Calculus II?

[zeppelinpage4]

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So I understand that most medical schools don't require Calc I and II together. However I recently heard that many premed students end up taking Calc II anyways and they come off as stronger applicants among kids who didn't take Calc II.

Is that true? Also being a biology major will I need to know Calc II to do well in future science courses?

The reason I am asking is that i'm really not very good at math. It's been one of my weakest subjects since I was young and though i'm doing fairly with Calc I, it's certainly a lot of work and takes a lot of effort to do.

I need to register this week and i'm not sure whether I should go on to Calc II, or whether it would be ok for me to take a stats course instead.

So basically if I am currently taking Calc I, would it be better to go on to Calc II? Or take stats? I really need the class which will be less time consuming and allow me to concentrate on my harder required courses like chem.
At the same time however, I don't want to seem like a weaker applicant or miss out on important material I might need to know.

 

[Shinobiz11]

Dude,look at your degree requirements. You don't even need to take calculus I'm pretty sure, just up to pre-calc (I think). Anyway you don't need that high level math unless you are taking high level physics classes. Besides that you won't need it for anything. I'm not sure about med schools being impressed by it. If it was me I would just take the other course that you actually need to concentrate on, like chem.

Biostatistics are also good, but is it math credits you need? If not, I heard taking Mammalian Physiology is a great class to prepare you for med-school.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Don't take Calc II unless you are dead set on going to, like, Harvard or WashU. Take stats. You won't look like a weaker applicant for not having taken Calc II, but you will look like a weaker applicant if you take Calc II and do poorly.

 

[Zona Pellucida]

So pointless. Don't do it unless you love math and want to. No one will care.

 

[phonyreal98]

I got credit for Calc II via AP credit...and you couldn't pay me to take it again.

 

[lstone13]

I took Calculus II, but I seriously doubt that it makes me a "stronger applicant." I'm not a science major, so I can't tell you if you would need it or not for your upper level science classes. However, I am pretty sure that because many medical schools do not require it, we will not need to know it for medical school.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

Alright thanks a ton guys, I think i'll stick with the stats route.

I'd be taking Chem II and Bio II either way next semester but if I take stats instead of Calc II. That will probably give me a little more time to put into chem and bio...hopefully stats isn't too bad.

 

[lstone13]

Alright thanks a ton guys, I think i'll stick with the stats route.

I'd be taking Chem II and Bio II either way next semester but if I take stats instead of Calc II. That will probably give me a little more time to put into chem and bio...hopefully stats isn't too bad.

Statistics wasn't bad at all! You should be fine! 👍

 

[49erfan]

the ideal way to fulfill math requirement is to do one semester of calc and one semester of statistics.... and dont use AP credit for them... take them in college and do well in them

 

[zeppelinpage4]

So I just had my first meeting with my academic adviser and I spoke with my Calc I teacher.

I was pretty much set on taking stats but now i'm a little unsure. Basically my Calc I teacher said that I seemed to be doing okay in her class and she thought I could go on to Calc II if I wanted, she did say however that stats was less demanding and just not as bad.
So stats seemed like the best option in terms of my GPA and being able to put more time into my science classes.


Only my adviser highly recommended I take Calc II.
Turns out for my B.S. in biology I need Calc II and if I take stats i'll be getting a B.A. in biology. Not sure how big the difference is between the degrees.
He also added that I have more options in terms of minors if I have Calc II under my belt and he added that it might make me seem like a slightly better applicant.
Last there's a special Calc II course for bio majors which puts a little more emphasis on using calc as a tool in experiments etc...it seems kind of interesting.

I still want to take stats just because the path of least resistance would be ideal but Calc II certainly comes with it's benefits, i'm just not sure if they're worth it.

 

[rockaction]

So I just had my first meeting with my academic adviser and I spoke with my Calc I teacher.

I was pretty much set on taking stats but now i'm a little unsure. Basically my Calc I teacher said that I seemed to be doing okay in her class and she thought I could go on to Calc II if I wanted, she did say however that stats was less demanding and just not as bad.
So stats seemed like the best option in terms of my GPA and being able to put more time into my science classes.


