Post by: Ceric on December 12, 2006, 02:33:39 PM
First it was Calculus 2.
Now it was Matrix Algebra.
My Final went horribly it seems and I have failed the class meaning I won't be graduating.
My told me she kill me if I didn't graduate. I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm married and I need to work. I love to just run-away from it all and start a new life somewhere else but I can't do that. To many responsibilities.
Post by: Bill Aurion on December 12, 2006, 02:37:37 PM
Post by: nitsu niflheim on December 12, 2006, 02:53:27 PM
Post by: oohhboy on December 12, 2006, 03:03:17 PM
That sucks man. Have you had a talk with your lecters? They aren't out to get you but the insitution is.
Post by: matt oz on December 12, 2006, 03:45:18 PM
I vaguely remember an intro to matrix algebra at the end of one of my calc classes. It seemed interesting, but it's certainly not something I would ever willingly take a course in.
If it makes you feel any better, it's going to take me 5.5 years to graduate, and that's if I stay on track until then. An extra six months, and I could have a master's degree in that time.
Good luck.
Post by: ThePerm on December 12, 2006, 06:02:14 PM
Post by: Ceric on December 13, 2006, 02:10:54 AM
I don't know how I'm going to tell my mom but I'm going to have to find a way.
Post by: KDR_11k on December 13, 2006, 05:23:30 AM
Post by: Ceric on December 13, 2006, 05:50:35 AM
So now I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do for next semester. Get up at 5-something in the morning to make the 2 and a half hour drive to school, because I'll be moving to where my wife is lving no matter what or do I take it a community college that is a little closer. I know I can't stay in Cookeville... This is terrible..
Post by: Ian Sane on December 13, 2006, 06:00:47 AM
"I loved math until I took calculus. It was very different because, in my opinion, it seems that it requires more of a common sense approach than a memorization approach. Like, in algebra, you can just memorize how to do certain problems, how to distribute, quadratic formula, and all that other stuff. But with calc, you need to understand the underlying theories and methods or else you don't stand a chance."
I felt it was the opposite. Algebra to me is completely logical and thus common sense was how I learned it. Calculus to me seems arbitritary. I know how to calculate a derivative but I don't know WHY. To me it's just a rule and I can't even wrap my brain around how anyone could discover that in the first place. To to me calculus was all memorization because not a lick of it made any damn sense to me. Trigonometry was largely the same with SIN, COS and TAN. What are those? To me it's just a button on a calculator. Again I have to memorize.
Algerbra always had the advantage that it had a practical purpose for our day-to-day lives. I've never ever used calculus outside of school.
Post by: couchmonkey on December 13, 2006, 06:08:16 AM
Are you trying to get a computer degree, Ceric? I beat Matrix Algebra and Calculus a long time ago, but that was my position too - math wasn't my best subject (not my worst either) but I needed it for computers.
Post by: nitsu niflheim on December 13, 2006, 06:12:41 AM
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 13, 2006, 07:02:12 AM
But yeah, dealing with immediate family pressures can interfere with school a lot.
Post by: KDR_11k on December 13, 2006, 07:37:57 AM
Didn't the teacher prove the derivation rules in school?
Trigonometry was largely the same with SIN, COS and TAN. What are those?
Um, the components of a unit vector with the given direction or the corresponding vector with its first component equal one? If quaternions gave you a headache I could understand or if you had trouble memorizing the corrsponding formulas (e^(x/pi*i) and so on was it?)
Post by: Kairon on December 13, 2006, 07:53:39 AM
But man, sorry to hear you just hit a friggin' brick wall. The school itself isn't what gets you though is it, it's the changes you have to make to the rest of your life to fit it in, as well as *ulp* what the family members say...
*hides*
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: Ian Sane on December 13, 2006, 08:12:48 AM
Nope. It was just "this is how you do it". If he did explain it I forgot by the next class and it was never brought up again. Hell I still got an A based on just knowing how to do it so for the purposes of passing the course I doubt the teacher really felt an explanation was necessary. Practically the entire class got an A in that course. Whatever method he taught with sure as hell worked.
"Um, the components of a unit vector with the given direction or the corresponding vector with its first component equal one?"
I know what every word in that sentence means but in this particular arrangement it might as well be total gibberish to me. Maybe it's best I don't know the details since most of it just seems like a game to me anyway.
