Every engineering student is required to take calculus most often all the way up to Calc-3. Many struggles and end up repeating a calculus course at least once along the way. It is the ultimate pre-requisite besides physics and both are often responsible for students dropping or swapping out of engineering or STEM in general.
Why is calculus so hard? Why do concepts which are used in nearly every other STEM class from one time to another seem alien without an exact application?
If you are a math person, someone for whom endless equations, formulas, and numbers make sense, or seems appealing calculus is probably fun for you. But, when you aren't a math-minded person in a STEM field of study calculus seems like it is a roadblock designed to keep you from moving on. It is an easily overcomeable roadblock with dedication, study, and practice, yet still a roadblock nonetheless.
Having taken calc-1 twice now and finding myself in the middle of calc-2 I have learned the following:
1. Your first time through calculus is not something easily conquered alone.
2. Your second time through calculus opens all sorts of opportunities to you because you have seen the material before.
3. If you thought calculus was hard, calculus 2 is harder.
4. Calculus 3 exists.
5. Differential equations and linear algebra are also math requirements.
6. There are places to go to other than the tutoring center and math den for help.
7. Making friends with upperclassmen who know the material, your professors, and your pain is probably the most helpful resource besides Google.
The Tutoring Center is a great place to go to if you need a set time schedule. However, those STEM majors without the time availability whether it is due to classes or clubs oftentimes must resort to other means of support: professors office hours, TA review sessions, LA review sessions, math-lab hours, or organizing a study session of their own.
School resources are amazing, however, most of them are only available during the work week. By organizing a study session or homework session with your peers or upperclassmen then a much larger chunk of time becomes available to you.
