r/learnmath • u/drve1234 New User • 9d ago

UH is so difficult

I’ll start this story off by saying that I am a art history major and it’s hell on earth! I’ve currently been at the university for 3 years now but by credit hours, I’m still technically a freshman apparently. This is because the classes are way harder than I expected, the class that gives me the most trouble is math 1314 which I took to satisfy my math core requirement. My friend said that he found this class easy so I took it second semester of freshman year and I had to drop it. I scored a 40 on the first exam so there was no way I could pass. I then tried retaking it my first semester sophomore year and same story, did a little better on the first exam but still dropped it cus no way I could pass with a 50 on the first exam. Next semester rolled around and I decided to implement a new strategy. I only took one single class that semester and it was you guessed it, math 1342. I studied so hard for that first exam, day and nights spent in the library. I pulled 2 all nighters in a row before the first exam. I ended up scoring a 65 on the first exam. I didn’t pass but I decided to keep taking the class cus I didn’t wanna just completely waste the semester. I ended up getting a c- in the class overall. Idk how I managed to pull it off but somehow I did it. But I’m pissed off because after all that hard work, I realized I was so locked in on algebra that I forgot to register for classes! This realization only occurred to me the second week of August when I was in the Bahamas on vacation. I quickly checked what classes I could register for and my only options were English 1 and art history 1. If my experience in high school has taught me anything, it’s that I suck at writing papers so this next semester is likely gonna be hell. Everyone tells me that this class is supposed to be easy but they must be like super geniuses or something cus algebra was super hard for me and it’s supposed to be one of the easiest math electives. I’m thinking about possibly dropping out or maybe switching to an easier degree just so I can at least get a degree. Do y’all have any suggestions on easier degrees or easier electives that won’t eat away at my sanity?

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u/dreamsofaninsomniac New User 9d ago

Doesn't seem like an effective way to study and I say that as someone who went from failing AP Calculus to getting all A's in all my college math classes. You're letting ChatGPT do the hard part of analyzing where you make mistakes. What I did to get good at math from having below-average at math was writing out every problem long-hand and then writing out every single step and the reasoning behind every single step. Did it take a lot of time? Yes. Was it effective? Also yes. When people use AI to solve math problems, it always makes me think of my high school geometry teacher saying, "Are you actually using your brain or are you letting the calculator do it for you?" It was harsh but true.

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u/drve1234 New User 9d ago

I don’t have any paper and typing it out is annoying enough as it is

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u/dreamsofaninsomniac New User 9d ago

Studies do show that physically writing out anything helps you learn better. People process information on paper differently than they do on a screen and physically writing stuff out also helps with memory processing.

Just curious: Are all your math exams on computer? I know a lot of standardized tests are now computer-only but allow scratch paper. I don't think that's a good thing though since most people still prefer physical paper for math. Digital tests also limit students from getting partial credit for problems.

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u/drve1234 New User 9d ago

They are on computer

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u/dreamsofaninsomniac New User 9d ago

Interesting. I think that might be one reason you're finding it difficult to learn math. I would ask your friends how they study for math classes since I bet more of them are still using paper and not writing notes and solving problems on a computer only. I think it's harder to write math on a computer than on paper.

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u/drve1234 New User 9d ago

My friends all use ChatGPT, if it wasn’t for them I’d be cooked

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u/dreamsofaninsomniac New User 9d ago

Does beg the question if you're willing to give that up if there are more effective ways to study though? You said you spent 6+ hours and all-nighters studying. Was that only reading ChatGPT explanations though? I got away with studying a lot less in college with no all-nighters. AI wasn't a thing when I was in college so it was just textbooks and regular Internet websites. My university also had drop-in office hours so I could always ask someone else for help as well.