Studying College-Level Math After Many Years? Make it Easy!

Math. It seems that this one word will either make a person shudder and retreat or smile and break out their pocket calculator. Math is the most popular subject that students of all ages will seek help with – there are 270,000 math tutors in the U.S. alone. 

Taking college-level math is a condition for graduating from STEM programs and you shouldn’t be surprised if at least one math course is needed to satisfy the general education requirements for a non-STEM degree. College-level math courses are quite varied so let’s take a look at what you can expect!

What is College-Level Math?

College-level math offerings are designed like stepping stones – one course prepares you for the next. Algebra 1 gets you ready for algebra 2, and algebra 2 lays the foundation for trigonometry. Then you’ll be off to geometry and after that, you’re ready for calculus. 

It’s an excellent idea for high school students to have a good math foundation by taking as many math courses as the schedule will allow and to develop a sound understanding of discrete mathematics.  

If you’re an adult who suffered from math anxiety as a high schooler and barely scraped by, as a result, don’t let the idea of having to take college-level math courses dissuade you from pursuing a degree. Many colleges offer non-credit pre-college math that will get you ready!

Levels of Math 

There are several different levels of math in college, so let’s break it down and learn about the different courses and what you can expect.

Algebra 1: This course is also known as college algebra and is the starting point for tackling college math problems. Course descriptions will vary from school to school but the material that is taught is essentially the same across the board. 

College-level algebra may seem familiar at first but it’s not the same as what you learned in high school. You will study more advanced algebraic equations and graphs and you will learn to solve more challenging problems. 

Algebra 2: This class is the second of the levels of math in college and builds on the skills learned in algebra 1. The math is more complex and topics include functions-linear, radical, quadratic, exponential, and logarithmic- and their graphs, rational expressions, and solving quadratic equations.

Trigonometry: Solving computational problems is the focus of both algebra and trigonometry. Where they differ is that algebra’s goal is solving equations and inequalities, while trigonometry is the study of sides and angles. 

In this college-level math course, you can expect to cover topics like angle measurement, right triangle trigonometry, graphs of trigonometric functions, oblique triangles, and exponential and logarithmic functions.

Geometry: Geometry is the study of the sizes, shapes, dimensions, and position angles of things. In the elementary geometry course, you will learn to apply basic geometric principles to numerical problem-solving. 

Higher-level geometry courses focus on Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries and these are the classes that prospective high school math teachers need to take. 

Precalculus: Unlike other prep courses that get students ready for the different levels of math in college and are typically non-credit offerings, precalculus is one of the college-level math courses that count as a degree requirement.

The usual requirement for precalculus is a grade of a C or better in algebra 2. As the name suggests, precalculus gets you ready for calculus. The course builds on the concepts you learned in college algebra and trigonometry and graphing of functions is an important part of this course.

Calculus: In a nutshell, calculus is the study of the rate of change of quantities and the length, area, and volume of objects. This is a challenging course because there’s a significant leap in the level of difficulty compared to other math studies. 

Calculus is an essential and fundamental building block if you are planning on studying higher college-level math. Just how hard depends on your level of commitment and mathematics aptitude. STEM majors will likely find calculus easier than, say, art majors. 

The Importance of Math

It is likely that almost every high school student, particularly those who have struggled, have complained that they’ll never use algebra, geometry, or trigonometry in real life. But, like it or not, that just isn’t true. Math is important. 

If you’re planning on going to college you need math. Pay careful attention to admissions requirements because most require at least two or three years of high school math. The math portions of the ACT and SAT will test what you have learned in high school, and colleges will look at those scores. 

And almost all college majors require students to take at least one college-level math course as part of the general education requirement. 

Despite teen angst about math class, we do use those skills in our everyday life. From making changes to figuring out which product is a better deal in the grocery store, to calculating weights and measures while cooking, math is part of it all. 

Studying math also helps us to develop critical thinking skills, helps us to see patterns and relationships, teaches us logic, and of course, is part of problem-solving. 

Tips to Make Learning Math Easier 

Math is easier for some people than others but no matter how you feel about your skills, there are some things you can do to make learning math easier. 

• Look for ways to apply what you are learning to real-life situations. 
• When you make a mistake, circle back and figure out where you went wrong.
• Ask for help. Math tutors are a fabulous resource!
• Break complex problems into bite-sized pieces.
• Study with a group because two or three brains are better than one.
• Practice, practice, practice. Avoid doing the bare minimum. Your extra work will pay off!

Final Thoughts

College-level math need not strike terror in your heart and you may just find that you are left wondering what was so intimidating after you get one or two under your belt. Preparation is key to success and if you’re still in high school, enroll in math courses. 

If you’ve already graduated from high school and are getting ready for college, review notes, take online math refreshers, or enroll in a course that is designed to boost your math skills. These simple actions require a little bit of time but will pay off in dividends!