You failed pre algebra?

How did you get in college without basic algebra?

Suck it up and do what you have to to pass pre-algebra. Get a tutor, take a summer course, blow the professor, it doesn't matter. Whether or not you think so, math is important, if for no other reason than for filing your taxes.

LOL @ "blow your professor". But I think that abgermacht is right. See if you can get tutored to help in math because it is an essential skill.

maybe i should clarify-

a good english school that's NOT up there with the ivies and cornell and all that... and something that's not going to cost a million, either ;)

I passed Algebra II in high school, after the most intense studying ever, by ONE QUESTION on a multiple choice test... so basically I got batshit lucky.

And yes, I failed PreAlgebra this semester at the college... granted most my class failed, but still... I am not a math person. At all. If it's more than finding a percent of something or at the most really simple finding x (like 4x=8 find x) I'm so inept...

And yet I got into a Shakespeares Honors Course that really I shouldn't gotten in because I'm not an honor's student (because of one particular subject... take a guess) based on my essays (all perfect scores or higher pretty much) and prof. recommendation all the literary connections you can think of (interpreting a simple Oates story as so many things and tying it together... it's ridiculous.)

BUT I can't do math... besides what you need to add up money and figure out a hammer is of larger size than a quarter, nope...

I'm not too familiar with liberal arts degrees, but my suspicion is this. If you want something that isn't outrageously expensive (at least in the US) then you're looking at a public university. Many of which probably have good liberal arts programs but all of which have math requirements.

In all seriousness, though, have you tried a tutor, because they usually can be very helpful. Also, if you are currently at a community college, I'd be very careful about what classes you take; unfortunately, many credits don't transfer to other schools, so you should find out what school you want to go to ASAP and make sure they accept the credits.

@Whoever said math is an essential skill:

Correction- DAY-TO-DAY math is an essential skill- ant that I can do.

I can measure, add money, figure out percents and taxes, do my taxes (when I have to someday... get that job! lol) and all that stuff you can think of that you need in everyday life.

You math people, any math person, tell my why the HELL I need to know how matricies of numbers are multiplied or when the hell I need the quadratic formula in real life (especially without a calculator, in real life you get one of those...)

It'd be like if I said to a math person wh was as good at math as i am english and bad at english as i am math that it was "essential" they learn to form a complex thesis tying together the philosophy of Sartre and the existentialist feelings with a Marxist interpretation to say "Waiting For Godot" is about such things (I myself might not make such an interpretation, but you see my point- you don't need to be able to interpret literary works with THAT degree of complexity in everyday life to function anymore than you need to be able to work with those matricies... *shudder*...)

Perhaps you should talk to an academic adviser rather than posting your question here.

But blowing your professor is probably the easiest way.

As I mentioned in my last post, math is an essential skill because it is required for where you want to go to college (in all likelihood). Maybe not fair, but true.

Well, as long as you can do the things you mentioned, you are pretty well off. I understand your frustration with math as it does not interest you and you struggle with it. I cannot answer your question about certain colleges as I don't know much about different ones, so I suggest that you try to get some help with those mandatory math classes, and get them out of the way so that you never have to take them again!

@abgemacht:

I would make sure my classes would transfer... if I knew where I could transfer TOO; , right now, I'm rpepeating Math 060 and need to get to pass 102... that's 6-7 math classes and about three years if I have to take that math and I don't find somewhere to skip it- and I do NOT want to wait 3 years to go to a real college where I can get a real English degree just because I'm so far down the math ladder...

I just want to do what I love, and that, luckily, is something I excel at enough that I know THAT could get me into a college, if not for math's anchoring me...

What was the highest level math you took in HS?

Algebra II (I passed by one question on the final) and Basic Geometry are as far as I got

And whoever suggest I blow my way to a passing grade: points for creativity... but no. ;)

What if the professor is female?

The only way you would get into a good school after failing a course would be through paying tons of money, so you can't. Unless you are using a liberal interpretation of "good".

I just want to go to a school where they have a good English program and THAT's what they care about-

There are over 3,000 colleges in this country, is there really no college that wouldn't say "You've got super-high marks in English and recommendations from every Egnlish professor and HS teacher you've had and your writing's that good? Come on in, pal!"

