A Lost Cause?

I would like to major in physics but haven't taken a math class higher than College Algebra yet (got a C with tutoring but feel that maybe i didn't give it my all) and I am 23 years old. I want to start over again and take Geometry, Pre-Calculus and Calculus at the college level.

A Lost Cause?
I suppose it's possible that you're simply not intelligent enough to handle the math. However, people of normal intelligence do well in math if they are truly interested in it and enjoy the challenge and knowledge. That's really what it takes. Enough interest to "give it [your] all". You cannot succeed in any sufficiently challenging endeavor unless you enjoy it. That's a simple fact of life, in my experience. I don't mean evey minute, I mean overall and after the work is done. Few things worthwhile can be accomplished without a struggle.
Reply:go for it if you feel comfortable with math.
Reply:Not a lost cause at all. I've had several students who have done exactly what you are talking about doing. Every single one (that I know of) has been successful in that route.
Reply:Keep in mind that you'll be in classes with people who got A's in geometry, pre-cal, and cal when they were in high school. They could teach college algebra, yet are daily challenged by the multiple problem sets they have to turn in each week.





Also, you're going to have to learn what you didn't get out of your algebra class (the difference between a C and an A) at some point. So you'll be learning that while also learning 10th-, 11th-, and 12th-grade math.





I've seen people who did much better at algebra have a lot of trouble in freshman, calculus-based physics, never mind the upper-level material.





You really shouldn't minimize the C, not as much as the first three answerers have. You can put the word "college" in front of it, but in the end, it is just 9th-grade material.





Perhaps you could elaborate on why you're interested in physics. Are you sure you're doing this for the right reasons? I've taught students who did poorly in a math class, then went on the next semester to take the next class up to try to "redeem" themselves (which I think is a very bad reason) and they got an even worse grade than the semester before. They didn't appreciate that the following semester's material presumed mastery of the prior material. They also underestimated that the earlier material is significantly easier than the more advanced material.