My advice to a new Math 207 Student:

The transition for a freshman student will one that continues to challenge a student from the first day of class to semester final. For all others, the expectations for a college class are somewhat familiar. This calculus class, however, will be rigorous despite one's experience in college classes.

To all students taking this mathematics class in college, success is the product of preparation. High school math courses provide an excellent background to what lies ahead, but the work load in high school does not mirror that of a college math course. Of course the majority of work in Math 207 is optional, understanding the material is not. Homework becomes essential to the complete understanding of the material. One has to stay on his or her game to ensure a confident handle on the subject matter. Moreover, getting an answer that matches the one in the index of the book does not guarantee a good grade. One must avoid looking for just the right answer but instead encourage an attitude searching for comprehension. Moreover, one should not do homework at home. To fully concentrate on calculus, one should isolate himself or herself in some little desk in the library to do away with any other distractions. Study groups are another good way to do homework, but they also create a pitfall where one student becomes the crutch for others. One should not depend fully on other people to understand the material.

In addition to doing the homework, one should prepare for tests by listening to hints that the professor might give to the problems that might be on quizzes or tests, and also, one should practice various problems to develop skills to handle the problems of that specific subject area. With correct preparation which includes doing homework and studying for tests, although one might not studied for math in the past, Math 207 will become easier.

Finally, questions supplement one's learning. The tutor room has many experienced people willing to help others in understanding the material. Furthermore, every professor has office hours where he or she helps students. One should memorize these hours and ask any question that comes into mind. A question is futile if it goes nasked. All professors are willing to help students.

With all that said, one should also know that calculus does provide some interesting points. Everything involved in the course work is not automatically assumed to be correct. Each subject section begins describing a primitive form or rather the reason why such a thing can be done. For example, Math 207 is basically broken down into limits, differentiation, and integration, but all along with each section comes an introduction to how each topic develops its own equation or methods. This remains different from most classes because most nformation is given as fact while calculus as well as the rest of mathematics gives an explanation to supplement the fact. Finally, every discipline of calculus has a application. What each subject allows or solves relates to something in the real world.

In consideration of all the aforementioned facts, one should be better prepared for what lies ahead and more confident as how to approach such a course.

Sincerely,

William, Computer Science Major