I posted this on the transfer students bored but no one responded, I figured maybe it belonged here instead… I’m thinking about and pretty certain I want to transfer in the fall to a 4 year university. Before I do I would like to have completed the Michigan transfer plan so my general requirements are done. I need two more classes to do so one for humanities and a math class. Unfortunately, I’m currently only in a beginning algebra class. I took the same course at a different college with quarter schedule and it didn’t transfer. I should have retaken the Compass test and placed in a higher one but I didn’t.
Anyways my options to complete the math requirement are either:
a) 8 week Everyday Mathematics course - this probably be a lot easier but the only time it’s offered is 8am 4 days a week and in the summer that would kinda suck
OR
b) 6 week Intermediate Algebra followed by 6 week College Algebra - I’m a little worried that this will be too hard and the classes will move really fast. I’m not particularly good or bad at math, it kinda depends. I looked at the table of contents for the textbooks they use and the college algebra seems to repeat quite a bit of intermediate algebra though. Since the college algebra is at 10am, I’m not sure if it’s worth the harder courses just to not have an 8am class.
I’m really indecisive and can’t decide which I should do. I will have an English Lit course online this summer too so I want to keep that mind with how hard they will be.
What would you do? Or what do you think is better?
It depends. Some colleges require college algebra as a prerequisite to other classes. Is your prospective major one of those? If not, I would take the Everyday Mathematics Course…If so, I would recommend the 6 week intermediate algebra followed by college algebra.
Well, I’m a math teacher, wide awake and dressed for work at 5:30 am. So I would have no issue with the early, shorter class.
But the other combination has a lot more rigor. If you’re worrying about taking a course that will transfer, that sounds like the far better option. College algebra is pretty much a starting place for most other math courses.
I’m majoring in Psychology. The only class that has a math pre-req is Statistical Methods in Psychology. It requires what they consider a Math Competency Class. The Everyday Mathematics does transfer and count as it, but I am not sure how much math is involved in the psychology course and if the lower math class will prepare me enough.
Can you look at the syllabus of the statistics class and see what sort of topics you’d be learning? I doubt it’s particularly rigorous since you don’t need algebra. You could also email the professor of that class and ask.
Well, make sure the Everyday Math class credits will even be accepted. It would suck pretty bad to wake-up so early all summer long and not even get credit for it. I’d call the new school and see if the Everyday Math class would be accepted as a prereq for the Stat class. If not, take something that will so you’re not wasting your time and money.
I don’t know where you go to community college, but I found Macombs CC’s description of Everyday Mathematics.
explores applications of mathematics used to solve modern problems. This course is designed for
students whose degree does not require any further mathematics courses as it will not serve as a prerequisite
for any other math or science course. Topics include graph theory, introduction to statistics, linear regression,
probability, voting systems, fair division and apportionment, identification numbers, encryption, patterns, and
finance models.
I was actually going to recommend the algebra sequence (psychology is not necessarily quant-heavy, but it can be, and you need a good grasp of algebra to do well in statistics) but this actually sounds like decent preparation for a statistics in psych class depending on how deep they cover it. The introductions to graph theory, statistics, linear regression and probability will be really helpful in succeeding in a psych statistics class, because those are all topics that are covered in a basic intro statistics course in a psych department. (Especially surprised by linear regression. Although how will they teach linear regression if you don’t know algebra…?)
However, like I said, psychology can get more quantitative. If you think you might want to go to graduate school in psychology, you’ll be required to take graduate-level statistics, and you could use a better grasp on algebra - particularly functions and systems of linear equations. The Everyday Math class will suit, but you might struggle a bit.
So basically, I am always in favor of more math but Everyday Math sounds like it will be enough for psych statistics.
Juillet, I do go to Macomb and that is the class description.
I’m either going to wait to finish my general ed classes once I transfer or take Everyday Math. I don’t think I could handle the other classes in such a short time span. I haven’t made any decisions about graduate school yet. If I need to I could always take a higher math class once I get to the University, but over full 16 week semesters.