The thought of scientific calculators and linear equations causes many students to flee in terror. Those who suffer from math anxiety often let their insecurities hold them back, but there are a number of resources to help students make it through the academic adventure awaiting them at Deady Hall.
“Every field has its own disease,” said Richard Koch, director of undergraduate studies for the University math department. “Unfortunately, math’s disease is that some students end up feeling like idiots.”
Students tend to feel anxious about math for different reasons. Anna Seeley, a sophomore majoring in pre-journalism, said math intimidates her.
“There’s a large margin of error and a big chance for you to screw up,” she said. “There are a million and one steps you have to do to get to the end of the problem. It’s scary.”
Whether it’s due to fear or insecurity, mathematics tends to be low on the list of students’ favorite classes. For some students, high school math did not adequately prepare them for higher education. Others often feel behind their peers in class and choose not to ask a question for fear of looking less intelligent.
“Someone can be good at math in high school, but it gets harder later and that’s natural. Everyone has to spend more time on it,” said Marie Vitulli, a University math professor.
Students devote a lot of study time to math classes. Doug Hintz, a math specialist at Academic Learning Services, said there are more students who come to the center’s math lab for tutoring than its writing lab. Students in lower-level classes usually need more help.
“The class sizes are large, and that can be intimidating to a student,” Hintz said.
Some classes that commonly give students trouble include Math 95, Math 111, Math 112, Math 251 and Math 315.
Math 111, College Algebra, can pose challenges for University students because the pace of learning numbers, formulas and graphs is swift.
“We’re trying to teach in a term what would be taught a year in high school,” Koch said.
Math 315, Elementary Analysis, is open to math majors only and it is another common trouble zone for students. The class serves as the bridge between lower 200-level math courses and the upper-level courses loaded with more difficult material.
There are several misconceptions of why certain students excel in math while others are left behind.
Koch said one common misconception is that math success depends on a student’s gender, when in fact both females and males struggle with numbers and graphs.
However, Koch said he thinks the two sexes react differently when they are having problems understanding the material.
“Girls tend to be more vocal with their problems, but males don’t ask for help as much when they need it,” Koch said.Vitulli does not think one gender is better at understanding the material than the other, but she does think that females tend to be less confident in their skills.
“They don’t realize they’re at the same place, usually, in the class that the males are,” she said.
There are ways to calm fears and improve the academic performance of students who suffer from math anxieties.
“After all, even mathematicians get discouraged,” Koch said.
Sasha Harlow, a junior computer science major, said she loves math and offers some advice for those less enthusiastic about the subject.
“Negative attitudes are what will hurt you most,” she said. “You have to get rid of your prejudice against math in order to do well.”
Students who underestimate their math skills should remember to remain confident.
“Get a reality check from your professor before you dismiss yourself as not having what it takes,” Vitulli said.
Other advice to keep in mind: Don’t be afraid to ask questions, take classes in which active participation is encouraged, remain consistent with credit loads, stay on top of homework and remember to take deep breaths.
Hintz suggests not putting off math requirements until senior year.
“Your skills will be rusty by then,” he said. Also, students should avoid jumping ahead of their math placement test scores.
“The test exists for a reason,” Hintz said.
Koch said students who need help with math classes should take advantage of professors’ office hours. Private tutors can be located through Academic Learning Services.