I suck at math : ( should i attempt Calculus I?

i'm in my senior year at high school and am confused as to whether or not i should take upon the challenge to attempt calculus I at community college next year? I don't have Math 12 but am thinking about taking it in the summer. it all depends on the mark i get in math 12. if i get a C + then I can't take calculus but if I by any chance get a B, I can take Calculus. I'm worried i'm not going to be able to do calculus because I've never gotten an A in math throughout high school..but thats only beause i never really gave myself the chance to excel in it...and I never managed my time properly with other classes so i always ended up with a C. I also don't catch on as fast as other students. I just don't know because I really want to go into computer science but math is becoming to be such a big hurdle.

I suck at math : ( should i attempt Calculus I?
I can relate to this. I too never got good grades in high school math, and even in college I got a D in intermediate algebra. But that was over twenty years ago. Since last summer I have been back in college, taking college algebra, trig., and (with one more week to go) precalculus. I have been doing well; getting "A"s in all my classes and even getting 100% on many of the tests.


So what's the difference? Mainly this: I've learned to quit worrying about whether I'm "good at" something or not. If being good at something means you don't have to try very hard then I'm lousy at math. I do have to work hard. I do all the homework, I study, I prepare for the tests, and I keep focused on the goal.


I expect I will continue to get "A"s when I go on to my calculus classes. I plan on working very hard to do it.


One more thing: Like you, I don't catch on as fast as other students. When the professor goes over a new concept on the blackboard I'm usually lost. He asks a question and other students answer. They seem to be getting it while I'm not. I don't let it bother me too much. I know that I'll get it eventually--after I've had time to study, after I've worked through a few problems, after I get my mind "wrapped around" it. Here's something else I find, and I hope you find it too: Although I don't "get it" quickly, once I do "get it" I understand it better than the others.


So I hope you do go for it. Give yourself a chance; don't be down on yourself if it gets difficult; work hard and see whether it doesn't pay off.
Reply:Maybe this will help. The first day I walked into calculus class, at University, I took one look at the board displaying some problems and walked out. I felt like I had wandered into the physics lab. I was not ready for that level. A remedial class sure helped but I won't say how it turned out because I also changed my major. Understand your limitations and find a way to learn the basics before you spend time and money.
Reply:If you have to take the class, then i would give it a try but otherwise dont. I got a's in math all my life and i just couldnt understand calculus enough and i was unable to devote time to it because it was so frustraingly complicated
Reply:if you are not that good at math i would make sure you can devote a lot of time to the class if you end up taking it. also, look into tutors because if you end up needing help they can help you.
Reply:If you want to go into Computer Science, you are going to need to be good at math, especially Linear Algebra. Computer Science degrees usually require at least a minor in mathematics.
Reply:i suck at math 2............just do what your %26lt;3 feels, and no choice is wrong
Reply:There is no escaping Calculus with the field that you intend to pursue. I am a Mechanical Engineering graduate and I must admit that Differential Calculus (the first Calculus course) is a little bit "difficult" only in the sense that its concepts are very much different from its prerequisites -- Algebra/Trigonometry/Geometry.





You just have to study harder to master mathematics. You must always practice solving problems even if there is no assignment. Practice and more practice will be the only way to be proficient in mathematics.





This is sort of a guarantee though ... if you are able to master Differential Calculus, then the rest of the Calculus courses will be easy especially Integral Calculus (the 2nd Calculus course).





Good luck.
Reply:Well I'm the type of person that likes to see things for myself and not take anyone's word for it. So if I was in your situation I would take it, just to be sure that I wasn't able to do it because you never know you could turn out to be really good at it. See if you had taken grade 12 math during the school year you would know better if your capable of doing it becuase during the summer it's at a much accelerated pace so your results may not be so well. But by all means you got to put a lot of work into it. I didn't find Calculus hard but I know from other's that it always seems harder in the beginning then in the end. So I encourage you to give it a shot and if you find it hard don't get discouraged just keep trying hard and I'm sure you'll get past it. Then you'll look back and think that it wasn't so bad. And as a matter of fact by brother did very poorly in math during highschool (50's) but in calculus acheived a 71% so it might be even easier.





Math is not a subject only for the smart. Yes if you are smart it 's going to be easy but that doesn't mean an average person can't succeed and do extremely well. You just have to put more work into it. Since your going to be taking other courses along side Calculus try to give it more time, but if your struggling in it don't fall behind in your other classes becuase then your doomed. But if you ever need help on anything post the questions on here or message me becuase I would be willing to help you. I'm not a fan of tutors very much becuase I personally don't really believe it works but if it works for you by all means get one. But math is a lot of repetition - the more you do the easier it becomes.





Good luck and I wish the best!