Only my adviser highly recommended I take Calc II.
Turns out for my B.S. in biology I need Calc II and if I take stats i'll be getting a B.A. in biology. Not sure how big the difference is between the degrees.
He also added that I have more options in terms of minors if I have Calc II under my belt and he added that it might make me seem like a slightly better applicant.
Last there's a special Calc II course for bio majors which teaches puts a little more emphasis on using calc as a tool in experiments etc..

I still want to take stats just because the path of least resistance would be ideal but Calc II certainly comes with it's benefits, i'm just not sure if they're worth it.

Math professors always tell you to take more math classes

 

[Cro]

Well, if you want a B.S. in Biology I would go ahead and take it. It's not going to really effect your application process in any noticeable way, but Calculus 2 really shouldn't be that bad if you're doing well in Calculus 1 now. Then again, statistics is a great course to take and I found it highly interesting. You really can't lose either way you go.

 

[FloatOn]

I found calc 2 to be way more challenging than calc 1. All that sequences and series business definitely sucked.

 

[RANE]

I am so glad to read this since I hate Math. in my Community college curriculum I have to go upto Calculus I to earn my AS In Science. cant wait to get through it. I have to take precal and Cal I and Physics I. I guess i will take Stats when I transfer?

 

[Dannyw]

Calc II is required for my biology degree. I'm planning on taking diffy q's and calc III also.

 

[Rolling Stone]

I thought calculus courses would contribute much to your understanding of many physics concepts, which could significantly help in the physical sciences section.

 

[jtimmer1]

SOME B.S. degrees in biology require calc II. However, if you a chem major plan on taking calc II and then some.

 

[ezsanche]

chem majors are required to take calculus 1,2,3

physics majors are required to take calculus 1,2,3 and differential equations

 

[ezsanche]

I thought calculus courses would contribute much to your understanding of many physics concepts, which could significantly help in the physical sciences section.

no knowledge of calculus is needed on the mcat at all. The highest math you will need is algebra 😎

 

[FloatOn]

chem majors are required to take calculus 1,2,3

Depends on the school. I only have to take calc 1 and 2.

 

[jtimmer1]

B.A. chem majors typically take calc I and II, B.S. usually takes I, II, and III plus another advanced math.

 

[TurkSurg]

Take it if you want. I guess its different for everyone. I really like the class because I learn a lot and its very challenging (the fun part). Oh well, not everyone likes challenge. Wouldn't these type of classes prepare you for your future career when you are in a challenging situation in your medical procedures? 😉

 

[zetabetazeta]

chem majors are required to take calculus 1,2,3

physics majors are required to take calculus 1,2,3 and differential equations

Poor me..I'm biochem major and I have to take I, II, III 🙁 Thank God that my math is not that bad 🙂

 

[zetabetazeta]

chem majors are required to take calculus 1,2,3

physics majors are required to take calculus 1,2,3 and differential equations

Poor me..I'm biochem major and I have to take I, II, III 🙁 Thank God that my math is not that bad 🙂

 

[zetabetazeta]

🙂

 

[zetabetazeta]

I think if you are good at math, you should take more math classes to bring your GPA up. Haha, that's what I did =]

 

[zetabetazeta]

chem majors are required to take calculus 1,2,3

physics majors are required to take calculus 1,2,3 and differential equations

Poor me..I'm biochem major and I have to take I, II, III 🙁 but thank God that my math is not that bad 🙂

 

[zetabetazeta]

What just happened? Sorry, guys, I thought my first reply didn't get through, so I sent so many replies..ugh..😕

 

[zinki949]

...when it comes to the admissions committee, a strong applicant is an applicant with strong numbers...

...that means...

your total application points = the score generated from your gpa (your classes) + the score generated from your mcat + score generated from your volunteer/work/etc

if you make the mark, then you will be offered an interview... regardless if you take more than the requirments...

 

[zeppelinpage4]

Thanks for all the advice guys, it helped me a ton. I thought about it and I think I will go for the Calc II for Biologists course.

I know stats would have been a lot easier and i'm gonna be working my tail off next semester but I feel like I could get a lot out of this course since it covers how Calc and stats can be applied to bio.

As a premed I know stats would be the smartest route to take and I have no reason to hurt my GPA but I feel like I can get alot out of the class and a challenge might not be such a bad thing. It can only make me a better student...maybe.

If I can't get in Calc II for biologists, i'm going with stats though. Then if I can't take states i'll take regular Calc II.