Seriously... not ONE... I don't care if every other program sucks, just ENGLISH (and maybe theatre and philosophy, but those generally go with Egnlish anyway, especially theatre studies/drama clubs.)

You could still get into Western Illinois University. That's probably exactly the sort of a school you'd be looking for, just don't expect a traditional, well, fun atmosphere. My friend who goes there doesn't like it very much because of that.

How were you allowed to only take two math courses to graduate high school? My school required four, and that's in crap-ass public school Illinois. A better, suburban crap-ass public school but not too good either. That's what you get when only Mississippi spends less on education than you...

Just wondering, how are you at science? Have you ever taken any basic courses?

So, how were your other grades in HS? It seems odd that with Geometry and Algebra II under your belt you weren't able to get into at least a semi-decent english program to begin with.

Something to consider.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4f-4CajQyg

As high school studentI have to say that math i pretty basic up until Algebra 2. Not to much you can do wrong until Alg 2. I'm in all honors classes but have to say I don't excel I'm taking Algebra 2 freshman year and I don't really know why... I fail at math and have never gotten an A in that class but this shows you obiwanoviwan that all you need is a B in Matha dn how hard is that honestly? Also Are the tests multiple choice , free response, or mixed?

Not getting an A really isn't the same as failing at math...

My ex girlfriend went to and really enjoyed Allegheny in Western Pennsylvania. Unfortunately it is very expensive and has a massive workload.

@Invictus:

I took three years of math in HS: Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry

@warspite:

I have yet to take a collge science, haven't gotten to one yet, this'll be my second semester at AVC community college and I'm taking Honors Shakespeare: Romances and Comedies, Creative Writing, Theatre 101, Philosophy 105 (Ethics), History 107 (Post 1877 US History) and REPEATING Math060 (PreAlgebra.)

My ablities:

English: I took AP all the way, and had a nickname in my English classes- "Holmes." That's my strength, where I'm the Sherlock Holmes, able to detect nuances no other peers of mine could, write the best papers... and bicker with my "Watson" (now at Cal State Monterey Bay, to become, appropriate for Watson, a doctor... she was and is a great friend, and my only one outside Drama- how did we meet? Well, sophmore year, I, being the opinionated person I am and caring about getting my answer and responses from people, and being that Holmes/House-like ass I am... said something, and a hook to my jaw later, she and I were friends. An interesting beginning... and a good punch.)

Math: Nope... again, unless it's money-related or measurement, maybe finding x and graphing it tops, I'm just pathetic in class.

Science: A split affair- generally good to really good at biology-related courses (especially when dealing with anatomy or the human body) and terrible at chemistry (math...) and have never, thankfully, had the "pleasure" of taking any physics. Earth science was an easy A.

History: Exceedingly good there, ties in sort of with English there...

Arts: Creative Writing and Theatre are what I love to do and hope to do for a licing someday... but don't ask me to paint you a picture or play you music unless you want a stained floor and shattered eardrums.

Philosophy: I love and am very good at, up there with Theatre and History...

No abgemacht I'm saying that if the test are multiple choice you pretty much just have to plug in and that seems to be down to obiwan's skill level

And @Invictus:

I LOATHE that musical lol... and I think there's plenty to do with an English degree... so long as you can write, writers, whether creative, analytical, or reporting, on the web or in newspapers, for books or for theatre, will ALWAYS be needed...

And then, even though I don't want to, I guess I could always teach it... I practically do teach the folks in my English 102 class already (it's REALLY bad... the professor's great, and smart, but come on- when the WHOLE CLASS thinsk that it's all about plot and Poe's characters MUST be telling the truth, or it isn't at all important if Shakespeare has a character end on a couplet, THAT"S BAD FOR COLLEGE-LEVEL! I mean come ON! That's as bad as I am with math lol.)

Oh... that guy's obnoxious singing voice... ARGH, INVICTUS!

So, was there must have been a placement exam when you entered college? Otherwise, how did you go from geometry back to prealgebra?

You know I always think of the strategic element of Diplomacy as very logic based. Maybe if you improved one (your math skills or your tactics) you could improve the other.

@abgemacht:

Yes, there was- and this time I didn't get lucky and pass by one question ;)

@urallLESBIANS:

I'm bad with math... but GREATH with English/philosophy, and that's part of the game, too... Machiavelli, Hobbes, Nietzsche... and English does help, it's a game of persuasion, not just logic.

