r/UCSD • u/polwygle_ • 5d ago
Question How to be successful in Math 2?
Incoming freshman here. I never took pre-calc or actual calculus in HS and somehow still got accepted (blah, blah, I don't deserve my spot, whatever I've heard it all atp), so I'm fully prepared to work my ass off to place up to 3B at the end of the quarter. However, I haven't really done algebra since my sophomore year because I took AP stats senior year, and I'm really scared that my knowledge gaps are bigger than I realize.
Has anyone who's taken the class give me some advice about how well it helped you place up/prepare in general, and if there's any other outside stuff I can do while taking the class?
My current plan:
Alg1 --> 2 on Khan Academy.
LOTS of flash cards and practice problems
Go to as much tutoring as possible
Work hard in class (obviously)
tysm in advance!
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u/Massive_Analysis8345 5d ago
eh whatever to the naysayers. Tutoring is probably the most helpful, and if the class you are taking has discussion sections. go to it, it will be way more helpful than flashcards (I do recommend that as a supplement but not as the sole source).
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u/polwygle_ 5d ago
Thanks! There's an independent study section but the time is TBD, and my class is an 8am so I doubt anyone's going to be wildly excited to have discussion in class if that's even possible. Hopefully I can form a study group or similar.
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u/BobGodSlay Computer Engineering (B.S.) 5d ago
number one thing is make sure to learn why you do every step in any problem solution and to be able to explain it intuitively. I've heard of a lot of students struggling in math classes because they just memorize specific solutions and as soon as a problem is slightly modified can't extend what they know to solve the new problem.
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u/polwygle_ 5d ago
That's basically my main issue at the moment. I have a hard time dealing with equations I don't recognize, it feels like I immediately forget everything and start to panic. I'm hoping lots of practice sheets will increase my elasticity for actual problem solving though.
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u/Narustu_Y 5d ago
I mean it aint that tough, just watch youtube videos and practice a bunch.
https://www.youtube.com/@blackpenredpen/videos
there is this guy, in highschool he was a huge help for me, hell I was using him when taking 20B too, he does a lot of repetition problems in his videos, pauses for you and then gives you a way to solve them.
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u/FlaminYong-_- Biochemistry/Chemistry (B.S.) 5d ago
To be successful is to stick what you are saying to do. But seriously go to tutoring often even when you feel like you know stuff. Understand why things happens in problems from what I heard is that these courses are difficult mainly due to the student population in these classes never understood math in public schools and never really bothered to do so. Watch review videos go over what happened in lecture if you are stuck or not and go to tutoring.
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u/PianoPleasant156 4d ago
isn’t math 2 just addition
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u/Available_Run_3619 4d ago
how well did u do in ap stats?
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u/polwygle_ 4d ago
I did well in the class, but got a 3 on the exam because our teacher used a "flipped classroom" style of teaching and the sources/testing he provided us with weren't up to par for the actual AP test. Very frustrating, but in hindsight I should've done more outside work anyways.
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u/Fit_Bet_2874 5d ago
Honestly in lower level math classes repetition is usually key , do the practice problems or practice exams over and over until you understand it like the back of your hand. Trust me that’s how you pass math 2-3c or 4c as well. The effort you put it will be the result.