Calculus-Based Physics for Dental School

[001calcnet]

I'm now officially a third-year pre-dental student, and about to finish my prerequisites for dental school. I only have Ochem II Lab (taking right now over the summer), Biochem (taking I and II), and Physics. For my physics requirement, my major (Biochem) allows me to take either the algebra-based sequence or the calculus-based sequence. I've talked to other pre-health students at my school about which to take and they all said to take algebra-based because it's easier. However, most of them are bio majors and only needed to take up to Calc I, but I've taken Calc I, II, and III, and got As in all of them. I feel like my knowledge of calc will allow me to do better at calculus-based physics more than algebra-based physics. I'm already registered to take the first part of calc-based in the fall.

Am I making a bad decision? Also, are there any dental schools that specifically require general physics instead of calculus-based? If it helps, I live in California.

Thanks!

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[Ryxndek]

I'm now officially a third-year pre-dental student, and about to finish my prerequisites for dental school. I only have Ochem II Lab (taking right now over the summer), Biochem (taking I and II), and Physics. For my physics requirement, my major (Biochem) allows me to take either the algebra-based sequence or the calculus-based sequence. I've talked to other pre-health students at my school about which to take and they all said to take algebra-based because it's easier. However, most of them are bio majors and only needed to take up to Calc I, but I've taken Calc I, II, and III, and got As in all of them. I feel like my knowledge of calc will allow me to do better at calculus-based physics more than algebra-based physics. I'm already registered to take the first part of calc-based in the fall.

Am I making a bad decision? Also, are there any dental schools that specifically require general physics instead of calculus-based? If it helps, I live in California.

Thanks!

I don't think it matters too much which physics you take, so long as you do well. Ironically my "calc-based" physics courses as a biochem major were still majority solved using algebra and the only calc was seen when they derived the equations. So unless the course is an engineering physics course, I could imagine you'll still see some type of algebra. But regardless, dental schools won't care which physics you take, they just want you to take it.

 

[Nachatta]

take whatever will get you a better grade

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I can't think of any dental school that requires calculus-based physics or calculus.

 

[Ryxndek]

I can't think of any dental school that requires calculus-based physics or calculus.

Harvard requires Calculus, calc 2/statistics

Admissions Requirements

All applicants to the DMD program must earn at least a bachelor’s degree by the time of enrollment. All prerequisite courses must be completed by the time of matriculation at the beginning of August. Candidates are required to take the following courses in English at a U.S., Canadian, UK or...

hsdm.harvard.edu

 

[001calcnet]

I can't think of any dental school that requires calculus-based physics or calculus.

Calc 1 and 2 I took because it was required for my major. 3 was recommended by the department and an impulsive choice that luckily worked out in the end, even though I know no dental school requires it

 

[001calcnet]

Harvard requires Calculus, calc 2/statistics

Do you think it's worth taking stats as well?? Outside of Harvard (I'm yet to know if I'll be a good fit there, and if I were I'd be covered on the math part anyway), I know some schools do require it but I don't think any of them are in California. I may add a math minor for my own interests and stats can count towards it.

 

[Ryxndek]

Do you think it's worth taking stats as well?? Outside of Harvard (I'm yet to know if I'll be a good fit there, and if I were I'd be covered on the math part anyway), I know some schools do require it but I don't think any of them are in California. I may add a math minor for my own interests and stats can count towards it.

Stats is definitely liked by schools. Most would prefer biostats (which I found more interesting, and applicable!) if you decide to take it. But if you meet the math requirements for schools you don’t have to take it

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Stats is much more useful for health care providers than calculus.

 

[jiataoy]

Agree with others here saying go with whatever's easier but from my experience one risk of doing algebra-based physics is it might be so boring you fall asleep during the final.

 

[FL2023]

I took Calc based physics and then Algebra based physics. I found calc based physics to be easier.

 

[Ryxndek]

Makes sense. Instead of simply solving a basic integral you have to create some elaborate algebraic equation with a ton of variables