Is anyone else terrible at math, but great at science?

[jtimmer1]

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So, I have a problem. I am great at Chemistry and Biology, but awful at math. I didn't do well in highschool math classes, and it is carrying over to college math courses. It is strange because I am a Chemistry major and I can do the math when needed on an applicative basis, but when I go to my math class, I draw a blank. I just don't understand how I can do so well in science courses and become completely brain-dead when it comes to a math exam. Does anyone else have this problem? If so, what have you done to help yourself out?

 

[armybound]

yeah, I'm pretty similar.. struggled in physics and chem because of the math components, but I have done very well in biology and other sciences that don't require a lot of math.

 

[DOquestions]

So, I have a problem. I am great at Chemistry and Biology, but awful at math. I didn't do well in highschool math classes, and it is carrying over to college math courses. It is strange because I am a Chemistry major and I can do the math when needed on an applicative basis, but when I go to my math class, I draw a blank. I just don't understand how I can do so well in science courses and become completely brain-dead when it comes to a math exam. Does anyone else have this problem? If so, what have you done to help yourself out?

I sucked at math in high school and my first year in college. I got better though. It just takes time.

Understanding biology concepts requires different parts of the brain for memorizing or comprehension then math.

 

[BlueElmo]

The opposite is true for me.

 

[quirks]

I'm good at applied Math (physics, everything that's come up in chemistry classes) but higher-type pure math (like multivariable calculus and linear algebra) were classes that I actually had to work decently hard in to get good grades in, but weren't interesting enough for me to want to put in the work, so I don't do so well (linear algebra was much more fun than calculus though. Which is weird because I really liked physics and it used a lot of the stuff we learned in calculus).

Organic Chemistry falls into the same category except I actually did have to work hard since I needed the grade (in retrospect, I should have worked hard in those math classes. My BCPM gpa would have thanked me).

I've found that I really need contexts. Anything that is so fundamental that there isn't really much of a larger context, I have a bit of trouble with. So I did better in Reproductive Biology than I did in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. In terms of math classes, Satistics was fun and I did well in because it was taught with a lot of context.

I'm not sure what you can do to help yourself. Study harder and/or see if you can find ways to think about the math that puts it in a context that you can grasp better?

 

[216397]

Yes, I'm exactly that way, actually. Any math involving calculus or differential equations is very difficult for me. I didn't have too much trouble with the math in physics or chemistry because it generally was a little bit more simple, but I had PLENTY of trouble with the hard math courses I had to take.

 

[BluntSurgeon]

The opposite is true for me.

Yea same.. could be my engineering major. What do you mean by "science" anyways? To me, science as we learn it in our undergraduate classrooms is memorization and regurgitation. Last time I checked, that is not science. And I think any dolt with half a pulse can memorize and regurgitate on some level.

When I think of science I think of PERFORMING science, like research for example. When it comes to research, I suck miserably, but that could be for a variety of reasons like not being in the field for as long as the people actually practicing science (PhDs etc).

 

[yangxx2]

Me.

I'm acing my bio and chem courses, but calc is kicking my butt. I'm just not used to doing so many practice problems, I guess..

 

[ParthVader]

I used to be similar. Good at chem/bio/physics, but calc was hard. But I got better at it. Last semester I got a B+ in Calc.. Now I have a 94% without the curve, and the curve will take me to over a 100%... Math gets easier..

 

[GoSpursGo]

Yeah I'm the opposite; I do great at remembering general rules like in calc and Physics/Chem, rote memorization in Bio is harder for me (good thing med school doesn't require any memorization... 🙄)

 

[RnD4Lyf]

I LOVE a good math equation but any type of proof generally makes me die a little inside. Pretty much the same for my science classes where I could spend all day in the lab but lecture bores me to tears.

 

[WannaBePreMed]

Math (chem math and physics math too) is a bit difficult because it takes practice and I don't practice, as a matter a fact I don't do any of it, I guess that's why I did so horrible in gen chem...





Memorization is Cake because it requires no thinking what so ever.


(Btw I hate math but I do well in it.)

 

[TSimoneMD]

yeah im the same. i get bored very easily in math class. so i think thats my problem. give me science anyday though.