SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - Hardest core curriculum class you ever took in college?

Posted: Mar 21 2009 03:38 pm

By "core curriculum", I mean something that's required for all students regardless of your major. So if you took a class that was only for your major and it happened to be the hardest, that wouldn't count.

For me, it was macroeconomics. The material was confusing to me, and I was probably ill-prepared considering the fact that I got a C in economics in my senior year of high school. The highest score I ever made on the tests was like 66 (the lowest test score of all time for me in college was my worst in that class, which was a 50-something). But I managed to get a B because there were also writing assignments that were pieces of cake, and the bonus credit opportunities helped me out as well. I am SO glad that's the only economics class I have to take!

Posted: Mar 21 2009 03:46 pm

Any math class, I suck at math.

Posted: Mar 21 2009 03:51 pm

I'm an art student, the only core curriculum course I took was Comm 099, and that was sooooo easy. Art History was a boner though.

Posted: Mar 21 2009 04:22 pm

I'm going to alter your definition of "core curriculum" to classes that everyone in your college had to take, not everyone at the entire university. When I was a music major I had to do Music Theory Labs, which was basically ear training and singing. I was great at the ear training portion, but awful at singing.

Basically, I can identify and spell any scale, chord, or interval, but if you ask me to sing one I'll punch you in the face.

Posted: Mar 21 2009 05:14 pm

IceWarm wrote:

Any math class, I suck at math.

Yes... I think I'm gonna have to change my major for that reason alone =/

Posted: Mar 21 2009 06:40 pm

None?

I didn't have any trouble with anything that was just like general education stuff. Genetics though, that's a different story. But yeah not everyone had to take that one obviously.

Posted: Mar 21 2009 07:20 pm

Chrisby wrote:

None?

I didn't have any trouble with anything that was just like general education stuff. Genetics though, that's a different story. But yeah not everyone had to take that one obviously.

Well, perhaps one stood out from the rest in the sense that it required more effort on your part even though it wasn't difficult to accomplish? Like, a lot of essays or something?

Posted: Mar 21 2009 09:25 pm

IceWarm wrote:

Any math class, I suck at math.

This. The Pre-Cal class I had to take owned my ass. I ended up with a 66% or 67% (by far the lowest grade I've ever received, by at least 10 points), but ended up with a C by the grace of God, because the teacher counted a C starting from 65%. I usually have problems with altering the grading scale like that, even for my own benefit, but this class was SO fucking hard for me, and was not at all linear in what was taught. Usually math classes build on the things you learn one chapter at a time; this book skipped around all over the place. I almost cried with relief when it was over, no joke.

Posted: Mar 21 2009 09:36 pm

SoldierHawk wrote:

IceWarm wrote:

Any math class, I suck at math.

This. The Pre-Cal class I had to take owned my ass. I ended up with a 66% or 67% (by far the lowest grade I've ever received, by at least 10 points), but ended up with a C by the grace of God, because the teacher counted a C starting from 65%. I usually have problems with altering the grading scale like that, even for my own benefit, but this class was SO fucking hard for me, and was not at all linear in what was taught. Usually math classes build on the things you learn one chapter at a time; this book skipped around all over the place. I almost cried with relief when it was over, no joke.

You're in way over myself. I can't even do some high school level math. I can balance my checkbook and stuff like that but I can't for the life of me wrap my head around even basic algebra. I had to take a couple math classes in college and did extremely poorly in both. I eventually had to just accept a certificate because the degree had too many math classes that I simply wouldn't pass. Not like I made any use of the certificate anyway even though I did have a job at the college running the computer lab it didn't require me to have a certificate. Plus I haven't done anything else in that field since then professionally or for employment.

Posted: Mar 21 2009 09:42 pm

I have two identical bags of apples. I count and find that I have 20 apples. How many apples are in each bag.

Basic Algebra.

Posted: Mar 21 2009 09:48 pm

OK, well if that is basic I can do that. But the high school level stuff any beyond was way over my head.

Posted: Mar 21 2009 09:58 pm

I had to take an art appreciation class that honestly seemed like a complete waste of time to me. I had NO interest in the subject. I'm not saying I don't enjoy art, but I know what I like and I know what I don't like. I don't need an art snob professor telling me why crap smeared on a canvas is a work of genius. I bullshitted my way through that class big time. I somehow managed to get a B, but just for the record I still don't appreciate art that looks like it was done by a preschooler.

Posted: Mar 21 2009 11:22 pm

Currently being in High School, Trigonometry has simply been horrific for me. I've never been good with math to begin with, but this is just...ugh. It doesn't help that every time I try to ask a question during class, my complete dolt of a teacher says things like "You should've learned this in Geometry!!!" or "You should KNOW this already!!!" Yeah, well, I DON'T, that's why I'm asking.

Posted: Mar 21 2009 11:27 pm

Cameron wrote:

... my complete dolt of a teacher says things like "You should've learned this in Geometry!!!" or "You should KNOW this already!!!" Yeah, well, I DON'T, that's why I'm asking.

Dude, I HATE it when math teachers say stuff like that! I'm currently taking Calculus 1 in college, and whenever my teacher goes over a complicated part and has trouble explaining it, he says something along these lines: "Ya know, guys, if you don't already know this then you need to consider taking a course in trigonometry or pre-cal." I'm thinking to myself, "Screw you, man. I took trig in college last semester and I got an A."

I've actually been meeting my pastor a couple of times for tutoring, and I feel like I learned more from him in 2 hours than I have from my calculus teacher in 3 months. (My pastor has a Master's in math and teaches calculus at another college, so thank God for that!)