Want to return to college maybe?

Question

I have a hard time finding a job because I don't have a college degree and I really want to be a film editor but I don't think you can be one without a college degree. But I'm scared to go back because of MATH!! I have a huge phobia of math, allergeric to math, no matter how hard I studied, I just could not understand it. I'm afraid they won't let me graduate without anymore math classes. I think I need a year or two more years before I can graduate but I don't want to take a math class in college! I won't be able to do any good even if I studied harder. What do I do?

I probably should also add that I've had trouble since grade school so it's not like hiring a tutor is going to help because that didn't work. I was saying that I didn't think I could graduate because of the math was because they seem to expect you to know so much math. So if you don't know too much math, they fail you then you don't graduate.

Answer 1

You don't need math to be a film editor (you don't really need college either).

Film degrees, the proper film courses and not the media-eternal-essay ones, aren't based on math. They aren't liberal arts, they are fine arts.

You can learn to edit film at a community college, or on something like the New York Film Academy. Film editing is a working class job (or blue collar). It has nothing to do with adding sums or writing essays.

If the course you go on requires math, it's probably no good for film editing anyway.

Answer 2

Well, if you want a college degree, you can't avoid math entirely--but there are a lot of things you can do to manage this problem. Here's some suggestions:

>First, you'll need two courses (that's pretty much standard) in "math"--and I put that in quotes for a reason. Read on.
>Check to see what courses can be used to fill the math requirement. I know of one student in the same boat who took Intro to Algebra and and an Intro to Statistics class (ad the latter allowed the use of a calculator at all times!). she got "C" in both courses--but she survived and got her degree. The point is that thre are some relatively easy options out there.
>Many schools have seminars and counsellors to help students deal with "math anxiety"--you are not the only person who has to deal with this. Take advantage of these resources--and the math tutoring labs your school will have.
>If you've been out of school for a while--don't take the math the first semester you're back.
>If possible take ONLY a single math course during the term (perhaps during the summer). That will give you maximum time to deal with it.
>Audit the course first--preferably in a class with the same instructor you will have when you take the course for credit--but plan on doing it "for real" the next term--so you don't lose what you learn. Thisi s not a great option--it takes a lot of time and you still have to pay for the class--but it is an "if all else fails" possibility.

Finally--and most important--take advantage of your instructor! :) What I mean is that all professors have office hours for students to come in and ask questions and work out problems. And most undergraduates never darken their door. But--as long as you have real questions--your professor will not mind if you show up every time he/she has office hours--in fact, it will work in your favor.

Good luck! DON'T let this stop you! :)

Answer 3

Unfortunately, math is a part of any college career...BUT don't let your fear stop you. I too have a terrible time in math. I had to have tutors in both grade school and high school and struggled through college. Try to keep a positive attitude and start at the bottom. I wound up having to take calculus for my degree and let me tell you I was dreading it with everything I had..but I knew that if I wanted the degree I had to take it.

I suspect you will probably only have to go as high as college algebra but I would suggest:

1.) Don't let your fear of math rule your college experience
2.) start at the basic math level
2.) get a tutor to help out (even if you think you don't need it you might just need the extra encouragement)
3.) Don't concentrate on your grades..just on getting through it.
4.) DON'T put it off. Get math over with as soon as possible so that you won't have to dread it throughout the rest of your college career.

Just remember: Keeping the attitude that you can't do it only ensures that you can't. THINK POSITIVE!!!!!

Good luck

Answer 4

If you go to a liberal arts school, you will have to take a math course most likely. At some schools, like Whitman, you can skip the math requirement, but then you'd have to take science.

So I would suggest going to a school that is not a liberal arts school. If you are interested in studying film you could look at schools that specialize in film and then decide from there, I hear USC has a good film program.

However, if you do decide to suck it up and take math, if you go to a small school you can have lots of one on one time with your professor. I go to a very small school and my math professor lets you drop by anytime. Also, ask your friends to explain stuff to you, and consider hiring a tutor.

Also take basic math courses like pre-cal. Most of the stuff in those courses you should have covered in high school.

Don't let a fear of one college class keep you from graduating. If your friend told you that they hated science so they weren't going to graduate wouldn't you tell them that that was silly?

Answer 5

Don't go to CTU online - Colorado Technical University online.
They Gauge their students at the end of the program. They will make you repeat classes until you pass them.