College Sophomore struggling with Calc 2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is calc 4 even? Calc 3 is multivariable. Usually that's followed by linear algebra. The next 'calculus' course in the undergrad math curriculum would be real analysis, which you need to enter an econ PhD program but definitely not for need school. Stop fear mongering.

When calc3 is multivariable-3D calc, Calc4 is typically diffEQ or linear algebra, or a combined course.

Calc 2 is multivariable at some schools(caltech, at least two of the ivies), with calc 3 and 4 being linear, diffEQ, and beyond.

Calc 4, when it is linear or diffEQ is definitely not required by med schools

There are indeed some colleges in which the fourth semester "of calculus" correlates with BC calc(calc 2 at most places). These schools start with what is really precal/trig then get into single-variable calculus in semesters three and four. In this type of curriculum, there are med schools that would want the "fourth" semester of calc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what people mean when they talk about kids being weeded out of pre-med classes. Tons of kids plan to go pre-med, but do not get there because STEM does not come easy to them. There's no reason to fight your own strengths. Why not encourage your child to try another area where your child may naturally be stronger?

~ 80 % of premed students don’t make it to medical school. You can still pursue nursing/teaching careers , though.
For docs IQ range is 105- 125 or so on average. Below that problems arise.

So odd to me that anyone posts about IQ as if it were meaningful. And these numbers are… not far outside the mean.

My IQ was tested at 140, and while I’m smart in some ways (National merit scholarship, learn languages well), I’m certain I’d have failed Calc2 as an undergrad.

Someone with an IQ of 160 or above is probably really bright, but much below that I wouldn’t pay attention to.

There are dubious IQ tests online… is tests can only test up to 2nd deviation .. anything beyond that is poppy cock( that’s tests are not suitable for that )
Your 140 may be closer to 115-120 realistically

[Anonymous]

Calc 2 is touch and won't be any easier at a community college. if he can still pass, he needs to start going to office hours all the time and get a tutor. look on wyzant. he can find a couple and try them out. good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes - the college has peer tutoring. He has tried that but it's hit and miss. Will tell him to keep trying and also considering an outside tutor for a boost of confidence.

OP as one who had a DS in the same situation last year- right down to the rigorous private and the doing OK in calculus 1- I will add this.

Your support for an outside tutor is great. Tell him you will pay for it so he has no excuse. But do not under any circumstances let him whine too much about this and do not let him drop the class. Unless you want to teach him to turn tail the minute things get “hard” in life.

I’m not sure it’s that simple. Calc 2 is really difficult for a lot of kids. If gos professor isn’t a good fit that will exacerbate the issue. He may need to commit to putting a ton of time into this class - daily like several hours. My DS’ school has open tutoring times with the TAs for calc 2. He needs to go regularly, he needs a study group and he needs a high quality tutor.

And with all that he may still not do fabulously. These classes are called weeder classes for a reason and the reason a lot of people drop pre-med. there’s no shame in switching gears if you realize you don’t have the acumen to excel on these classes and it also takes a lot of maturity and self discipline for a young college student who may not be a natural with this material to put in the kind of hours of study and outside efforts they would need to do to be successful.

Calc 2 is a high school class for college prep students. If it takes several hours a day in college to succeed in Calc 2, you won’t have time for the demands of the rest of your college degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:if you know DC is not a math genius or particularly interested in math, good way to avoid college Calculus is to get AP Cal BC test score 5 in high school. Get it done in high school, almost all colleges allow transfer of two AP credits. College Calculus is waived.

Then they can take statistics as the math course for premed programs. A smooth ride through the premed journey.

Uh, how do they get the 5 on the BC exam if they can’t learn calc 2?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He needs to do daily drills. A lot of drills. To many smart people, Calculus is not intuitive and straightforward like precalc. Unless you are a natural, he needs to practice, practice, practice.

Get him a really good tutor to support him.

Precalculus is only "intuitive and straightforward" when the rigorous material is skipped and deferred to calculus class, where the course assumes it was already learned during precalc.

You are an idiot! Go away. Enough with these toxic and stupid comments. We don't need you here. Axxhole.

OP: Precalc is a basically a tool box of algebraic manipulation, trigonometry, functions, logarithms, and exponentials. Calculus introduces new concepts goes beyond applying tool boxes. It's more conceptual more abstract. Mastery on precalculus is necessary but not sufficient for Calculus. You are learning new skills and you need a lot of practices to fully develop these skills.

Calculus is basically a tool box of algebraic manipulation, derivatives, integrals, and series.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He needs a study group, to go to office hours and to do tons and tons of problems. You learn calc by doing problems.

This. My kid also had to be very disciplined about preparing to go to office hours. They attempted to complete the problem set so they could go over what they didn’t understand before it had to be turned in.

I don’t know if your son’s college is really too challenging academically in general or if STEM isn’t the right fit and he would be fine with a different major. However, it’s also possible things came easier to him in high school. Both my kids went to well regarded high schools and were very good students but I also know they procrastinated a lot and still pulled through. They definitely had to change how they work and use the resources like office hours when they got to college. Also as a side note, I’ve heard most places that Calc 2 can be harder than Calc 3 so this could be a double whammy of a really tough course when your kid hasn’t cracked the code on how they need to prepare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes - the college has peer tutoring. He has tried that but it's hit and miss. Will tell him to keep trying and also considering an outside tutor for a boost of confidence.

OP as one who had a DS in the same situation last year- right down to the rigorous private and the doing OK in calculus 1- I will add this.

Your support for an outside tutor is great. Tell him you will pay for it so he has no excuse. But do not under any circumstances let him whine too much about this and do not let him drop the class. Unless you want to teach him to turn tail the minute things get “hard” in life.

I’m not sure it’s that simple. Calc 2 is really difficult for a lot of kids. If gos professor isn’t a good fit that will exacerbate the issue. He may need to commit to putting a ton of time into this class - daily like several hours. My DS’ school has open tutoring times with the TAs for calc 2. He needs to go regularly, he needs a study group and he needs a high quality tutor.

And with all that he may still not do fabulously. These classes are called weeder classes for a reason and the reason a lot of people drop pre-med. there’s no shame in switching gears if you realize you don’t have the acumen to excel on these classes and it also takes a lot of maturity and self discipline for a young college student who may not be a natural with this material to put in the kind of hours of study and outside efforts they would need to do to be successful.

Calc 2 is a high school class for college prep students. If it takes several hours a day in college to succeed in Calc 2, you won’t have time for the demands of the rest of your college degree.

+1