The States: Where We Wish Texas Would Secede Already

[state of hockey]

When I went college in '98 I had to take a math placement test because I barely passed higher algebra in HS. They were going to make me take Algebra again but my department only required one true math credit so I took Logic. Best decision I ever made!

I took a very similar path. Math wasn’t needed for my degree other than a general credit requirement. Initially enrolled in a remedial math course, decided it was silly because it didn’t give me any credit regardless of passing or failing. Took a sociology class that satisfied the general requirement because it was heavy on statistics. Aced it.

I’m actually quite good at math, I was just a terrible student for most of high school.

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

Funny-ish story. They covered trig for one month in my HS math class. That month I missed entirely with mono. To this day I still have trouble with trig -- it's the one rudimentary math topic for me where I know all the recipes but I never truly soaked in it and got a comfortable grounding in it. That was really bad timing because I love trig applications in calculus and I love the basic geometry of trig -- it is very beautiful. But it is balancing on a log (so to speak) to this day.

Teachers are important.

SOHCAHTOA

gosh I thought I was a failure for barely passing AP calc in high school. Then I found statistics and felt smart again

[St. Clown]

In a lot of cases Higher Algrebra is not required for life or work so I would not require that for High School or College. Some High Schools do require it. But basic Algebra should be. Maybe College Algebra is what we called "Advanced Algrebra and Trigonometry" when I went to High School, I don't know.

The Geometry High School course where my daughters went to school was pretty notorious and required by all students. I never understood that. For certain fields, yeah. But not everyone.

Back in 95, SCSU had me take a meth placement test during freshman orientation. If you passed it with X percent (I forget the exact number), you either had to take math 130 and then math 131, or you skipped right to math 131. 130 was basically high school algebra, called remedial algebra by the school, and then 131 was was college algebra, which was basically my AAT class from high school, but lighter on the trig than my high school course. All students had to take an algebra class, passing 131 was needed to take a calculus course or any other higher level math course.

I unofficially tutored a number of Math 130 students who lived in my dorm, and a couple other friends made, when they learned I tested into 131. Same goes for the basic physics and chemistry courses.

[dxmnkd316]

I posted it because I initially misread it as high schools scrapping the requirement. My brain could, quite literally, not accept it was universities.

Yeah I had to read that twice. I thought algebra wasn't even taught in universities.

[St. Clown]

Yeah I had to read that twice. I thought algebra wasn't even taught in universities.

Is this an example of “Tell me you attended a university that wouldn’t accept me without saying the words?”

[dxmnkd316]

Is this an example of “Tell me you attended a university that wouldn’t accept me without saying the words?”

No, seriously. I didn't think they taught it. I thought it was a requirement to get into college. To at least have algebra I/II by 12th grade. I thought colleges stuck with calc, linear algebra, and stats.

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

Back in 95, SCSU had me take a meth placement test during freshman orientation. If you passed it with X percent (I forget the exact number), you either had to take math 130 and then math 131, or you skipped right to math 131. 130 was basically high school algebra, called remedial algebra by the school, and then 131 was was college algebra, which was basically my AAT class from high school, but lighter on the trig than my high school course. All students had to take an algebra class, passing 131 was needed to take a calculus course or any other higher level math course.

I unofficially tutored a number of Math 130 students who lived in my dorm, and a couple other friends made, when they learned I tested into 131. Same goes for the basic physics and chemistry courses.

Meth placement test at SCSU? Did you have to run from meth zombies?

[St. Clown]

Meth placement test at SCSU? Did you have to run from meth zombies?

Did you ever tour the campus? If yes, you shouldn’t have to ask that question . It’s obviously a yes.

[Jimjamesak]

Well, Kansas is suddenly making me feel better about Alaska’s failing education system. My 8th grade daughter is considering taking a summer school algebra class because it’s required for the 9th grade science class her science teacher wants to place her in. I always felt a bit dumb having only taken Algebra II in HS.

I’m pretty sure a year of Algebra I is still a required credit for graduation in Alaska.

[Kepler]

Basic algebra is a requirement for just getting through life. Basic geometry isn't unless you wind up on Survivor. Number theory isn't required unless you are going to get into the philosophy of math and spend 106 pages proving 1+1 = 2.

[Kepler]

Did you ever tour the campus? If yes, you shouldn’t have to ask that question . It’s obviously a yes.

The good news? 100% pass rate.

[Kepler]

Yeah I had to read that twice. I thought algebra wasn't even taught in universities.

You forgot the business majors.

[Kepler]

SOHCAHTOA

gosh I thought I was a failure for barely passing AP calc in high school. Then I found statistics and felt smart again

If you stay in statistics long enough, you can feel stupid again.

[Handyman]

Did you ever tour the campus? If yes, you shouldn’t have to ask that question . It’s obviously a yes.

Holes Hall (or whatever) always did smell weird ;^)

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Stats 101 is easy. Applied stats where you actually have to build out statistical models for real-world scenarios is usually harder.