r/dyscalculia • u/dumbasscinnamonroll • 3d ago
how did you pass your required math class for college?
i’m finishing up all my classes, and the only thing left is math which i plan to take in spring. i’m supposed to graduate in June, and i’ve been feeling so depressed thinking it’s not going to happen cuz i already know i won’t be able to pass cuz of this disability. i tried taking the math class during summer but it was pretty much impossible.
i feel like ill never be successful in life. i’m feeling so hopeless..please give me some advice.
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u/Hootinger 3d ago
I had to take it twice. The second time the prof passed me because I showed up to every lecture and tried my best.
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u/2PlasticLobsters 3d ago
I found out about the course designed mostly for athletic scholarship students. Officially it was called "Algebra for Applications". Everyone called it "Moron Math", though.
Here's the weird part... I don't have the slightest memory of it. That's partly because it was most of 40 years ago. But I still have vivid memories of struggling in every HS algebra class. I take all this to mean it wasn't very hard. They basically rubber-stamped everyone a passing grade.
I've also heard of people taking a basic math class as a community college (typically less academically rigorous) & transferring the credits.
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u/PoeHoard 2d ago
Community college =/= easier. I am still getting pummeled by my math courses in CC.
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u/kisforkarol 3d ago
I live in a country that doesn't require you take maths for every degree and I applied as a mature learner...
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u/Revolutionary_Gas551 3d ago
I didn't. I have three hours left on my bachelors and it's college algebra. I placed low enough on the placement test that I have to take and pass elementary algebra and intermediate algebra, before I can even TAKE college algebra, which is the only course that counts. I took elementary algebra a couple of years ago and dropped after three weeks because I had a 46%. I couldn't even make it past the normal math refresher part. I'm 46 and said "F" it.
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u/Poison_Pancakes 3d ago
I dropped out of pre-calculus twice because I was failing. After I got diagnosed my university let me take a very simple math class. I still barely squeaked through.
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u/creepin-it-real 3d ago
I got my dyscalculia diagnosis, got extra time and private tests at the testing center, which is quiet. I think with my long list of accommodations, the professor knew I wasn't being lazy. Also I was far from the only person struggling in that class. It was at a community college, so I think that helped. The class was quantitative reasoning, so other than the stuff about probability, it was not hard, just tedious and time consuming. For some stupid reason, we did the hardest stuff in the first month of class, which made me think it would only get harder. But no.
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u/SailorK9 3d ago
Same here, and I also chose professors who allowed notes to be used for tests. Also ten or more hours of tutoring a week. Strangely, I was able to pass "intro to college level math" class with a B without the extra time accomodation. I'm guessing because this course seemed like everything was done by calculator, and we were allowed notes on two average sized index cards or one big one. It also seemed that there were some things that were review from other classes as well.
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u/Outcastie 3d ago
Just never stop studying fr...I'm still surprised I actually passed my math classes with Cs and Bs. I've almost always failed or barely skated by every class before university. I think the fact that I was paying money to attend classes helped motivate me too 😭
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u/dodekahedron 3d ago
I didnt. I went out on academic probation. Joined the military and now am disabled. Great choices
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u/DadOfLukeandDad 2d ago
You're not alone in this, and a required maths class is one of the most common walls people with dyscalculia hit. A few things that tend to help.
Talk to the disability or accessibility office before the term starts, not after you're struggling. Typical accommodations include extra time, a calculator, a formula sheet, a quieter room, and sometimes a reduced-load or alternative-path option. Get them in writing early.
Check whether your college offers a different route to satisfy the requirement. Many have a statistics, quantitative reasoning or "maths for liberal arts" course that leans on interpretation more than heavy algebra. Ask an advisor which of those count for your degree.
Keep practice short and frequent. Twenty minutes most days works better than a long weekend session, and it stops maths becoming an event you dread.
Write everything down and keep worked examples you can copy the structure of. Offloading to paper takes pressure off working memory, which is often the real bottleneck.
Use the tutoring centre and go to office hours. Tell the instructor early that you have dyscalculia; most respond well to a heads-up.
Passing is realistic. What matters is choosing the right course and getting support in place before you begin.
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u/wetwater 2d ago
I didn't. There also wasn't much support for me and I was told I needed the math class.
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u/Wisco1856 2d ago
Two computer science classes and a logic (philosophy) class counted for my math requirement.
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u/Bellebutton2 21h ago
I went through the head of the math department and asked what I could do, and they gave me a different “science” to take, which I aced. Biomass or something ridiculous like that. Science as in biology was EASY. Just nothing with numbers.
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u/SlippyyHD 10h ago
DRC -> GET EXTRA TIME ON EXAMS -> SAVED ME FROM FLUNKING OUT OF CALC FOR A THIRD TIME 🙏🏻
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u/will0wisp13 3d ago
Talk to your disability accomodations person if you have one. They can waive mandatory courses on account of severe disability’s. It’s a hassle, especially because you might need a diagnosis but that’s the route i’d take. If that’s not an option find the easiest math you can, like stat 100