Calc

[bader]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi everyone, I was just wondering how important it is to take a Calc class or whether it is even necessary or not, if one is going to apply to med school. I am planning on taking a math class next semester and I wanted to know if I should whether I should take an easy math class (say trig) or exert a lot of time and energy into a class like calculus-is it worth it?

Peace.

 

[jlee9531]

wow i didnt know they offered trig in college....

i dunno...i always assumed med schools always wanted at least calc and some dont require but recommend stats as well.

 

[deleted6669]

very few schools require calc. I would only take it if it is required at a school you are interested in. I took stats instead.

 

[goingINSANE]

don't you need calc for physics though?

 

[HawkeyeBFP]

Most schools offer both calculus-based and non-calc based physics classes. I took calculus but then took the non-calc physics, only because I needed to fit in physics over the summer and that was the course that was offered.

That said, it doesn't hurt to take calc anyway. Looks good, and regardless of what you think it's really not all that hard. I found physics to be a much more demanding class than calc (and I hadn't taken math in years).

Just my 2 cents....

 

[rgporter]

No, there is a trig based physics. It's a lot harder though. I thought so anyway, I took both. I'd recommend taking calc, you never know when you will run into a class you want to take that requires it. Or you may want to change your major, and the new one requires it. Or when it is time for you to apply, you may find the school you're most interested in, changed their policy and now require it.
In the end though calc is just really useful to know, you'll need it to understand some of the most interesting subjects.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

You're being misinformed. Calculus is NOT required at most schools. Check with the school you're interested in (usually the hardest schools to get into require it). ALL schools only require trig based Phsyics and it IS easier. Calc based is the same exact thing but you have to derive the formulas and use calculus that you won't use on the MCAT.

My advice, take Stats and trig-based Calc and you're set, Trust me, I've done my research.

 

[TTSD]

Originally posted by jlee9531
wow i didnt know they offered trig in college....

i dunno...i always assumed med schools always wanted at least calc and some dont require but recommend stats as well.

Yes, colleges do have them. And they disproportionately have a large number of cute chicks in them.

 

[UCLAstudent]

Some schools (including mine) ONLY offer calculus-based physics, so, in that sense, calculus was required for me.