<p>So my math placement test says I can take math A100-160. That would mean I could take College Algebra, Liberal Arts Math or Intro to Statistics (the general one not the business prep or science or any of that fancy snazz).
Now my problem arises with the fact I am a Communications major. One of my majors requirements is completion of math A160 (intro to stats) and I am not sure if the class is hard. I probably don’t have to complete a Major prereq BEFORE I transfer, so I could probably just take an easier math like liberal arts math but if I took A160 I knock out a math requirement and major pre requirement in one class.
In high school, I only took up to Algebra II. I fared pretty well in that class and could have gotten an A if I actually tried. Going to a JC, I know I have to actually try my hardest and not be lazy so I will have ‘motivation’ to do well in all my classes to transfer. I just don’t know if the class would be too much for me. People also say it is easier math since it isn’t ‘actual math’, whatever that means. So do you think I can handle it? If not, am I better off taking an easier math class and take my major prereq math class once I transfer after ONE year (hopefully USC, Pepperdine, USD)?
Trying to not make this post a wall of text but I will be competing in a fall, winter, and spring sport that I actually have a chance at getting recruited. So my time commitment will be a bit lacking but I will do anything within my power to do well, even if I have to no life just sports and academics.</p>
<p>Statistics can be a tricky course to predict how people will do in it. I have seen third year Engineering majors fail an introductory Statistics course while students with much weaker backgrounds in Math did very well. I took it in 1973 when the first electronic calculators hit the market and all they could do was add, subtract, multiply, divide, square functions, find reciprocals, and most importantly for statistics, find square roots. I do not think I would have gotten through that course with an A without my TI-Sr10 which cost me $100 (a lot of money for a student in 1973) which I still have and it still works. You can see one of these calculators on display at the Smithsonian. Statistics was so calculation intensive I do not know how anybody passed the course before calculators were invented.</p>
<p>I really can not imagine what there is to teach in an introductory Statistics course now. You can buy calculators for less than $20 that already have programmed into them functions to find the mean, median, mode, variance and standard deviation of a data set. They will find correlation coefficients, do student t and Chi squared tests, determine statistical significance and even perform analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis. I doubt that you would have to do much thinking to pass a Statistics course if you are allowed to use calculators on tests, just be somewhat obsessive about entering the data into the calculator correctly.</p>
<p>Thanks for the fast reply! If I take the course, I do plan on buying a ‘good’ calculator so if that’s all that’s needed to be successful in the class I’m all for it. It’s just that, my math background isn’t as strong as others and I want to maintain a high GPA to transfer to good schools. Whether or not the class will drag my GPA down, I do not know.</p>
<p>Edit: I think I can take a class as pass or no pass. Since math is not my strong point, do you think it would be wise to take this class as pass/no pass?</p>
<p>Any other thoughts?</p>
<p>If you plan to go to USC, DO NOT take it p/np!</p>
<p>I’m double majoring in Comm and Poli Sci and I have to take the same class.</p>
<p>Honestly, from looking at my friends’ notes it really doesn’t seem too bad.</p>
<p>I took up to Calc in HS and just finished College Algebra last quarter but I know a lot of people that suck at math and found stats to be pretty easy.</p>
<p>I don’t know but I wouldn’t recommend taking it at a university because it will most likely be more difficult and there will def be more people with you in class.</p>
<p>If you should struggle you can always get a tutor or ask a friend for help.</p>
<p>How was college algebra? I heard it is basically calculus? Was it hard?</p>
<p>Anybody else have an opinion? I have to register for classes soon so I want to be sure to choose the right math class!</p>
<p>If the Statistics course will fulfill all of your Math requirements for your major and your BA and you do not plan on taking any more Math courses it would probably be your best choice. However, it is most likely a terminal course. College Algebra is the course you need to complete before you can take Calculus. College Algebra is probably more difficult than Statistics but would be essential if you ever want to take more advanced Math classes in college in the future.</p>
<p>I believe math is my Achilles heel so I will most likely not continue math courses once I get my prereqs out of the way. The only thing that is bothering me is the fact that my math background isn’t very strong and if I should even attempt an into to stats course coming off high school with only Algebra II on my belt.
I am actually considering USC to be my top transfer choice. I would love to be accepted into the Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism, but from what I hear it is very competitive. I can’t afford to get a C let alone a B or A- even. I need to make sure I can handle this class and I am not sure that is something I can do. If I have done my research correctly, USC accepts transfers even if the highest math class they have completed is intermediate algebra (non-transferable math class). I could easily take that class and pass ( I could assume) and hopefully be in a better position to transfer, but I think a higher level math course completion results in priority consideration (even if slightly, anything can help). I am just really stumped.</p>
<p>Summary so you don’t have to read a wall of text: [Breakdown] Plan to transfer to USC after hopefully 1 year, Annenberg School of Communications & Journalism, Only took up to Algebra II in high school due to counselor mishap.</p>
<p>Question: Should I take Intro to Stats and hope for a good grade (Will get tutoring/help if needed) and knock out math requirement AND major (communications) requirement? Or take intermediate algebra (non-transferable but USC allows you to transfer even if this is the highest math course completed) and hopefully keep a high GPA and take the intro to stats at USC later?</p>
<p>Edit: If you didn’t know, this is at a community college. This community college has a high rate of transfer to many prestigious universities so the coursework may be a bit more difficult than the average JC.</p>
<p>Stats is easy.</p>