Ooooh girls, I was sweatin' taking the Math Placement Test yesterday. I called last week to schedule it, gave myself over the weekend to freshen up on my stellar math skills, and I was pretty confidant right up until Sunday night when the trig and the analytical geometry started looking like a foreign language.
Background --- Earlier last week I had spoken with the Math Department Head, asked him if I could take Calc I at Trident Tech first (MUCH cheaper than CSU). His response was, "What makes you think you're ready for Calculus I? ... If you haven't taken a math class in 10 years, then I recommend you start back at College Algebra."
Let me tell ya, right before this phone call Mom had encouraged me to make good friends with this guy (he is the department head of my major after all.) So I grabbed a hold of all the words that were trying to fly out of my mouth and let him know that I home schooled my now college step-son, back in the 20th century when I did have my last math class I got A's in both Calculus I & II, and I've already pulled out some of my old textbooks and feel pretty confidant starting back at Calc I. That decision I had already made. What I was calling about was whether or not the classes would transfer if I started at TTC first.
So Dr. Ashby says that I would be behind if I took Calc I at TTC, because CSU's version is way more indepth. He highly recommended that I take my math classes at CSU since I was planning on getting a math degree from them. I should also go take the Math Placement test just to be sure of where I should start. I agreed to take the test in an effort not to tick-off my dept. head.
Monday comes rolling around and I've studied some, got a couple books from the library and pulled up a couple sites on the internet. Like I said before, eveything was hunky-dory until about 10pm Sunday night. I started getting worried... what if I go in there and don't do well, and then I get placed in a lower math class? I would be so MAD!! I started thinking, well maybe I should reschedule the test? or not take it at all, since my transcript already qualified me for Cal I?
I have to admit that I came very, very close to not going. But finally at 8:00am Monday I said, "Okay Lord, I trust you. I'm going to go take this test. If I should start in a lower math class, then so be it."
Well, I started my test just after 9am. I whizzed thru most of the questions, but then got very concerned by about 3-4 of them. I ruled out as many of the answers as I could (you know, like how they taught you to do on the SAT), then I placed my best educated guess.
Once I finished, the exam assistant pulled my results off the printer and said "You did very well! You've been placed in Calculus I."
Whoohooo! Praise Jesus! I trust in God and he delivers!
And that's not all...
Later the same day, I get a call on my cellphone from Dr. Ashby! He says in a very friendly not-so-big-headed-voice " I'll be happy to sign off on you taking Calculus I at Trident Tech. I'll leave the form on my office door." Well, I had since decided to go ahead and start at CSU. So he goes "Well are you planning on taking Calulus I @ CSU this Fall then? Have you registered for classes yet?" No, I'm not scheduled to register until this coming Friday, but I know that there were only 2 seats left in the Calc I class as of last week. Dr. Ashby says, "Well, you just come see me. I'll make sure you get into Calculus I!"
another Whoohooo!!! Mom was right. All I had to do was keep my calm and go in there and show them what I can do. They'll come around real quick.
Thanks Mom!! :)
