Need advise about a class.

[TylerJ]

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This is my first full-time semester at college and I might have been a little over-the-top with my classes.

My concern is the dreaded calculus II. It was a over a year that I took calculus I, and I already dreaded the thought of trying calculus II with no refreshment. My other classes are: chemistry, Arabic and accounting... Only 14 credits, right? Yea... okay.

I completely bombed a test today, it was easy, but my brain just completely failed, I spent too much time trying to remember basic derivatives and integrals to focus on the new material. I knew how to do everything, but I just could not calculate everything fast enough to finish the questions within the duration of time allocated for the test.

On top of that, I am already neglecting family time with my daughter and wife to survive this semester, so I am not a huge fan of doing this for a low grade. My wife works shifts, so I am pretty much a single dad half the time to boot.

Should I stick it through and try to finish the course, or go with a "W" and fit it into an easier schedule in the future? Worst case scenario, I will get a D. Trust me though, a D, or the prospect of a D is absolutely shredding my ego; it isn't that I cannot do it, but playing catchup and my other courses is... difficult. My other math classes to date are: Statistics, A; precalculus, B; and, calculus, A.

Advice, comments, criticism (constructive), all welcome.

Time to shuffle through my 200 Arabic vocab cards for tomorrow's exam... WEeee.

 

[Petypet]

I can't attest to having to juggle wife/kid but I have had a few W's, just because of schedule conflicts/poor instructors and they have not been of any issue. See the professor and talk about your issue, because if its just the first exam its feasible that you can raise that to a B by the end of the semester. If the professor does not think that is manageable then withdraw and take later. If the calc I material is too foreign, then retake that, maybe even pass/fail to help for calc II.

Calc II is used in other more advanced science classes so its important you learn it, unless you are just taking these as med school pre-reqs.

If it were me I think I would ask myself did I have ample time to prepare for this and is the grade MY fault or of a fault that I just didn't have enough time. If its the former then study harder, if its the latter, withdraw.

 

[ruraldocmom]

Do you need the pre-req or the grade more? Personally, in my post-undergrad life, I always needed the A's more than the class itself.

Some I had to tough it through--Organic Chemistry--I knew I could get an A with more application. But others--Microbiology--I withdrew from when the course was more than I could handle (new baby, full-time work, etc).

The withdraw, I just chalked up to a learning experience and life circumstances. It was the right choice for me--no regrets. They didn't even ask about it at my interview!

You are going to have to choose medicine over family so many times in the future--when you can, if it is right for you--choose family & your sanity!

 

[semit]

In my opinion though both a D or W may look bad on your transcript, the D might hurt you more; it is actually factored into your GPA, but W will not. Next, i doubt that you need calculus 11 for medical school. Just reseach the prerequisite for the MED schools that you are interested in attending. In fact, many schools will accept 3 credit hours of statistic in place of calculus.