Ordinary Differential Equation

[Fakesmile]

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I'm taking it and I don't know what's going on. I feel like an idiot. The prof has an accent hard to understand and his teaching style doesn't suit me but only succeeds in confusing me even more. Because the prof and lecture notes are hard to understand, I depend mostly on the textbook to just hang in there. But even the text isn't so easy to understand. It's worded in such a way that it takes so much time to read it. I'd appreciate advice on how to ace this course.

 

[insane]

Practice, Practice, Practice and then thank god your not doing PDEs

 

[austinap]

I'm taking it and I don't know what's going on. I feel like an idiot. The prof has an accent hard to understand and his teaching style doesn't suit me but only succeeds in confusing me even more. Because the prof and lecture notes are hard to understand, I depend mostly on the textbook to just hang in there. But even the text isn't so easy to understand. It's worded in such a way that it takes so much time to read it. I'd appreciate advice on how to ace this course.

I thought Diff Eq. was one of the best classes I've ever taken. Do tons of practice problems, play with mathematica, etc. I really think it's a subject worth understanding at least on a strong conceptual level.

 

[GTV]

laplace transforms are your friend.

 

[BlueElmo]

If it's not a requirement, just drop it.

 

[strummin]

I'm taking it and I don't know what's going on. I feel like an idiot. The prof has an accent hard to understand and his teaching style doesn't suit me but only succeeds in confusing me even more. Because the prof and lecture notes are hard to understand, I depend mostly on the textbook to just hang in there. But even the text isn't so easy to understand. It's worded in such a way that it takes so much time to read it. I'd appreciate advice on how to ace this course.

Yes, blame the teacher. I've seen that so many times with math classes. I used to tutor math and got students all the time who placed the blame for all their F's solely on the teachers. I'm not saying that all math teachers are good, but an accent shouldn't prevent you from understanding the material if you work hard. And the "teaching style" excuse is just stupid - I've heard that excuse hundreds of times.

Differential equations is a hard class - no doubt. But it is one of the few math classes that is actually fun. Just do LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of problems - and don't blame the instructor for your own deficiencies. At least there are a lot of computation-based problems in diff eq - other higher level math classes are almost exclusively proof and theorem-based. If you're having trouble with computation, you better not take advanced linear algebra or something like that.

 

[FlowRate]

Yes, blame the teacher. I've seen that so many times with math classes. I used to tutor math and got students all the time who placed the blame for all their F's solely on the teachers. I'm not saying that all math teachers are good, but an accent shouldn't prevent you from understanding the material if you work hard. And the "teaching style" excuse is just stupid - I've heard that excuse hundreds of times.

Differential equations is a hard class - no doubt. But it is one of the few math classes that is actually fun. Just do LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of problems - and don't blame the instructor for your own deficiencies. At least there are a lot of computation-based problems in diff eq - other higher level math classes are almost exclusively proof and theorem-based. If you're having trouble with computation, you better not take advanced linear algebra or something like that.

I got an A in Diff EQ. My teacher was terrible. I understood the material because I'm good at math. That doesn't make him a good teacher. There are many, MANY absolutely horrible math teachers. Half are complained about because they also make tests/quizzes hard, half are the "best teacher ever" because their class is far too easy.

But a bad teacher? Not an excuse for bad grades, but definitely an excuse for not understanding the material well in class.

 

[physicsguy]

If I may ask, what major are you that requires you to take diff eq?

Anyway, if you've got any specific questions about diff eq, you can PM me and I'll help you out. As it so happens, I did a math degree back in college, so I could probably help you with whatever you need.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I honestly thought Diff Eq. was the easiest math class I took. If you're struggling, though, screw it. It's not worth taking a GPA hit for.

 

[austinap]

If it's not a requirement, just drop it.

I'm sorry, but I really really hate this mentality. This is exactly why a lot of people (professors, etc) are easily frustrated with premeds. Life isn't all about medicine. Sometimes you should learn something simply because it's worth knowing and will enhance your perception of the world.

 

[Simplify]

Then take it P/NP.

 

[brooklynblunder]

If it's not a requirement, just drop it.

probably the best advice.

i never found going to lecture for any of my math classes helped at all. you can learn everything from books (even online nowadays)

 

[BlueElmo]

I'm sorry, but I really really hate this mentality. This is exactly why a lot of people (professors, etc) are easily frustrated with premeds. Life isn't all about medicine. Sometimes you should learn something simply because it's worth knowing and will enhance your perception of the world.

Sorry if it rubs you the wrong way, but that's what I would, and a lot of pre-meds, would do.

 

[BlueElmo]

probably the best advice.

i never found going to lecture for any of my math classes helped at all. you can learn everything from books (even online nowadays)

Exactly.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I'm sorry, but I really really hate this mentality. This is exactly why a lot of people (professors, etc) are easily frustrated with premeds. Life isn't all about medicine. Sometimes you should learn something simply because it's worth knowing and will enhance your perception of the world.

Eh...I did that with my astrophysics degree, and despite doing well in it compared to everyone else, I still ate it on med school admissions. (Obviously, there were other factors, but having a 3.0-3.1 in one of my majors didn't help.) I enjoyed it immensely, and I'd think very hard about doing it again, even armed with the knowledge I have now. It really is just a cost-benefit analysis, in the end. Is eating a C in a couple classes worth it to you? If so, go for it. I certainly wouldn't recommend that course, regardless of how super-awesome the subject is, but whatever works. If it's frustrating to the professor, that's really just too bad. They're not the ones who have to maintain a 3.65 just to be average.

