Did you know that the learning of math is the most efficient way of creating problem-solving structure in your brain? When a person repeatedly practices math and math-related content, the neural connections that are formed and reinforced are in an area of the brain associated with problem-solving skills. This does take time. Other studies have shown that for many of us the development of this area in the brain occurs later in life often in the late teens and early twenties. We have heard many students who have come back to school at 20 or 21 years old and they say, "I don't understand why this same math was so hard in high school".
What is more expensive when buying a computer? The memory? or the Processor? Memory for a computer these days is relatively cheap but we are all willing to pay big bucks for the latest and most powerful processor because of what it can do. Well, that is interesting because, in the job market, employers pay people for what they can actually do. Most often, employers speak of hiring problem-solvers; people who can think. Math and Physics (physics is applied math) are two of the best subjects for enhancing this ability and this is precisely why we include more of them than any other chemistry program in the province.
At September startup, essentially all the students are concerned about the math/physics. First of all, both subjects here are designed to be delivered (particularly in the first semester) at a reasonable pace both in content and volume and secondly the professionals who deliver it have their degrees or graduate degrees in math and physics. By the end of the first year in April, we do a follow-up discussion with the class and basically, every last person speaks of how neither the math or the physics was "as bad as I thought" and in fact, most say that physics was one of their favourite courses! Advantage to our grads.