Post by: KnowsNothing on December 13, 2006, 08:40:44 AM
Post by: Smoke39 on December 13, 2006, 09:02:30 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
I felt it was the opposite. Algebra to me is completely logical and thus common sense was how I learned it. Calculus to me seems arbitritary. I know how to calculate a derivative but I don't know WHY. To me it's just a rule and I can't even wrap my brain around how anyone could discover that in the first place. To to me calculus was all memorization because not a lick of it made any damn sense to me. Trigonometry was largely the same with SIN, COS and TAN. What are those? To me it's just a button on a calculator. Again I have to memorize.
I feel the same way. 'Cept trig. Trig functions are just ratios of triangle sides given a fancy name.
As for proving calculus, it's still not something I can intuit. And integration gets crazy. There are so many stupid rules you need to memorize, and then you have to somehow know which ones to use in which order for ridiculously complex integrals. I'm failing Calc 2, but it's required for graduation, even though it's not a prerequisite for any classes (though it's a concurrent requirement for Physics 200).
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 13, 2006, 09:48:39 AM
Try modeling the flow of water in a river.
Post by: BiLdItUp1 on December 13, 2006, 10:21:28 AM
Post by: ThePerm on December 13, 2006, 10:23:25 AM
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 13, 2006, 11:01:33 AM
In the beginning, you only learn factoids and techniques. Only about year or a few semesters later in a higher-level class do you receive a concrete explanation of where the sh!t came from, and who in the real world really utilizes it.
FOCK YOU, FORBIDDEN WURD FILTER
Post by: IceCold on December 13, 2006, 11:23:55 AM
I did Calculus very early (Grade 11) and he rushed through it, so I've never really liked it.
Post by: Caliban on December 13, 2006, 01:31:20 PM
Granted I had done (failed it actually) in Europe grade 12 Math , btw in Europe (at least in Portugal) we have only one Math class that englobes these 3 fields: Calculus, Algebra & Geometry, Data Management & Statistics.
When I got to university (Canada), it wasn't that hard, I just didn't have any motivation to study because of personal problems, but when it came to integrals oh my was I sweating but I think that nothing like solving problems wouldn't help me understand it properly, even though the teachers at York university are very unstable, they either suck in their verbal skills (Canadian education board is at fault, including the university), or they are way too hardcore just like the second Calculus teacher that gloated that he used to teach in a German university.
Ceric, I obviously don't know your mom, but since she is your mom would she not understand your position? Afterall you only have to finish Calculus. And don't take it seriously the death warning from your mom, see it as a way from your parent to ensure that you will not goof around in university.
Post by: Hostile Creation on December 13, 2006, 02:06:45 PM
I took College Algebra for my core math requirement at college, and I didn't even do well with that
Good luck though, Ceric. Hopefully things will work out.
Post by: Ceric on December 13, 2006, 03:53:15 PM
Thanks for the support. I got done talking with my Mom and she didn't blow up on me. Which was surprising. In fact she still wants to do the whole Gradation thing.
Edit:
I'm going to be a Computer Scientist. If anyone is looking for one...
Post by: Nick DiMola on December 13, 2006, 06:23:06 PM
As for a workaround in the current situation, I would talk to your university and let them know you will be taking the course elsewhere and get a substitution. In the meantime do some job searching. I am graduating in March and I have already talked to a bunch of companies about hiring now for the future time slot. Some of them would take me now, if I could be near their business and more available, not even having my degree yet. You might be stuck giving up a few nights of your week, but at least you'll be making a salary and you won't have the wife and mom down your back (I know how both can be).
Either way, good luck man. It is a rough situation and I'm sure a frustrating one. Go with the flow though, I'm certain some company out there will cut you a break and hire you anyway because they know you are just inches from graduation.
Post by: Ceric on December 14, 2006, 02:37:13 AM
Best of luck with your Graduation in March.
Post by: Athrun Zala on December 14, 2006, 02:48:38 AM
that sucks... math can be a b!tch sometimes....
Post by: oohhboy on December 15, 2006, 02:28:55 AM
Store manager: "Errm, yeah these things take time" (Been two weeks)
Me: "Yeah you know any info would be nice"
SM : "A letter should have been sent by now"
Me: " Alright then, thanks"
Several working days later (Fouth visit)
Me: "Hi, again, no letter, nothing" (Notes new staff around the store)
SM: "Those things are from HQ"
Me: "Yeah thats great and all, but can you just tell me like yes/no and what is in that letter?"
