Help! I dropped out of college because of math! I swear I'm smart but I'm mathtarted!?

Question

I made consecutive straight A's in every subject in college except for math. Oh...oops... a C once in weight lifting:( I took honors classes. Now i'm not saying i'm some sort of a smarty pants. Community college here.I dropped out of school in the 8th grade, received my GED at age 17 and began attending college at age 25. Since childhood I've excelled at everything except for math. I even had to take a basic math class when I entered into my first year of college. Now I have taken all the classes I need for my degree plus some except for the required math classes. I have dropped out of college because I can't even make it through the third chapter in my Intermediate Algebra text book. Yes, I said "Intermediate Algebra." Sad isnt it? I have had help from the instructor and tutor with no improvement. The head of the math department even asked me if I was dyslexic! LOL! Is there anyone out there who may know what in the heck my problem is or may possibly have any suggestions? Thanks.

I'm aware that some of your answers include statements that I may be purposely defeating myself or not trying hard enough in this particular subject. I Understand your thoughts on this at one point in time totally agreed. I believed I was failing simply because of the fact that math was boring. I thought I wasn't putting in enough effort and hours to learn. I began staying late after school and spending several hours on saturdays at school just to try to grasp the subject. The break I had inbetween classes for lunch or running errands was also spend on math. I was barely home and felt like I was neglecting my children spending so many hours every day on math. However, those many grueling hours of trying my absolte damndest to grasp this one subject helped me pass my beggining algebra class.......by the skin of my teeth. I appreciate the concern that I may not be working hard enough. I just wanted to clarify the extent of how hard I have tried. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hey! Don't worry about not being able to do math. I'm also not mathematically inclined. For people like us, it takes harder work, but eventually math can be grasped.

It's just not worth throwing away a whole degree for a darn math class. Go back to the college and take the class. Slog for however long you have to. Just don't let math get the better of you.

If you see math as an enemy- then well you're letting it win. Everyone has problems with algebra. It takes long to master, but trust me. Once you start getting the idea of it, everything will be easy.

Try different tutors, but also remember to put in effort of your own. Alot of it. Tutors, i have realized, can't perform miracles. They can only help you so much and the rest depends on how much YOU want to excel. Don't give up the degree!

Good luck!

Answer 2

See the thing about math is that it builds on. So you said you're having trouble with intermidiate math, getting help just in that subject will not really help. What you need to do is start out fresh right from beginning algebra. I don't mean take a whole yr of a math class, but get a book that covers and reviews basics of algebra.

Answer 3

I failed college algebra 5 times.. that's the only course I dread taking because it's so hard.. I also had free tutoring, etc..didn't' do a thing for me.. U are like me..u know u have to take it to get a degree and as bad as I hate to do it, I have to.. There are programs that will help with algebra.. did u check on GED schools.. sometimes they will help u free. I am going to have to take math alone and not with any other courses to "hopefully" pass.. I think it's stupid that u need algebra anyway if u aren't going into a degree that is using it (like me) but what can u do

Answer 4

That's easy, you're a right brain. I graduated from college with a 3.98 GPA and I can't add 2 and 2. I am dyslexic also. Not being able to do math has nothing to do with intelligence. It's just that right-brains don't or rather find it very difficult to think mathematically. I usually took math classes pass/fail so that they would not impact my GPA. I could struggle through and retain just enough math to just barely pass a final exam. I'd forget everything the very next day. I did not take algebra or physics--there are usually alternatives you can take. It is sad but not everybody is left-brain which it takes to deal with math and science. Many scientists can't put a sentence together or spell to save their souls.

Answer 5

OMG same here! As an undergrad I went through three semesters of remedial algebra before I finally made it to intermediate. I barely passed that with a 70 and I think its cause my professor took pity on me. Don't worry just hang in their and make yourself really known to the professor. Usually if they see that you are really trying and that your not gonna be a math major, most of the time they take pity on you. You have to really try though. Get tutoring from the TA and talk to the professor often. Also, if the teacher offers extra teaching sessions then take it. Best of luck, don't worry though I'm mathlexic also, but that's never stopped me before, so don't give up.

Answer 6

My ex is a woman and a Math instructor at a community college. She has a Maters of Arts degree in Mathematics, thats right a Master of ARTS in Mathematics.

It also happens to be my favorite subject. Mathematics is a fantastic subject. It is a very wide and deep subject. There are many facets to it and many different ways to approach it. Sadly, very sadly, only a very small portion of it ever gets taught in public schools. That portion is the more practical scientific language that Engineers use. Functional but flat.

To compound the problem, its is starting to be well known that young men and young women learn math differently. (I'm also a teacher) Women at all girls schools with a female teacher tend to have much better grades in Math - I don't think its because all of them are 'Math oriented'.

I don't believe that women are somehow genetically unable to learn math. I believe that that is a cultural myth and it needs to be extinguished.

My ex, a woman, teaches a Math course specifically developed for aspiring Elementary School Teachers and most of her students are women. That is the kind of Math course for you. From what you say, I would bet a lot of money that you would do well.

Answer 7

Lets get this straight: you've got Basic Algebra down pat. You've managed 2 chapters of Intermediate.

Not knowing the field of your degree, may I suggest you simply have difficulty with abstract math?
I mean, you can add up a column of figures, make change, figure out how much a 10% discount (or 15% tip) is. But when it comes to abstract concepts, you flounder.
Perhaps you simply need to see Practical Examples of the math problems. Something you can see / hear / touch.

Answer 8

it sounds like you defeat yourself. I rock at things, but I CAN'T do math. I try, BUT... No one gets perfect grades in college, I got excellent marks all through high school, but never got straight A's in college. You can do it if you want to... you may not get an A, but that's all right.

Answer 9

Perhaps you're just not math oriented. I have the exact same problem. Perhaps you could take credits from an online course (business math hopefully) which would give you more time to figure things out.

Answer 10

try getting help from anyone you can to see how each person teaches it different and maybe someone will have a way for you and you should go back to college and once you make it through you'll be done with all this pointless math.