Just like in politics, so often the best words can beat the best logic (for better with heroes like Washington and Thomas Paine rallying the troops against all logical odds, and for worse with villians like Hitler writing "Mein Kampf.")

math sucks. where i go to college, my major only requires you take one class in math, and you can place out of it if you get a good grade on the SAT II Math test, which is supposed to be hella easy. I'd say do that, that's what I'm going to do. Lol fuck math, know what I'm sayin.

I always had a hard time all the way up to Pre-Cal when I stopped, but when you did learn, I feel it honed your problem solving centers. It was just a bitch though, way too much of a bitch to go on to calculus lol.

Are sure you do not have a mental block with math? Sometimes just thinking that your not good at something can make it true.

obiwanobiwan, the graduated English major I know is waiting tables in Chicago and the one who's my age will probably end up doing the same thing. If you don't get an internship while you're an undergrad there's not much a company would be interested in.

Of course you could go the whole academic route or better yet go to law school. That way you just might be able to make money.

"I always had a hard time all the way up to Pre-Cal when I stopped, but when you did learn, I feel it honed your problem solving centers. It was just a bitch though, way too much of a bitch to go on to calculus lol."

So, you see the benefit of math, but don't think it's worth it?

@Invictus

I enjoy making fun of liberal arts majors as much as the next guy, but, imho, it's better to do what you love rather than what will make you rich. Who cares if you get a fancy job if you hate doing it. Also, English is one of those degrees that people go into when they don't know what else to do. For the few that actually excel at it, there are jobs.

@warspite:

Not a mental block... I don't know where to go from that point in the sentence, so period, end the sentence. ;)

@Invictus:

To be honest, I really wouldn't mind waiting tables or whatever for a job, especially in college... you have to KNOW people to get started, too, and I am lucky enough to have such a large family of theatre people... true, some of them are pompous asses who wouldn't so much as even piss on me to hep me get a toe in the door, but mostly we all help each other, and gradually are getting into plaes and helping others in...

I want to write for a living, write and direct that's the dream (that and season tickets for the Mets when they win the pennant... but let's stick to reality) and I am good at it, so I'm told... straight perfect scores or higher on my paper, and my professor actually APOLOGIZED to me on the lst day of class for not letting me talk ENOUGH in class and let me do MORE of my analyses.

If there's one area I feel confident enough about to be arrogant and say I'll for sure succeed, it's English.

And if I DO realize my dream and write something... I'll make my plays a hell of a lot more insightful and meaningful that that soap-opera "feed off young adult 'issues'" hack job Avenue Q... that to me is the theatre equivalent of High School Musical- FEH!

I hope the best for you. We need better writers for movies and TV. Just do not give up. Maybe $ next to the numbers?

I know that this game isn't all logic, but I thought you could use it as motivation. If you want to get better at something that you really enjoy, its easier. You might find that math becomes easier, if you become more logic minded.

I am actually a really logical person (when I want to be... lol)

I can logic it out fine, that's why I love (and am good at, getting great marks there) philosophy (not to mention Sherlock Holmsing my way to the most ridiculously insane-yet-brilliant papers... and those are professors' words, not mine lol) just not with numbers...

Alphabet=good Algebra=................................................. *drops dead*

Ah, forgot you mentioned your love of philosophy. Makes sense.

Is it possible to be good at philosophy and bad at math? What on earth do you do about logic?

This explains why you can never tell time and always miss your moves. =P

Worth it to a point, abgemacht. I feel my problem solving centers can be honed in other ways besides high level calculus. And whoever creates the degree plan for poli sci majors seems to agree since I need only to take one math course. Plenty of science, and other math-related things like stat or econ or psych, but not just pure math. I appreciate applied math. Pure math itself is not something I find beautiful, as others do. "Neat" is about as far as I would go.

@obiwan,

You know that Holmes was an expert chemist, right?

@ obiwan

I was just as terrible at math and my major was English as well. I had to hire a tutor at $20 an hour and just keep hitting the math lab until I was able to get through it. Also talk to people about which profs are the best. I ran into one asst. prof who would come in and sit at his desk thirty minutes before class began. He never announced it, but I started coming in and asking him questions about homework and ended up doing quite well. A good professor like that can make all the difference too.