SM: "Well, err, there aren't any opennings at this store, but HQ looks at them. Why are you chasing this?"
Me: "You know, so I know what I might be doing with myself" (What I am really saying: "FU M0th3r #$^, you could have told me this crap a week ago, now your trying to interogate me on my motivations for following up a CV")
SM: "Oh, ok"
Me: "Thanks anyway" (Asshat)
Epilouge: Still no job, no letter.
Maybe I should start a thread on employment woes.
Post by: odifiend on December 15, 2006, 02:57:05 AM
If you are one class away and invested all that time to getting technically savvy, you really do need to graduate. Is there any way a portion of that class could be taken from a distance with your 2 and a half hour drive reserved for tests?
Definitely bad news but what is done is done. It is now about how you are going to fix it. Your mom will eventually respect that even if she is initially angry.
Post by: Galford on December 15, 2006, 08:02:05 AM
I knew I was screwed when the first time I took the course the teacher said there was no help at the ASC
for us students, we were on our own.
I could pass Calc 1 but Calc 2 ended my CS major.
I switched to a generic Math/Science Liberal Arts Major.
The problem with Calc is most real world applications tie directly with physics.
Unless your into engineering you use physics very little in real life.
Hope this helps a little.
Post by: Nick DiMola on December 15, 2006, 03:20:20 PM
I have probably sent out my resume to ~30 companies and only the ones with any interest ever get back to me. Guess it is too much work to send a two line auto generated email stating that they have no interest and they appreciate your application.
Post by: Ceric on December 17, 2006, 01:49:43 PM
Course...........|Course Name..............................|Grade
MATH-3470-001..|.Intro/Prob & Stats......................|.C
CSC -4950-001...|.Capstone Project........................|.B
CSC -2001-001...|.Concepts in Computer Science...|..A
GERM-2520-002..|.German Culture and Civilization.|..B
MATH-2010-002..|.Elementary Matrix Algebra..........|..F
MATH-2011-002..|.Matrix Algebra Computer Lab.....|..B
DS -4125-001.....|.Comp Forensics/Investigations...|..A
I found that a lot with retails jobs oohhboy. Even in my search they just don't respond most of the time when I directly send them my resume. My Career person says I just need to call them. Getting talking to actual people more.
For an overall update. I have three different universities closer to where I will be living that I can take the course and finish up my degree. Graduation let me walk and my Mom actually took it well. I have the transfer papers for all those universities signed by the appropriate people and I just need to get in contact with the school to get enrolled as a non-degree seeking student. One of my friend's mom is pretty slammed as the only IT person at her business and my friend use to her help her out but hasn't for the past year, its complicated, so she might hire me on for the semester to lighten her load some and allow her to get some of the bigger projects done. Things are looking up.
A thread on job woes wouldn't be a bad idea. Though Google does send you an e-mail when they reject your application so kudos to them.
Post by: Amodaus1 on December 17, 2006, 06:12:39 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Professional 666
That is the real problem with the traditional way math is taught (same applies to chemistry):
This statement is PHAIL! Or at least in the chemistry aspect. Chemistry is taught perfectly fine, in fact they hold your hand through too much of it, they should accelerate the rate at which it is taught, with the exception of med chem, because over 300 some odd structures in one semester is enough for me. Besides if you want the concepts of chemistry taught to you (which they are taught to you anyway, you just ahve to read it in the text), then take anylitical chemistry.
Regardless of that, Ceric glad to hear that you're still going to prusue the completion of your degree, it'd be a shame if you've taken all this time and given up, but i'm glad to hear this is not the case. Remember if you do poorly once it doesn't mean you will do poorly again, just study hard next time around, do they offer the class in the spring or is it one of those wait till next year classes?
And i hope the job situation eases up on you.
Post by: KDR_11k on December 17, 2006, 08:04:02 PM
Post by: Ceric on December 18, 2006, 03:47:05 AM
For people who use a different system. A is Highest and F is failing. Though I probably should use dots for spacing.
Just an update my first school I wanted to retake the course at said in no uncertain terms that they would not under any condition let me come there. So I went with my second choice. It's an hour drive twice a week but if I'm let in it's not 2 hours and some change so it will work out.
