Why Being Out Of Your Depth Is So Bad

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Being out of your depth in a math class is a huge problem because your learning progress grinds to a halt.

It’s not like you’re on a train that left late from the station. It’s like you’re on a train that’s not moving.

The train might even start moving backwards: if you’re so far out of your depth that you’re just flailing around on the problems, then you’re likely not absorbing much implicit review on the component skills you’ve previously learned, and as a result you’re forgetting them.

The only way to get the train moving forwards again is to drop down and work at a level that’s appropriate for you. (Depending on circumstances you may have to stay in the class and put in lots of time getting remedial support on those things outside of class.)

If you don’t, the situation compounds into a vicious cycle, getting worse and worse. Each class you take, you come in less and less prepared, getting more and more out of your depth.

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