College Math

Shorty11, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2012

What type of math? Something very basic like multiplication, division, etc? College Algebra? Dosage Calculations?

Shorty11, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2012

What type of math? Something very basic like multiplication, division, etc.? College algebra? Dosage calculations?

Cilc · Dec 7, 2012

HI shorty11,

Well Truth is I don't really know! When I look at the pre-req of college(LIU, Hunter) they say you need 11 credits of College Math" but coming from abroad I don't really know what it means. Is there any standard expectation that a college would have for Math?

x_factor · Dec 7, 2012

I would talk with the specific college you are interested in. I've never heard of a typical math pre-req requiring 11 credits just to get into the class. Unless it's a higher up math class, then you'd need a pre-req before moving on. But regular college algebra? Generally all you need to do is pass the placement exam with a high enough score, or start in intermediate algebra. Again, I would speak with the college you are interested in, they would be the best source for advising you.

Shorty11, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2012

I agree with x_factor. You should contact an academic advisor at the school(s) you are interested in. They can answer specific questions and point you in the right direction as to what type of math class you will need to start with. They can then suggest study materials. Once you know what type of college math, we can give better suggestions. Best of luck!

Saysfaa · Dec 7, 2012

The math classes you need are:

College Algebra

Math 16 (Finite Mathematics)

Math 100 (Statistics) or Psychology 150 (Statistics in Psychology)

(hm, which only add up to 9 credits.... I couldn't find the other two)

I liked "Intermediate Algebra" by Carson, Gillespie and Jordan. I used the second edition but the edition probably doesn't matter much. However, I'm not sure how much of that was because I really like the teacher that taught that class as opposed to liking the book. Also, it is a level below what you will need - which has some advantages in that it could give you confidence that you are ready to take the class you need for credit.

I also like the Fred math books. (net search Life of Fred math). They are very nontradional but effective, especially if you are not very math oriented, and they are relatively inexpensive.

Other suggestions:

Check the public libraries and the school library. They usually have several text books. At the very least, you can use them for a while to see if that author/edition works well for you. If you can catch a book sale at one of them, text books are usually very, very inexpensive.

Khanacademy is not a book but it is very helpful and could be used to find and fill any gaps you have.

Look in stores like Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Savers or on Craigslist.com They usually have several to choose from, you can look through them before buying them and they are very inexpensive esp since you don't have to pay shipping. They may be old editions but that won't matter much for math.

Halfprice Book stores and other used book stores are sometimes good sources but costs tend to be higher there.

Cilc · Dec 7, 2012

Thank you for your comments. Truly Greatly appreciated. I'm still waiting for their acceptance letter. As I have already 3 years of Nursing school in France They are granting me some credits for it but almost none for the liberal art stuff. SO I will most likely have to take A&P 1 and 2! and the microbiology/ math/ English. Very difficult to find what these class are REALLY about because when I go on the different Colleges web site they talk with codes Math 100, English 013. Nobody o the phone is super ready to explain me what it is either.

2 colleges accepted me already but they are not my 1st choice so I'm still waiting it a bit before enrolling, but I'd love to get myself ready to the classes to which I know I might struggle more (ie Math). I was looking at getting in touch with student who took these "mysterious" classes already to know what book they used. Thanks you Saysfaa as your inpunt is going to help me a lot:)

Good luck to you all:)

Saysfaa · Dec 8, 2012

Most colleges have a section for transfer students which should have a link to a page called "course equivalencies" or some such thing. It will list most of the nearby colleges and clicking on that will bring up what courses are similar enough to transfer as each other. Classes are much more interchangable than they look because if the schools have to meet the requirements of the accreditation organizations.

Otherwise, most schools have very similar requirements for prereqs and general education classes: the freshman English Composition I and English Composition II may be English 101 and 102 at one school and English 21 and 22 at another school and 202 and 204 at a third school but they are the same two classes and all three colleges will list them under their general education requirements or in the freshman years on their "sample schedules" if they have those.

Math 124 might be Intermediate Algebra at one school and College Algebra at another school and Calculus at a third school but College Algebra at one school will be very much the same as College Algebra at another school - it will never be Intermediate Algebra.

Physics comes in two versions: algebra based and calculus based. They are not interchangable and you can't always tell which is which by the name, you need to read the course descriptions or check the course equivalencies.

"Survey of" means it is a very basic overview of the subject. "Principals of" is a more rigorous class, covering more information and in greater depth than "Survey of" but not as much or as in depth as "General" - usually. Those three are usually used for classes in subject that are often required in a overview form for majors not in that subject as part of the broad base of knowledge but also in a rigorous form by the majors of that subject. Chemistry, Biology, and Economics are often this way.

A&P might be offered as two classes: an Anatomy class and a Physiology class or as two classes: an A&P I class and an A&P II class. But at the end of either set, you will have covered the same things. Look out of classes offered as A&P with no I or II with them and that add up to less than 8 credits. They may or may not be in depth enough.

Microbiology that is required by the Nursing program at one school is almost certainly the same microbiology that is required by the nursing program of another school.

Statistics is the least standard, at least as far as the name compared to the content.

Oh, and all of this is to give you a start.... it is rare to find a college that doesn't reserve the right to have the final say despite what the websites say about transfer credit or what the course descriptions say.

dkmamato3 · Dec 8, 2012

You may want to check out Loading... as well. It is an online math program/class - it is very helpful in that it will provide complete explanations of problems as you move through the material and it also linked to an online text book.

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · Dec 9, 2012

If you've done entry-level Calculus and/or Statistics, you should be fine. As with the rest of your credits, though, you'll probably have an interesting time getting them transferred, unless the school you're going to has a top-notch admissions counselor trained in international admissions/transfers.

queserasera, RN · Dec 9, 2012

Does anyone have any experience with the Finite Math course, I have to take it in the spring and really don't know what to expect.