I Just Dropped Out

[UptonSinclair]

Over the last year, I have changed my degree plans multiple times in search of a degree that fits my goals. Unfortunately, the 800 lb gorilla in the room is Calculus. This morning I decided to put the brakes on until I feel comfortable tackling Calculus I, Calculus II, Differential Equations, and Calculus based Physics. Rather than pay the annual renewal fee at Excelsior, I decided to drop out. BYU and I are going to become well acquainted over the next year as I start over from College Algebra.

[ShotoJuku]

Slow and Steady Wins the Race!!

[marquardt21]

Best of luck with the math classes.

[dewisant]

My math phobia wouldn't even allow me to start from the beginning and fix the problem.

[publius2k4]

Over the last year, I have changed my degree plans multiple times in search of a degree that fits my goals. Unfortunately, the 800 lb gorilla in the room is Calculus. This morning I decided to put the brakes on until I feel comfortable tackling Calculus I, Calculus II, Differential Equations, and Calculus based Physics. Rather than pay the annual renewal fee at Excelsior, I decided to drop out. BYU and I are going to become well acquainted over the next year as I start over from College Algebra.

I think completing a degree in ANYTHING first would have been the first step on my list....then maybe go back and get one that better aligned with my goals. But that is just my humble opinion, and I can definitely see where you're coming from...

[sanantone]

Good luck. I wouldn't say I have a math phobia; I have a math aversion. It's been so long since I've taken algebra and pre-calculus in high school. One of the reasons I settled for a BA in Social Science instead of a BA in Psychology was because I didn't want to take statistics. Fortunately, I only needed to take Intermediate Algebra. Just this past year, I worked my way up to College Algebra. It just takes so long to reteach yourself math. I did, however, pass my graduate statistics course with an "A," but it wasn't math heavy. The best videos I watched for algebra were by The Great Courses. You should check them out when they have a huge sale. They have calculus too.

I just checked. They are having a 70% off sale right now.

[dposborne]

I felt your pain. I looked over my options for CALC I and II for a long while and finally realized that I just needed to get it done. I ended up taking both classes online through TESC. I can say that this was not an easy task especially since I hadn't seen a calculus problem for over 20 years.

With a lot of help via online tutoring, A LOT of practice problems, the right mentor, and the Jason Gibson DVD's I was able to pass with a B in both classes. I know that every person is different, but if you have experienced the wonders of calculus previously and passed, you most likely will be able to accomplish it again, it will just take an exorbitant amount of effort. I basically just buckled down and gave myself over to Calculus. I studied and practiced whenever I had a free moment (which wasn't often with a 60+ hour a week job, 4 kids and a wife running around). This is the stuff that us non-traditional learners experience everyday in our adventures in higher learning. As all of us already know, it's all about how much effort you put into the task at hand. I kept telling myself I couldn't do it, I convinced myself to at least try and I ended up passing.

[bluebooger]

I like his videos MUCH more than Khan Academy's videos

PatrickJMT

and this starts in about a month --- non-credit, but sounds interesting
Effective Thinking Through Mathematics:
Learn tools of effective thinking through puzzles and the world of mathematics around you in this fun and fascinating course.
https://www.edx.org/course/utaustinx/uta...nking-1178

a few good courses a udacity

Introductory Algebra Review
https://www.udacity.com/course/ma004

Visualizing Algebra (Entry Level Mathematics)
https://www.udacity.com/course/ma006

College Algebra
https://www.udacity.com/course/ma008

[dposborne]

I like his videos MUCH more than Khan Academy's videos

Sal does a great job, but he seems a little confusing at times. Sometimes he doesn't work in sequence ie: he doesn't work up from the easiest to the hardest problem. I also found Thinkwell very helpful.

[GoodYellowDogs]

You might want to stay enrolled because then you are under the catalog you started with, regardless of the changes Excelsior makes. I took two years off, but paid the enrollment fee. So glad I did or I would have had a much harder time under the new requirements. Just a thought.