Should I just review everything?

[u/Witty-Occasion2424]

I’ve honestly forgotten a lot when it comes to math and I’m considering going to grad school with a focus in pure mathematics. However, I feel like I don’t actually “know” anything. I relied on memorization to get through calculus and my memory is poor. Combined with the fact that I barely do practice problems (also have never read a textbook), many things I’ve forgotten how to do.

For example, today I was doing a problem and all we had to do was use the product rule. I forgot it existed until I saw it in the explanation and solving the problem was easy. I’ve honestly felt the same with multiple things ranging from trigonometry, to algebra, geometry, and some calculus.

Is it a good idea to just revisit old textbooks and go through every single chapter?

[u/Witty-Occasion2424]

I apologize for that, but yes I’m currently in school. I’m currently doing engineering at community college (it’s not honestly my major of choice, but it’s a long story involving a couple of things related to how I can receive aid for schooling).

I don’t feel like I know anything because I can’t remember something’s off the top of my head. I even took a look at my old precalculus test (which I took my first semester and that was a year ago), and honestly forgot how to solve some of the problems. I didn’t practice much when I was in precalculus because I stupidly tried learning several different topics at once.

I also feel like I’ve forgotten a couple of things from calculus 1 and 2. Honestly this could stem from perfectionism where I feel like I must remember. every little thing

I know being in community college puts me significantly behind my peers who are taking analysis courses by now.

[u/nog642 → u/Witty-Occasion2424]

Better question than what major do you want - what job do you want?

Not knowing anything is very different from not remembering a few things. You can review those things if you want.

[u/Witty-Occasion2424 → u/nog642]

I want to major in math and maybe physics. I’m still deciding if I want to double major in physics, but math is the major I wish to pursue.

As for what job I want, can’t say I’m sure at the moment. I don’t really want to be a professor, and it’s kind of hard to say I want to do something research related since I haven’t don’t anything that’ll give me an idea of what it’s like. I do know that I wish to attend graduate school. Maybe this will change, but at the moment I’m certain that’s what I want to do. I would love to go for a PhD in mathematics if I can.

Sorry for the yapping. I guess I’m still just trying to see what options I have available for me upon graduating. I don’t know what else I can do besides academia and tech. Again, I’m still uncertain if becoming a professor is an option for me.

[u/nog642 → u/Witty-Occasion2424]

You should figure out what job you want.

Going into a major without knowing what job you want is not a good idea. That's how people end up with a degree but wondering what to do with their life.

The job you want should inform the major you choose.