Hello, so last semester I recieved a D in math for business. I repeated it, studied my butt of and i only got a C+. Is it possible that I just don’t understand the subject regardless of how hard and how much I study? I’m worried because I have to take higher level courses.
I don’t think it’s possible to just flat out not understand a subject regardless of concentrated effort but there may be other factors or variables at play. It may be possible that someone couldn’t master a subject well enough to attain an A within the timeframe of a semester regardless of effort, but that isn’t the same thing as simply “understanding” the course material. You received a C+ which is a passing grade at most schools (though I’m unsure what constitutes passing inside your major;) I’d say that’s an indication that you have a decent understanding of the material even if its not super stellar mastery or what have you.
Your post reminded me of someone I went to high school with; she was remarkably intelligent and excelled in each major subject – with the exception of French. Something about her French classes always stumped her. She took two years of French (the minimum required to graduate) and dropped it; she would spend so much time studying just to end up with a high C or low B when other classes, like AP Calculus BC, AP European History, or AP Biology ended up being far easier for her and she’d always ace the class and the end of the year exam. She ended up going on to Stanford; she would’ve had a near perfect GPA had it not been for French – she was convinced that something about her brain and/or the French language (lol) just didn’t click. I thought that was pretty interesting, lol.
My standard advice:
0) GO TO CLASS, READ THE CHAPTERS, AND DO THE HOMEWORK!
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Go to Professor’s office hours and Ask this question: “I know this is a really difficult class-- what are some of the common mistakes students make and how can I avoid them?” Also talk to them about if they think you have a chance to succeed in the class at this point.
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If you have problems with the homework, go to Prof’s office hours. If they have any “help sessions” or “study sessions” or “recitations” or any thing extra, go to them.
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Form a study group with other kids in your dorm/class.
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Don’t do the minimum…for STEM classes do extra problems. You can buy books that just have problems for calculus or physics or whatever. Watch videos on line about the topic you are studying.
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Go to the writing center if you need help with papers/math center for math problems (if they have them)
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If things still are not going well, get a tutor. In your case I would suggest this…you may need extra repetition or to be taught in a different way.
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Read this book: How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less by Cal Newport. It helps you with things like time management and how to figure out what to write about for a paper, etc.
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Look for videos on line…like Khan Academy.
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For your tests, can you evaluate what went wrong? Did you never read that topic? Did you not do the homework for it? Do you kind of remember it but forgot what to do?
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How much time outside of class do you spend studying/doing homework? It is generally expected that for each hour in class, you spend 2-3 outside doing homework. Treat this like a full time job.
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Have you been focusing on other things rather than school work? (sports, partying, rushing fraternities/sororities, video gaming etc etc)? Have you been distracted by any issues in dorm life or emotionally? Any medical/mental health issues?
Thank you for the advice but Excluding #7, I have done every single one of these things. I reviewed and did extra work, i got a tutor and studied for hours upon hours. I looked through my past quizzes/tests and did everything correctly. This might be explained by test anxiety or exhaustion or something but I did absolutely everything properly. I cannot think of even one thing that I would change.
Was math especially difficult for you in high school also? Middle school? What classes had you taken before college and with what grades? Is that instructor especially "hard " (as per grade distribution or RMP)? Is that class considered “weed out”?
yes
proof: me & physics
Yes it is. It may require a mix of skills outside your skill set. Choose something else.
Certain types of math had been difficult for me in high school and prior. The professor wasn’t too bad but it is a weed-out class. I think I may just not be able to process that specific information. I have heard of other engineers struggle with the material I struggled with.
Sure it is. I’m over it that there is stuff Einstein did that I’ll never understand.
If you have taken the math course twice and can’t surpass a C+, then I’d be meeting with your math professor to discuss whether it’s advisable to take higher level courses.
I agree with the above. Take the next level of math but be ready orbit to be harder.
Depending on what your major is, it may be worth it to be evaluated for discalculia.
I am currently taking a community college math class that is comparable in rigor. I do not believe i have discalulia because I can perform calculations for everyday things with ease and additionally, my tutor even complimented me on my calculation ability. I am required to take higher level courses as part of my major (and for some reason, I feel as if I can handle it).
That is me and reinsurance. 
What do you mean?
Er, I guess.
There are people who understand Real Analysis and there are people who do not. It’s a weeder course for those who get to be math majors when I was pursuing my math degree. So many people who still wanted to be math majors had to retake the first portion.
Are you asking about my reinsurance comment? It is a business area that I struggle with – have a hard time wrapping my head around how it works no matter how many times it is explained to me and in how many different ways. It always ends up sounding like the adults in a Charlie Brown cartoon – “Wah, wah, wah, wah, WAH”.
Me + Meteorology…so so bad.
@intparent LOL
It’s not an all-or-nothing issue. It’s more a matter of strengths and weaknesses. If you got a C+, I’d say you understand it about the average level. That’s what a “C” means.
So of course we all have subjects that are easier for us to absorb and comprehend, and others that seem really challenging.
Yeah physics and chemistry were torture for me. I had to work/study a lot to pass those classes. I got Cs in those and they did drop my GPA. But sometimes you just have to survive a class. I graduated with a 3.2 in geology and thats good enough for me.
Yes, it is possible to not thoroughly understand something even if you go through a course.