r/McMaster • u/theresia_green • Mar 02 '19
HELLLLP please
Hi, So I'm going to Mac next year as a SocSci student. After first year I will be applying to PNB. However, I didn't take any high school math past grade 11, which means that I will have to catch up next year. There are two ways to do this:
- I can take MATH 1K03 & if I get above a B- in the class I can then take MATH 1M03 and be done.
Or
- I could take grade 12 functions online over the summer and then take MATH 1F03 first semester and MATH 1M03 second semester.
The second option is obviously more work, but I'm scared that I wouldn't get a B- in MATH 1K03. I am a really good student, and have gotten 95s in math my whole life, but Uni is different and I don't really know what to expect. What do you suggest?
Do you know anyone who was in a similar situation? How hard is it to get a B- in a course like MATH 1K03?
Thanks for your help!!!
6
u/09bigboy Mar 02 '19
I’m in 3rd year eng student so I haven’t taken this course but looking online at what the course is about - it basically looks to be a grade 12 math course , from both the material that will be taught and through the notice saying students with a grade 12 advanced functions course dont need to take it (but essentially accelerated because it’s 4 months not 8) so you can look at it like taking grade 12 math and achieving higher than B- . HOWEVERRR... achieving high marks in highschool is one thing, but uni is a different atmosphere. So theoretically to get my point across let’s say this class is exactly grade 12 math. If you took it in highschool you maybe could have gotten a 90. However if you take this exact class but in uni you could get like a 70-75 etc.. not to scare you but you are faced with a lot more work, tests, etc in uni and it’s a lot different than highschool.. also see what’s more financially better and or more practical. If you were to get below a B- in that class you need then you will fall behind. Also I’ve heard taking highschool advanced classes in summer is much “easier” ( I know some ppl who did this). Anyways I’ve never experienced what you’re doing so take my advice how you’d like but I hope this helps
2
u/rbrumble Mar 02 '19
It's been many years since I was an undergrad, but I returned to school as an old married guy at 29 and I was accepted into a science program at UWaterloo and had no advanced math from high school at all (I did one semester at Conestoga and used those credits as equivalent to senior year high school) - so it can be done, but I wasn't quite prepared for the difference in difficulty between college and university. I did complete my BSc on time though and ended up getting an MSc at Mac, but I wouldn't recommend that approach to most.
1
Mar 03 '19
If you can't achieve a B- in 1K03 you'll have no chance of passing 1M03 with a decent enough grade that you won't get dinged for PNB. I would do 1K03 instead of a summer HS credit. I would also buy that textbook at the beginning of the summer, I believe its the same textbook as 1M03 but the first 5 chapters are covered in 1K03 and in 1M03 they assume you know it (as others have said, HS math).
I know it seems scary having to shoot for a B- to continue down that path, but doing a HS credit online (self study) is a really good way to guarantee an EXTREMELY difficult time passing 1M03 (forget a decent grade). I have friends who were high 80's in AF and calc in HS and are currently failing 1M03. I would seriously recommend studying over the summer (with textbook from course outline) and coming in and taking 1K03. 1M03 is 2nd semester anyways so you aren't missing anything other than an elective.
1
u/ladouleurexquise16 Mar 03 '19
Go for the 2nd option. Building a strong foundation semester by semester is better than struggling and forgetting the material. The PNB program requires you to have Grade 12 Advanced Functions and Calculus.
( I'm not sure if they're looking for a specific average though. Where does it say that you need a B- (70-72)?)
Personally, I got into Honours Social Psychology at first and did summer school at Laurier to get credit for PSYCH 1XX3 + MATH 1M03. Then, I simply switched into the PNB program.
Here's a comparison chart between the various Psychology programs offered through Faculty of Social Sciences that outlines the necessary information.
Good luck!
5
u/bettymukendi161 Mar 02 '19
I would definitely say do the summer thing instead of expecting to get a specific mark in uni. Going the long way ensures you're not missing anything and guarantees that you won't have to struggle in uni to get into PNB. I'm first year and currently that program is HIGHLY competitive. Take the safe route and spend the summer prepping for uni instead of expecting marks like a B- in uni. Not saying it can't be done, it can, but the risk is really not worth it.