Ask a group of students about their least favorite subjects, and you might notice something: Time and again, math is is the answer. Many students wonder why so many math classes are required, when they aren’t planning to major in a related field.
Sure, you need math on a daily basis; grocery shopping, cooking, paying bills, and calculating the tip at a restaurant all require basic math skills. But you learned those back in seventh grade. Why do you need algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus?
It trains your brain. Research has shown that students proficient in math have more gray matter in certain areas of their brains. They also perform better on cognitive tasks requiring visual attention and decision making.
It helps you learn to solve problems. When facing a problem in your life, you might not immediately relate that situation to algebra. However, higher-level math skills teach us how to think analytically and develop better reasoning skills. So while you might not break out an equation in the midst of a life crisis, the ability to recognize known and unknown variables will help. You’re able to follow a logical sequence of steps to solve the problem, because you’ve learned this more general skill by sitting in algebra class.
It helps you understand studies and statistics. Even if you plan to pursue a degree in a humanities field, you need to understand and interpret studies performed in that field. For example, psychologists study human behavior. But they get their data on human behavior from studies that are quantified mathematically. In order to understand things like correlation and causation, math skills are important.
Some of the best careers require math. If you want to do anything in the STEM field, you’re going to be using a lot of math. It might not always be fun, but the reward lies in a growing career field, more opportunity, and often higher pay. It’s worth your consideration, at least.
And yes, it’s just required. At many universities, plenty of degree programs only require one or two math courses. But because the grades you receive in those courses will impact your overall GPA, you might as well prepare for them in high school.
Passing those math classes is just one more step to reaching your ultimate goal of a college degree and a rewarding career. So even if it’s not your favorite subject, persevere to do your best anyway. And if you need extra help in math, particularly with regard to preparing for standardized tests, give us a call. We can point you in the right direction.