Life advice: calculus

[youngsterat16]

I’ve posted a similar discussion on this topic. Right now, I am doing very poorly in my Calculus class and currently have a 63% in the class. It’s still possible for me to pass, and I am going to try, but I don’t know if I can get it up high enough in time. I am a senior in high school and first semester I scored a C in the class. I know this is going to mess up my GPA (3.875). I keep thinking I should have dropped the class 2nd semester like I half wanted to, but I thought I’d make myself stick it out.

How much of an impact does this have on my life? I’m already accepted to a local university and this will be the only failed class. The rest I think will finish up at either a’s or b’s, with 4 other AP classes included. I just have this on my mind a lot and it’s distracting me from my other classes.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

In your shoes, I wouldn’t lose sleep over this. I didn’t have as high a GPA as you do - good job, by the way - and I failed a class in high school well before I ever applied to any university but still went on to earn two university degrees and have a brilliant career (though brief; I ended it voluntarily).

Since you have already been accepted by a university, I wouldn’t think failing a class now would affect your admission. Check that, though - don’t just take my word for it, particularly since it’s been ages since I graduated high school (there was no Internet, no email, and no social media at the time, mobile phones were the size of bricks and had external battery packs you had to carry around with you like a handbag) and much may have changed in the interim!

You sound very bright. I didn’t study calculus until university because I was far too dumb to attempt it in high school (math isn’t my strong point) and even then I nearly failed it.

 

[angel12]

Since you’ve already been accepted to university, I’d say don’t stress over it. Do the best you can, but concentrate on the classes you know you can do well in.

My only concern is that you don’t mention what major you have planned going forward – if it’s in the sciences, you may need to get calculus down eventually.

 

[Talitha712]

Do the best you can and give your worry to God. They’re not going to take back your acceptance.

If it makes you feel any better, I bombed my math final in high school with a grand total of 48%. That was my junior year so every college I applied to saw how much I struggled in math. But like you, the rest of my grades were good and I had a few AP classes, so I got a really good scholarship anyway.

I’ve found that in college, the grades you got in high school matter very little. What does matter is whether or not you know how to study. Plenty of top performers in high school had a harder time than average students because they’re used to doing well with little work. But if you come with good study habits and a willingness to work, you’ll be ok

 

[youngsterat16]

Nope, no way do I plan on taking on any career that would need it. Plus even if it did, I would probably want to retake it in college anyways.

I’m undecided but I’ve had ideas going into ASL interpreting, interior design, or some sort of social services perhaps. I have a cousin who works with troubled children which I find interesting. Maybe someday in the future, learning what I can about my faith and work at another parish doing ministry work. But I keep second guessing myself on all of those, so I’m just going to minor in ASL and have that as a backup. I’d still love to learn it so perhaps I’ll go into interpreting first then work towards another major if i decide.

The university is local and has a decently high acceptance rate, so I don’t think this will interfere at all. I was a.) more curious how this would look further on say if I were to apply for some job (not calc related) and b.) just wondering if it was worth sticking it out the semester or better to drop it.

I mean I still enjoy it enough, what I can of it. I do admit, I’ve been slow on the homework this semester because I take forever going through the first few problems assigned until i understand it. By the time I get to that point, it’s time to take the tests and I haven’t gotten to understand how to do the more difficult applications. Sorry, that wasnt necessary
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For me, I feel like it was worth trying but everywhere else it seems its better to play it safe than to challenge yourself. I mean it seems for colleges that challenging yourself is good but only when you actually pass a class and do well. My mom wasn’t mad at me for failing but made me feel a little guilty about this hurting my transcript.
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Thanks for the feedback, I just needed some reassurance that in the grand scheme of life, it’s ok. And I appreciate the short bits of personal experience, it helps too

Shalom

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[Ann_Stanton]

After graduating from university, no one looks at your transcripts. They are only interested in your degree and ability to work as a productive member of society. My grades actually improved when I started university.

 

[Roselle]

You sound similar to my oldest nephew! He always received A’s in all the classes he took in high school. He won a nice scholarship to a University as a result of good scores that today pay much of his University expenses. First semester he had to take college calculus and he gets a D! It was a shock. All other class grades were As and Bs.

I’m not entirely sure how this is going to work out. To keep his scholarship he needs C grades or higher I’ve been told. He is being allowed to retake the calculus course. The family is pulling for him to do better the second go around, and with that will be able to keep his scholarship. We don’t know though.

 

[Tulitas]

It could mess up your scholarship chances.
But even if you were to study in a field that uses calculus, most universities require you to take it over, believing that high school calculus is inferior to their classes. I only ever knew one student who tested out of Calculus 1 & 2 in college, and he was a certified genius.

In some states, you must have a 95% or higher in all core subjects to qualify for the State funded scholarships.

Parents push their kids for the reflected glory, but it backfires much of the time in less than acceptable grades.
I’ll say a prayer for you!