rocky start to freshman year or typical?

[Anonymous]

DC is at a pretty selective school, 3 As or A minuses but struggling to get beyond a B in Calculus. Has 5 more maths classes for this major...is this a bad start, an indication to redirect?

[Anonymous]

what is the problem with these grades?

[Anonymous]

Problem is the B- in calculus, as there's a lot more math to come if DC stays in this major. Clearly is college ready from the other grades, but the math may not be strong enough for this major

[Anonymous]

Calculus is the first no discrete math classes and it sometimes throw students for a loop. It does not mean they should chuck a major if they are getting a B- after half a semster.

[Anonymous]

Which major?

I am strong at math and attended a top engineering school. My first semester of calculus in college was definitely an adjustment for me, but I did fine after that.

Are they grading on a curve?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which major?

I am strong at math and attended a top engineering school. My first semester of calculus in college was definitely an adjustment for me, but I did fine after that.

Are they grading on a curve?

I don't know all the details, DC says the fact that no calculators are allowed in exams is stressful. .. Hoping th o double major chem and physics...

[Anonymous]

Op, please back away. You want DC to be confident with their own decisions. Deciding this-vs-that and where one path will lead vs another. It doesn't sound like there is any mental health crisis here, that would be the only reason for you to be so invested.

[Anonymous]

Calc is always the hardest and sometimes known as a weed out course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is at a pretty selective school, 3 As or A minuses but struggling to get beyond a B in Calculus. Has 5 more maths classes for this major...is this a bad start, an indication to redirect?

I had a 2.08 my first semester, including a C+ in Calculus. I eventually made the Dean's list, majored in physics, got into the physics honor society, took five more Calculus classes and went to graduate school. Don't sweat the first semester too much. Now, if it continues to the second, third, etc. semesters, then there's a problem.

[Anonymous]

3 As and a B is a great start to college. Hardly a "rocky start". Plus college is so finals weighted it's hard to track interim progress - it's not like high school.

He's a freshman, maybe the major needs to be changed. Or maybe the other math classes will come more easily - calc is pretty distinctive. I'd at least give the poor kid a semester before you panic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Calc is always the hardest and sometimes known as a weed out course.

OP here, yes I am worried this is the weeding in process...got my fingers crossed though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is at a pretty selective school, 3 As or A minuses but struggling to get beyond a B in Calculus. Has 5 more maths classes for this major...is this a bad start, an indication to redirect?

I had a 2.08 my first semester, including a C+ in Calculus. I eventually made the Dean's list, majored in physics, got into the physics honor society, took five more Calculus classes and went to graduate school. Don't sweat the first semester too much. Now, if it continues to the second, third, etc. semesters, then there's a problem.

OP thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3 As and a B is a great start to college. Hardly a "rocky start". Plus college is so finals weighted it's hard to track interim progress - it's not like high school.

He's a freshman, maybe the major needs to be changed. Or maybe the other math classes will come more easily - calc is pretty distinctive. I'd at least give the poor kid a semester before you panic.

thx!

[Anonymous]

My oldest was a straight A student in a rigorous high school, but his first couple of semesters in a top 10 college included a couple of bs and even a C+. He's now successfully employed as a bioengineering consultant and headed to a PhD program. Your DS will likely be just fine. College is usually harder than high school. It's an adjustment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Calculus is the first no discrete math classes and it sometimes throw students for a loop. It does not mean they should chuck a major if they are getting a B- after half a semster.

well proper discrete mathematics is actually taught after a student has a grasp of calculus.