How to Prepare for College Math
Many students are shocked by the difficulty of their first college math courses. Indeed, not only are these classes on a more advanced level than high school math, they also test your ability to think critically about the material beyond just being able to regurgitate homework and test problems. There are a few steps that you can take, up through high school, to give yourself an edge in your college math courses.
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Instructions
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Take the most advanced math courses that your school offers. In other words, take precalculus, rather than just taking the minimum math requirements. If there is an advanced algebra class, that goes beyond the fundamentals of algebra, take that class.
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Do well in your math courses. Solve as many problems as you can from your textbook. Go beyond the homework and solve the more difficult problems at the end of your sections. If you have difficulty, ask your teacher or a parent for help--or, if possible, get a tutor.
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Join the math club. Many schools have Mathcounts or similar programs, which allow students to develop their ability to think creatively about math. This ability, should you develop it strongly, will serve you well for years to come.
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Get skilled at taking notes. Often, in college math classes, especially in your introductory classes, the teachers will be young graduate students who don't necessarily come from English-speaking countries. They might be difficult to understand and succeeding in their classes will be a matter of grasping the material despite the difficulty posed by an instructor with an accent.
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Get into the habit of asking your teacher questions. In college math courses, you will often have lecture-style classes, meaning that a professor will lecture to hundreds of undergraduates. If you have questions, you will have to take the initiative to introduce yourself to the teacher and ask for help. Teachers like to connect with their students, so you should not feel shy about this. Begin this habit with your high school teacher; visit him with any questions you may have.
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Comments
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I'm already farmiliar with the basics of algebra. I just need to know the fundamentals of college level math. I'm no longer in highschool, but I have a library I can go to to study the materials. I would like to be as prepared as I possibly can be for my courses.
