Back in school but can't remember all of the math. Doomed?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concerns of returning to school for physics after a significant time away from formal education, particularly regarding the retention of mathematical knowledge from high school. Participants share their experiences and strategies for relearning math concepts as they prepare for their studies.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Personal experience

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses anxiety about forgetting high school math and questions if they are "doomed" in returning to school for physics.
  • Another participant suggests that while relearning math is necessary, it can be done more quickly on subsequent attempts based on personal experience.
  • A participant shares their own experience of returning to school at 34, emphasizing that catching up is possible and that they started with pre-calculus.
  • Concerns are raised about remembering the basics of math rather than advanced topics, with a participant expressing confidence in their ability to manage the review process.
  • Some participants mention a mix of reviewing material from scratch and addressing gaps as they arise during their studies.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that relearning math is a common experience for those returning to education, and there is a shared belief in the ability to catch up. However, individual concerns about specific areas of math retention and the approach to relearning vary.

Contextual Notes

Participants' experiences highlight the variability in how long it takes to relearn concepts and the different strategies employed, such as reviewing comprehensively versus addressing gaps as they come up.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals considering returning to school for STEM fields, particularly those concerned about their mathematical background and retention of prior knowledge.

Eleknar
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I'm 27 years old and I'm going back to school for physics. What if I can't remember everything from high school and what not? Am I doomed?? My hope is that the various different concepts will come back to me as I use them.
 
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Then you will have to learn math all over again. However, in my experience, you learn it *much* faster the second or third time around.

Start reviewing now if you have time...

(I should add that I went back for an MS in physics in my 40's. I needed to re-teach myself calculus and undergrad physics almost from the beginning. However, it didn't take four years... more like a few months.)
 
Last edited:
Of course you forgot! I went back to school for math at 34. I just started with pre-calculus, and now I'm entering my senior year. You'll catch up. You haven't been away nearly as long as I was.
 
dkotschessaa said:
Of course you forgot! I went back to school for math at 34. I just started with pre-calculus, and now I'm entering my senior year. You'll catch up. You haven't been away nearly as long as I was.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm actually more concerned about remembering the basics than I am the more advanced stuff. It's weird, really. I'll be fine though, I'm sure ;)
 
Eleknar said:
Thanks for the encouragement! I'm actually more concerned about remembering the basics than I am the more advanced stuff. It's weird, really. I'll be fine though, I'm sure ;)

I went through various phases of "oh now I have to go through and review all this stuff from scratch!" which I sometimes did, but more often it was a kind of "fix it as you go," sort of process.
 

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