in your class do bad?

 

[freshbeatschris]

Does everyone else in your class do bad?

The average grade in the class right now is a D.

 

[Sefowa04]

The average grade in the class right now is a D.

Seriously, don't worry about it...lol okay if you're anything like me, you are going to worry about it, but sometimes you have to fall, however, what matters the most is how you pick yourself up afterwards.

 

[bananaface]

I hate calculus

 

[ndearwater]

Calculus is, to me, like a foreign language. I got through it in 12 weeks over the summer just basically memorizing whatever nonsense was required to get through a certain type of problem.
Try to organize the test into the problem types. Learn how to do an example problem. Let every problem you do like that be a copy of the template you practiced with. You can only do your best, and freaking out and having an anxiety attack isn't going to help anything!
Also, talk to your teacher and ask questions in class constantly. Even if their answers don't help you, when you make such an obvious effort it may end up being the difference between a C and a D for you at the end of the semester! Good luck!

 

[stickandstone]

Okay, guys. You all have talked me through a lot of obstacles over the last 3 years. I know I have freaked out about a lot of things and you all have reassured me and were completely 100% correct that there was nothing to worry about.

... but I am freaking out about calculus. My mind just Does Not Work This Way! I know there are some of you out there that get it, it comes easily to you. I am not one of those.

My instructor is, how can I put this lightly, not very good. My algebra and trigonometry background are pretty weak.

I have a calculus exam tomorrow, and although I have studied 2 to 4 hours every day for the last week, I still am terrified that I am going to fail this test.

Even more than that, I am terrified that I am not going to pass this class.

Every other class that I have taken, my mentality has been "It's got to be an A or nothing." With this class, I pray for C's.

I could really use some words of encouragement right about now. I seriously fear that I might have a panic attack tomorrow in class. Is there anyone else out there that struggled with calculus like I am now?

Thanks in advance
Chris

the one thing i hate about Organic chem and calculus is that you need to have a great teacher. most science teachers dont know how to teach even if they are so freaking smart. they all should take a teaching skill class or even an empathy class, if there is one....

i feel for you because i know calculus is a difficult subject. i took it twice. the first time i had to drop and i got a W. i was averagin 62%. anyway, by the end of the semester there were only 4 students left. one got an A, one got a C, the other two got a D. then i took it in the winter session. thank god i had to focus only this class and i ended up getting a C...i'll take a C for Calculus any day...hang in there! We're pulling for you 😍

 

[freshbeatschris]

I completely bombed the test today. I didn't have an outright panic attack, but I did go blank.

I already took a lot of advice from all of your suggestions...

I spoke to my teacher today and he suggested I see "success services" where they will analyze my test taking strategies specific for this subject. Needless to say, he knows I am trying.

I have the student solutions manual and live by it.

I go to the tutoring center regularly.

I'm going to look into some of the study books and websites that were recommended by you guys.

Thank you so very much for your input and support. You guys are a great group of folks to know.

Sincerely-
Christina

 

[patmcd]

Be careful with the solutions manual not to just look at the solutions and assume that you could do them after just looking over it. I've tried this theory, and needless to say it doesn't work 😛

 

[twester]

I completely bombed the test today. I didn't have an outright panic attack, but I did go blank.

Does your prof curve? Maybe it won't be as bad as you think?

Hang in there. It sounds like you have a plan for success.

Troy

 

[pAwSN]

that totally looks like my cat when he was a kitten ...he poses like that too