Did anyone worry their DC was unprepared for their major (or college)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am concerned that my kids who will be applying to UK universities in the Fall (we're from there originally) won't be up to the academic standards of their peers, if they get places. I think they'll each catch up, but it will be a steep learning curve.

DS participated in a joint degree program that required 2 years at a UK university. One area where there is a big difference is math(s). His economics Calculus course was much more advanced and fast paced than anything he had in the US. He made it through but he and the other Americans had a much more difficult time than those students educated in the UK.

[Anonymous]

I did worry about this. My son blew off his senior year and got a C in preCalc. But once he got there, he turned things around and worked with classmates to get fairly good grades and he's passing his classes, including Calculus and linear algebra! I'm both surprised and pleased. He has a 3.5 in his Junior year.

[Anonymous]

Pete Buttigieg, who double majored in English & History at Harvard said he was unprepared for his Rhodes scholarship at Oxford. He had to work twice as hard to catch up and impress prof's but hung in there and graduated with a PPE.

[Anonymous]

Not worried he is underprepared (HS is one of the most rigorous in the US), but worried he'll be over his head especially with STEM courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m the OP. I feel like I read discussions here sometimes and there is not always a follow-up so figured I’d provide in case it is useful for others.

I signed DS up for 20 hours of 1:1 tutoring in calculus (remote) through Fusion Academy over the summer. Chose this over calculus at a community college because the schedule worked better for him.

DS worked his a** off at RPI and got a B in calculus first semester. GPA overall is above a 3.00 and I’m proud of him. He said the work over the summer definitely helped.

We’ll see how 2nd semester goes since more of the material will be new.

Thanks, OP, for coming back with an update. Good job being proactive - you and your kid.

[Anonymous]

So glad to hear this update!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So glad to hear this update!

+2

Hope your DS's progress continues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not worried he is underprepared (HS is one of the most rigorous in the US), but worried he'll be over his head especially with STEM courses.

Huh? How can you be sufficiently prepared but over your head?

Is this just a weird humble brag post?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.3blue1brown.com/topics/calculus

https://betterexplained.com/calculus/lesson-1/

https://www.amazon.com/Calculus-Five-Hours-Concepts-Revealed-ebook/dp/B077VV95N3

http://calculusmadeeasy.org

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The big question is if your kid really is interested in engineering or simply picked it because it seems to lead to good jobs.

If your kid really isn't interested in the material, it will probably end badly (and hopefully quickly and then can find a major that works better). This is the case for even kids with high stats and rigor.

My CS kid is at a Top 10 school and there are plenty of kids scoring between 1-5 points (out of 100) on tests where the Mean score is a 68. They aren't stupid...but they picked CS because of external influences, don't like it and aren't any good at it.

You need to pick a major in college that translates into a good paying job. Most engineering majors lead to good paying jobs.

I studied CS at VTech and hated it but I am working in Cyber Security for Freddie Mac and get paid a lot of money for it. I don't like what I am doing but it is certainly better than being broke.

Oh I never realized that doing something you hate is the only way to not be broke. Learn something new on DCUM every day!

Such a suburban wine-mom response. SAHM’s never understand men got it out in jobs they hate to provide for their family.

[Anonymous]

Kid went to a mediocre Midwestern high school, so I figured Northwestern would kick his butt. But kid did very well & got full-ride fellowship to a very good master’s program.

[Anonymous]

I'm not so worried about being unprepared for the major- kid want's chemistry and took 3 high school chemistry classes (+2 physics classes and calculus)- but he does want heavy biomedical option and has really only had one HS biology class, so I know it will slow him down as catches up to the requirements.

What I am concerned about is an unrealistic view of how hard these majors can be-- DS is a hard worker, but he doesn't seem to fully grasp how difficult it is to be a STEM major and how much time he will spend studying. I *think* he will rise to the occasion, but I'm expecting a rough first year.

[Anonymous]

Premed and engineering are hard and many are switched out after freshman year. They will know their true path in college.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the update OP! That was a great idea, and congratulations to your son!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not so worried about being unprepared for the major- kid want's chemistry and took 3 high school chemistry classes (+2 physics classes and calculus)- but he does want heavy biomedical option and has really only had one HS biology class, so I know it will slow him down as catches up to the requirements.

What I am concerned about is an unrealistic view of how hard these majors can be-- DS is a hard worker, but he doesn't seem to fully grasp how difficult it is to be a STEM major and how much time he will spend studying. I *think* he will rise to the occasion, but I'm expecting a rough first year.

Same for my DC who will be taking a lot of chem/bio classes in college. They are getting a C in AP Chem, and IMO, is not studying hard enough. I worry that DC will struggle in college. They claim it's because they are not good test takers, but I told them that college grades are mostly made up of tests, so how will they manage in college? Response was a IDK, and shrug. Sigh. I'm hoping DC will mature more in college and get it together. I'm not going to pay ridiculous oos costs, so there's that.