 

[austinap]

Sorry if it rubs you the wrong way, but that's what I would, and a lot of pre-meds, would do.

I understand the pressure to do well, I really do. I guess my problem is this: at what point are you actually interested in the material and learn something simply because it's interesting? Medicine has historically been a scholarly pursuit, but it seems that more recently very few pre-med students are actually interested in learning things, they simply want to 'be doctors'. It seems a sure-fire way to be unhappy with your career. You end up constantly trying to get by without ever really enjoying how interesting the things that you study are.

Not doing something because it's hard is a terrible reason not to do something. That actually seems like the perfect reason for doing something. If you don't need the class and are that worried about the grade, take it pass / fail. The point is that sometimes you should ask a question just because it's an interesting question, not because it might be on the test. Some things are just interesting, and very often those things aren't on a test. If you don't do these things, you're letting your life be defined by some guy that's writing obscure multiple choice exams, and that is just plain depressing.

 

[physicsguy]

Eh...I did that with my astrophysics degree, and despite doing well in it compared to everyone else, I still ate it on med school admissions. (Obviously, there were other factors, but having a 3.0-3.1 in one of my majors didn't help.) I enjoyed it immensely, and I'd think very hard about doing it again, even armed with the knowledge I have now. It really is just a cost-benefit analysis, in the end. Is eating a C in a couple classes worth it to you? If so, go for it. I certainly wouldn't recommend that course, regardless of how super-awesome the subject is, but whatever works. If it's frustrating to the professor, that's really just too bad. They're not the ones who have to maintain a 3.65 just to be average.

So you did astrophysics? I'm actually doing astrophysics for my PhD, so I can fully relate to physics causing someone an exponentially-suppressed GPA. I hope I'm not derailing this thread, but do you mind me asking what cGPA you were working with when you applied to med schools? I'd be interested to know if I'm even mildly competetive with my 3.26, and what other factors might offset it.

 

[MilkmanAl]

It's all in my MDApps, but check your PM's.

 

[BlueElmo]

I understand the pressure to do well, I really do. I guess my problem is this: at what point are you actually interested in the material and learn something simply because it's interesting? Medicine has historically been a scholarly pursuit, but it seems that more recently very few pre-med students are actually interested in learning things, they simply want to 'be doctors'. It seems a sure-fire way to be unhappy with your career. You end up constantly trying to get by without ever really enjoying how interesting the things that you study are.

Not doing something because it's hard is a terrible reason not to do something. That actually seems like the perfect reason for doing something. If you don't need the class and are that worried about the grade, take it pass / fail. The point is that sometimes you should ask a question just because it's an interesting question, not because it might be on the test. Some things are just interesting, and very often those things aren't on a test. If you don't do these things, you're letting your life be defined by some guy that's writing obscure multiple choice exams, and that is just plain depressing.

In medical school. Not in college.

 

[austinap]

In medical school. Not in college.

Wow. You're really doing it wrong.

 

[BlueElmo]

Wow. You're really doing it wrong.

That's your opinion.

 

[austinap]

That's your opinion.

Of course it is. But by your strategy, you're taking four of the most flexible years of your life and not taking advantage of any of the opportunities that college really offers. I think that's incredibly sad.

 

[BlueElmo]

Of course it is. But by your strategy, you're taking four of the most flexible years of your life and not taking advantage of any of the opportunities that college really offers. I think that's incredibly sad.

I thought taking pre-reqs and my major requirement classes were fun and enjoyable enough. I don't take classes that I don't have to take, and it's worked out fine for me.

 

[boaz]

Search Amazon for "differential equations textbook" and check the ratings, then pick the best of the pack. I've had very good experience with this in other subjects.

 

[medfan303]

If it helps, I got a C in both advanced calc courses, but aced Diff Eqs. The only thing you need to know about Diff Eqs is mainly derivatives (be excellent at this), and VERY simple integrals as a pre-req. The best way to ace the class is to do practice problems. The great thing about math is that there is ultimately one right answer. DiffEqs is a great course to master if you need to learn how to solve complex electrical circuits (which is why I needed it), among many other things. Dude, don't drop it just because your premed...I dreaded taking this class for 2 years after getting C's in my advanced calc classes..But when I finally ended up taking it I felt it was great...it felt like I wasn't bad at math after all!!

I used this website for review, but my book was an excellent resource:
http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/DE/DE.aspx

Good luck! Practice makes perfect 🙂

 

[austinap]

If it helps, I got a C in both advanced calc courses, but aced Diff Eqs. The only thing you need to know about Diff Eqs is mainly derivatives (be excellent at this), and VERY simple integrals as a pre-req. The best way to ace the class is to do practice problems. The great thing about math is that there is ultimately one right answer. DiffEqs is a great course to master if you need to learn how to solve complex electrical circuits (which is why I needed it), among many other things. Dude, don't drop it just because your premed...I dreaded taking this class for 2 years after getting C's in my advanced calc classes..But when I finally ended up taking it I felt it was great...it felt like I wasn't bad at math after all!!

I used this website for review, but my book was an excellent resource:
http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/DE/DE.aspx

Good luck! Practice makes perfect 🙂

I just want to say again that I thought this was one of the most rewarding classes I've ever taken. It's much more applicable (to just about everything) than the other calculus classes, and it seems to pop up just about everywhere. Basically anything with a half-life, anything in dynamic equilibrium (e.g., the entire human body), etc. has an associated differential equation.

While it's true that you won't be actually solving these very often in medicine, it's extremely useful to have feeling for how such systems will behave, how you might determine steady states of those systems, and so forth.