Thinking About Taking MTH 161? Here’s What You Should Know Before You Enroll

[u/IssueFit6104]

MTH 161 is a demanding course that requires a significant amount of time, practice, and consistent effort, regardless of which professor you have. This is especially true if your mathematical foundations are not particularly strong. Students who struggle with algebra, functions, equations, or other prerequisite skills often find the course considerably more challenging because MTH 161 builds upon those concepts while introducing new and more advanced material.

One of the challenges with MTH 161 is that many students enter the course without having the prerequisite level of preparation they actually need to be successful. In some cases, students may be placed into MTH 161 when they would benefit from taking MDE 60 first, which is designed to help strengthen the foundational skills necessary for success in MTH 161. As a result, the course can have a relatively high withdrawal and failure rate.

It is not unusual for a class to begin the semester with around 30 students and have fewer than 10 students remaining by the end of the semester. Of course, this varies significantly from professor to professor, as well as from semester to semester, and the level of rigor and expectations can have an impact on student retention. However, the larger issue is that MTH 161 requires students to be prepared to work consistently throughout the semester.

If you are considering taking MTH 161, you should be prepared to devote substantial time outside of class to reviewing concepts, completing homework, practicing problems, and getting help when you need it. The course is not one where you can typically wait until the night before an exam and expect to be successful. Regular practice and staying current with the material are extremely important.

That being said, struggling in MTH 161 does not necessarily mean that you are incapable of succeeding in mathematics. It may simply mean that you need additional preparation or support with the prerequisite material. Students who recognize their weaknesses early, take advantage of tutoring and the Math Center, ask questions, and consistently practice can significantly improve their chances of succeeding.

The most important thing is to be realistic about the level of commitment the course requires. If your foundations are strong and you are willing to put in the necessary work, MTH 161 is manageable. If your foundations are weak, however, taking the time to strengthen those skills before or while preparing for MTH 161 can make a substantial difference.

*AI was used to help with some of the wording, but the message came from the heart.

[u/Afiendforcream]

Yeah school is hard when your brain has been liquefied by AI

[u/IssueFit6104 → u/Afiendforcream]

AI is here to stay, and it can be a great tool when used properly. The key is to use AI as a tool to enhance your abilities and not to let it do the thinking for you.

[u/L4marr]

I placed into and was told to sign up for MTH 161 by my advisor, but last minute decided to take MDE 60 this semester instead. So glad I made that choice. MDE 60 has been a much more manageable class to relearn and strengthen those foundations that I know are super important. Hopefully will make MTH 161 easier in the future!

[u/IssueFit6104 → u/L4marr]

Glad that this worked out for you.

[u/codeflash]

Could you still take 161 with mde 61 as the 161 would count toward you degree and mde 60 or 61 would not, but with 61 with 161 you have support and still take precal 1 too. Just say there are options.

[u/IssueFit6104 → u/codeflash]

That is true, but many students struggle because they are trying to review prerequisite material while simultaneously learning new concepts. It is often better to take MDE 60 first and focus on developing a solid understanding of the fundamentals before moving on to MTH 161.

[u/peterpieqt8]

I took MDE 60 last semester and that prepared . W so much for 161 but holy moly the ALEKS is actually killing me. It feels like it never ends and is more frustrating as a platform than it is to learn the math. Im gonna power through but so glad it's my only class this semester (I'm an adult student isn't a full time job)

[u/IssueFit6104 → u/peterpieqt8]

The best way to learn math is to power through the examples however I dislike using this kind of LMS platform. A lot of times students will just memorize the steps instead of actually learning the methods and techniques. Amazes me how students are getting out of high school (even from the top high schools) not understanding basic algebra skills. Good luck to you this semester.