should I take methods 3/4?

[staceyanne1]

Im currently a year 11 student and im contemplating dropping methods for yr12. My yr11 test scores are incredibly turbulent (calculus and functions were below 50% but all other tests were B and up. I hate maths and if I dropped it I possibly wouldn't even do further as my strengths are writing subjects but I take methods as I want to keep options open. Maths is draining and takes up so much time and I think it will take away from other subjects. Im not naturally good at maths as well.

Should this mean I should quit methods to avoid the stress in year 12 or or should I stick at it as it is a prerequisite for commerce (course im possibly considering)

Thanks

[eddybaha]

Hi, to answer your question, we have to go deeper into what you want to do in the future for example, how strongly do you consider doing commerce in the future.

Should this mean I should quit methods to avoid the stress in year 12 or or should I stick at it as it is a prerequisite for commerce (course im possibly considering)

Thanks

You also have to ask yourself why methods is a prerequisite for a course like commerce. There must be reason why universities require students to take this subject to enter this particular course. Obviously, having the capacity to do a subject like methods is needed for a course like commerce. Also What particular field in commerce do you want to pursue. You may think that only fields like actuary and accounting involve mathematics, but in general the capacity to do mathematics correlates with the ability to think, reason and analyse logically which are all imperative in any field of commerce.

I hate maths and if I dropped it I possibly wouldn't even do further as my strengths are writing subjects.
Thanks

If it is true that you hate maths, i highly suggest you not take methods next year. I say this because, you say you are considering commerce yet you hate maths. If your strengths are in writing subjects then you should be choosing a course suitable to your personality, interests, long term goals and strengths. Commerce may not be the right course for you. But to determine that i would need more information about you, your interests and your goals for the future.

Maths is draining and takes up so much time and I think it will take away from other subjects.

This is definitely not a good sign if you wish to continue next year. As a year 12 student your workload will definitely increase, and with that, stress increases too. I have seen so many friends and peers struggle throughout the year coping with stress. It's true, year 12 is an emotional journey that some people cannot withstand. You have to consider how much work you are willing to put into methods as it is not an easy subject. To give you further advice i need to know what kind of person you are. What are you qualities? Are you resilient, persisting, hardworking?

Im not naturally good at maths as well.

Personally, i hate it when people say things like this. I don't believe that anyone is naturally talented at mathematics. I believe there are those who have worked on it from a young age and have built up a strong foundation which makes maths at VCE level easier for them, and those who are newer to maths which puts them at a disadvantage. But in saying that, i can see where you're coming from. I think what you mean is you don't have a strong foundation in mathematics. I understand. It can be frustrating.

On the other hand, how confident are you with your atar score in general. Methods is a fairly high scaling subject and although it may not be a prerequisite to your other preferences in courses, it may be still worth doing if it significantly helps in achieving your atar. What are your other subjects? Have you decided on your top 4? I know it sounds like I'm contradicting myself, one minute I am telling you not to do it, next minute I am, but I am just trying to let you see all perspectives.

I hope this has helped you! follow up with any questions, I would be glad to answer them and share my insight.

[slothpomba]

The golden rule of VCE is you should do what you actually like. That's the only thing you need to know. It's meant to be an (almost enjoyable) experience of learning new things and looking into your interests, the current system has made that a bit more difficult but its true none the less. If you love a subject, it'll barely feel like work and everything will come so much easier. If you hate it, you'll have to struggle and push through it, you wont want to do the work, you wont want to be there and you'll just plain hate it.

If you really don't like it, i'd suggest you drop it unless you need it.

Should this mean I should quit methods to avoid the stress in year 12 or or should I stick at it as it is a prerequisite for commerce (course im possibly considering)

You're at a point where you really need to start narrowing down what you want to a degree, you cant really still entertain the idea of doing every degree under the sun unfortunately (dont worry i was like this too). You need to think about whether you really want to do commerce or not. If you dont do methods now there are always pathways later but this is the much easier way. I don't know if theres much point taking a subject you dislike for the minor "just in case" scenario. You should probably figure out whether commerce will be on the list or not be on the list, it's as simple as that.

You may think that only fields like actuary and accounting involve mathematics, but in general the capacity to do mathematics correlates with the ability to think, reason and analyse logically which are all imperative in any field of commerce.

You don't need to do maths to be able to those :p.

[staceyanne1]

hi thanks for the responses!

i'm debating between taking further (to be able to do a double degree in bus/arts at monash to leave that open) and taking english.

i found methods very stressful alongside balancing a 3/4  however i did incredibly well at year 10 maths (high A+ average)

should i take further to open up courses or is it too hard to do well in and takes more work than english

[alondouek]

Apart from the points that have already been mentioned, there's another factor to consider: How useful will the theory you learn in Methods be, beyond the scope of prerequisites?

In my opinion, taking Methods opens up a large realm of knowledge for you to develop and use throughout higher education and employment. As someone who's not particularly strong at mathematics (understatement of the century lol) but who's taken uni maths units, I can safely say that the maths that you're exposed to in Methods will stand you in good stead academically for many areas that you may choose to pursue in the future.

That said, you should always consider how stressed you will be because of it, and the impact it may have on your ATAR (though given the bottom subjects 10% rule mitigates this somewhat). If you truly feel that you'd be disadvantaged by taking Methods over another subject - and that you wouldn't benefit from it academically in any way - then perhaps don't take it.

tl;dr consider all your options as well as all associated consequences, both in the short term and the long.

[eddybaha]

further maths is very similar to yr 10 maths. i recommend you take further because you'll probably be able to score highly in it and it is less stressful as well.

[plato]

I hate maths and if I dropped it I possibly wouldn't even do further as my strengths are writing subjects but I take methods as I want to keep options open.

........ or should I stick at it as it is a prerequisite for commerce (course im possibly considering)

Keeping one door open just because you are "possibly considering" a course, may mean not looking at, or closing, other doors.

I think you have probably answered your own question when you say you "hate maths". Go with your strengths as they are probably what you enjoy.

[rebec28]

Definitely do not do methods. This is a subject you really have to enjoy to put in all the work, and you will find yourself neglecting and resenting it if you already do not like maths