math placement update

[anotheranon]

Got my results yesterday. I had decided not to get upset even if they put me in remedial algebra, so I had few expectations going in.

I did better than the school expected, about what I'd hoped, but worse than I'd wished for. The advisor recommends auditing intermediate algebra (he says I should do well at, being a computer professional [and the fact that I took college algebra undergrad - I'll be damned if I pay for it again!]) and then taking precalc and calculus for credit.

I'm thinking it will be best to save the math for the winter while taking a non-prerequisite-required class at UMUC. Pro: less going on in the winter, cold weather = more incentive to stay inside and study. Con: I'm often more lethargic in the winter. Perhaps I'll just lay in a good supply of Mayorga to see me through ;)

So, tentative plan of attack:

Fall '05: stats class; review algebra & get book in advance.

winter '05-6: computer course + audit intermed algebra; get calc books in advance

spring '06: precalc (and another computer course? depends on how I survive the winter); see if work will cover because it's a prerequisite for a programming course

All of this is dependent, of course, on how much of an outside life I want to have and how much/whether I plan to sleep :P

Comments

[hadesgirl.livejournal.com]

Ah, the eternal question... education or life or sleep? Actually, sounds like you have a pretty good plan there. Might be just the thing to keep your mind active during the winter sludge.

[skill-grl.livejournal.com]

Again, just ask if you want help w/ the math. I've done through Calc. 2; however, it has been awhile.

Second, I'm doing the "life-less" student thing, also. I'd love to get together at a convenient place and study together . We can prettend it's actually a social event but really get work done.

And, I think your schedule sounds decently managable.

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

Sounds as if you've been given some good advice (and congratulations on doing as well as you expected, even if you wish it had been better); giving yourself the opportunity to do your brushing up at leisure (well, sort of, anyway) will let you start the spring semester feeling a little more relaxed. And I'm sure you're going to continue to pleasantly surprise yourself by being far better at all this stuff than you think. :-)

P.S. I'm still and always available for any database "why" mysteries.

[madbodger.livejournal.com]

For obvious selfish reasons, I'd prefer you to have plenty of outside life. I'm also willing to help out with math.