I wanted to start the Computer Information System course but I am afraid I will not pass the College Algebra and the Pre-Calculus courses.  My math is very elementrary.  I don't want to fail the course.  Has anyone out there with general math taken these courses?  I was going to switch my whole program because of the math situation. Help!![:'(]

Hello, I have yet to start my math course in CIS yet, just finishing the Information Literacy, and waiting for my math books to come in. From what ive looked at online in the book seems to be very basic algebra. Im fairly good at math, always averaged B's in high school. You get both a study guide and about a 400 page textbook which appears to explain everything good enough for you to learn. As long as you study and practice the material i dont see where you would have a problem. If you have any kids, or nephews old enough to have algebra books borrow one and do some problems. Typically those books have the odd numbered questions answers in the back of the book. I will update you as soon as i receive my books and start looking through them. Feel free to pm me or e-mail me with any questions. Hope to hear from you and on your decisions.

 Rick

Thanks for the good information. I have been putting this off for over a month. I will keep in touch.  Thanks again

 

I enrolled in Penn Foster at the end of January of 2008.  I also was afraid that I could not pass the College Algebra and the Pre-Calculus courses, and debated whether or not to enroll.  I have been out of high school for 30 plus years, and had to start over learning basic math, and pre-Algebra.  I researched the internet for help, and there is a lot of information out there that can help you figure it out from the basics forward.  I also borrowed books, math, pre-Algebra, and Algebra, from friends and family.  Every time I began to have thoughts of giving up, I remembered what I was working towards.  My friends and family are my support group.  I studied and studied, some days between 3 and 5 hours, some days between 8 and 12 hours.  After I had all the answers for Exam 1, I was still hesitant to take the actual Exam.  After a week went by, I took the Exam, crossed my fingers, and got a passing grade.  I know now, that it is going to take extra hours of studying since I have been out of high school for so long, but I also know that I can do it.  Don't give up on the Associates Degree because of Math.  Just keep trying, you can do it, like me, you just have to want it bad enough. 

Have you received your College Algebra books yet?  I am also taking CIS at Penn Foster.

No I have not begun the Algebra courses.

Some subjects are better suited for distance learning than others, and in my opinion Math is one of the ones that can be more challenging by distance.  If you're really concerned, another option is to take it at a local community college and transfer it.

-=Steve=- 

Steve

Therein lies a problem. . .

There is no local community college near by, I live in a rural area, closest community college is 1 hour drive, I work 8 to 4, have 2 children, and no classes are available at midnite. . .

 

 

SteveFoerster:

Some subjects are better suited for distance learning than others, and in my opinion Math is one of the ones that can be more challenging by distance.  If you're really concerned, another option is to take it at a local community college and transfer it.

-=Steve=- 

I'm a bit of a "math moron" myself.  I never did learn algebra in high school.  I got by with general math courses which only covered the most basic of math problems.  However, when I started the "Math for Business and Finance" course at PFC I was horrified to discover there was a LOT of algebra involved.  I did not have to be worried.  The text book did a fantastic job of explaining math problems I never would have solved in high school.  I scored mainly 90's during the course, and passed the final proctored exam with ease. 

A lot of people have a phobia about math, but if you just dive right in and tackle it while keeping an open mind that you CAN learn it, you may find that you'll do much better than you thought you could.  Don't psych yourself out too much.  You'll do fine. 

quest4knowledge:

Therein lies a problem. . .  There is no local community college near by, I live in a rural area, closest community college is 1 hour drive, I work 8 to 4, have 2 children, and no classes are available at midnite. . .

Fair enough.  I know I can be a contrarian on this sort of thing, but in your case I can see how that's the way to go.

-=Steve=- 

Have you decided to go ahead with your courses?  It's been a few months since you posted, and I keep hoping to hear that you "took the plunge".

SteveFoerster:

quest4knowledge:

Therein lies a problem. . .  There is no local community college near by, I live in a rural area, closest community college is 1 hour drive, I work 8 to 4, have 2 children, and no classes are available at midnite. . .

Fair enough.  I know I can be a contrarian on this sort of thing, but in your case I can see how that's the way to go.

-=Steve=- 

 

Steve,

So far, so good.  I've been able to figure out the Algebra so far.  I've taken 3 of the 4 Algebra Exams so far.

SteveFoerster:

quest4knowledge:

Therein lies a problem. . .  There is no local community college near by, I live in a rural area, closest community college is 1 hour drive, I work 8 to 4, have 2 children, and no classes are available at midnite. . .

Fair enough.  I know I can be a contrarian on this sort of thing, but in your case I can see how that's the way to go.

-=Steve=- 

 

Steve,

So far, so good.  I've been able to figure out the Algebra so far.  I've taken 3 of the 5 Algebra Exams so far.

tcord1964:

I'm a bit of a "math moron" myself.  I never did learn algebra in high school.  I got by with general math courses which only covered the most basic of math problems.  However, when I started the "Math for Business and Finance" course at PFC I was horrified to discover there was a LOT of algebra involved.  I did not have to be worried.  The text book did a fantastic job of explaining math problems I never would have solved in high school.  I scored mainly 90's during the course, and passed the final proctored exam with ease. 

A lot of people have a phobia about math, but if you just dive right in and tackle it while keeping an open mind that you CAN learn it, you may find that you'll do much better than you thought you could.  Don't psych yourself out too much.  You'll do fine. 

You were right, I did take the dive, did more than a few tackles, not sure I kept an "Open Mind", but I did lfigure it so far.  Every exam involved a lot of finger crossing, but I've survived.  Thanks for your encouragement.

This same kind of fear almost prevented me from enrolling in my MBA program.  I will tell you one thing, math is my weakest area and still is, but we often make our fears out to be much bigger than they should be.  Don't be afraid to be challenged as a person.  Sometimes failure is part of growth.  Truth be told my first math test in my MBA program I made a 30 on.  But I worked hard, studied, challenged myself and pulled the final grade into an "A".  It's all part of education, being challenged beyond our comfort zones.  It's a way to grow as a person as well.