Calculus. Input needed.

[ILLGetit1Day]

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I'm a first year student doing my undergrad at SMU (dallas private school). I am currently taking Calculus I, and I was wondering whether or not I should go ahead with Calculus II (if it was up to me, I'd rather not).

Do dental schools especially care if you've gone as far as Cal. II or would I be fine stopping at Cal. I? How many of you went this path or above? If I don't take Cal. II, I'll definitely take Statistics.

Thanks. 👍

 

[Dentist 2 be]

First, off most schools don't even require calculus but simply recommend it. If you do really well in calculus I then that's great and will only be looked at as a plus for your application. I wouldn't risk taking calculus II because I don't think they will pay that much attention to it. Also, it is a very challenging course and you don;t know how well you will do. You woulnd't want to ruin your science GPA (bc calc is computed in that) or your total GPA. I would only take it if it is inevitable if you're planning on a pmath or physics major. Other than that I recommend to stay away and take an upper level science course later on. The adcoms will put much more wieght on that!=)

 

[Balki]

I'm a first year student doing my undergrad at SMU (dallas private school). I am currently taking Calculus I, and I was wondering whether or not I should go ahead with Calculus II (if it was up to me, I'd rather not).

Do dental schools especially care if you've gone as far as Cal. II or would I be fine stopping at Cal. I? How many of you went this path or above? If I don't take Cal. II, I'll definitely take Statistics.

Thanks. 👍

Sure it wouldn't hurt to have CALC II , and III perhaps a little of differential equations along with number theory
😀
But then again Even DAT doesn't test that. Cacl II can be a little difficult and requires studying. The only reason I took it so that I stay on the top of math, because as we all know it goes out fast. But be aware there are other courses that can help you prepare for the DAT better than Calc II 🙂
Good luck

 

[edkNARF]

If you can, take statistics. It will make reading journal articles much easier!

 

[quickfix]

don't limit yourself b/c you think you need to in order to get into dental school. my philosophy in college was to take the toughest classes possible and try to learn as much as possible no matter what i predicted the outcome of the grade.

in the long run this will prolly help more than hurt even if u come up with a few bad grades b/c you were not as well prepared as your peers in a particualr class. if you start with a much smaller knowledge base and get a lower grade, you might have leraned more than everyone else. just keep at it, learn as much as possible, and things will work out.

if you were wondering, i doubt that you will need need to have calc 2 under your belt to be successful in dental school, however, i would take it anyway. if you want to be a smart cookie, then u gotta have at least calc 2. calc 3, now when you are done wiht that, u can stop math. 😉

 

[smuwillobrien]

I'm a first year student doing my undergrad at SMU (dallas private school). I am currently taking Calculus I, and I was wondering whether or not I should go ahead with Calculus II (if it was up to me, I'd rather not).

Do dental schools especially care if you've gone as far as Cal. II or would I be fine stopping at Cal. I? How many of you went this path or above? If I don't take Cal. II, I'll definitely take Statistics.

Thanks. 👍

I took calculus I and II last year, and got an A+ in both, however, if at all possible you should avoid calculus II like the plague. Perhaps it was just the professor I had for the course, but of the 100 people who started the class with me there were only 15 left at the end of the semester.

It involves actual work as opposed to calculus I, which just required a little refresher from high school calculus. Unless it's part of a degree requirement (it is here) then avoid it if at all possible. However, if you do enjoy mathematics and you don't mind putting extra work into learning how to find the surface of rotation of parametric curves [and other equally boring things] then by all means take it.

Good luck.

 

[ILLGetit1Day]

Thank you all for the advice!!! 🙂

 

[tabbycattia]

I am currently taking Calculus, and being a non-science major (Although a very science-driven person), I find Calculus useful in many things. I think Statistics is very handy as well, and recommend that students take both in getting ready for Dental School. While there may other recommended courses they would like you to take, Calculus will make you look very good (if you do well in it!!) and Calculus II I hear is actually a tad easier, depending on the teacher, because you already have all the theory you need from C I. You are your best judge, however, according to your comfort level with Calculus.

 

[pmoney]

Personally I suggest you take stats if you want to take a math course...dump calc asap. But thats just me...

 

[ryofire]

To take calculus or not to take .............
that is the question? 😕
Why make a simple thing hard? the answer lies within u.............me i would just take the damn thing and get it over with! 😀

 

[ATX04UT]

Texas Texas Yeeeee Haaaaa!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DDSSlave]

I'm a first year student doing my undergrad at SMU (dallas private school). I am currently taking Calculus I, and I was wondering whether or not I should go ahead with Calculus II (if it was up to me, I'd rather not).

Do dental schools especially care if you've gone as far as Cal. II or would I be fine stopping at Cal. I? How many of you went this path or above? If I don't take Cal. II, I'll definitely take Statistics.

Thanks. 👍

I took Calc 2 and am in Dental school now and can tell you with absolute certainty that it is useless. I enjoyed calc and made an A in both courses although Calc 2 was considerably more difficult IMO. If calc 2 isn't required for your major, I'd pick more advanced biology or biochem or even chem classes. It will prepare you a lot better than any math class will. Bottom line - get good grades in whatever you take.

Edit: One more thing after reading the other replies more carefully - I remember ZERO calculus now... and by the time you're half way thru dental school, so will you. But nevertheless, as others have said, take what you are interested in, not just what's required for dental school. I took several liberal arts classes outside of my science major and would do it again.

 

[topolm]

I have a chemical engineering degree and most of my che scores were B's or B-'s
(2.7-3.00)
However, the rest of my science classes: chem/bio/math/physics I have a solid 3.5+ gpa. On applying to dental/med school, will they factor in that my chemical engineering classes which were much much tougher than the bio, chem, physics and math classes? Also, since I will be 4 years out of college and have work experience, will this dilute the importance of gpa a touch?
Thanks.

 

[Dentist 2 be]

I have a chemical engineering degree and most of my che scores were B's or B-'s
(2.7-3.00)
However, the rest of my science classes: chem/bio/math/physics I have a solid 3.5+ gpa. On applying to dental/med school, will they factor in that my chemical engineering classes which were much much tougher than the bio, chem, physics and math classes? Also, since I will be 4 years out of college and have work experience, will this dilute the importance of gpa a touch?
Thanks.

Well, Dental schools factor in 4 averages for you. One of which is the BCP (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics - no matter which ones you take) and another which is your science GPA ( math, all sciences, computer science) your general (overall including everything) GPA and finally your non-science GPA (every class except those that are considered to be sciences)

They will defintely put into consideration that you picked a very difficult major and did not take the easy way out. However, they will still factor in all your chemical engineering classes.

And the fact that you haven't been in college for 4 years will not really make them pay less attention to your GPA (that's in my opinion- but im not an adcom so what do i know?) It also depends what type of job you've held and if it is a full time job that takes up a lot of your time. Hopefully, if it has to do with dentistry than that will be very good. Also, I don't know if you are applying for the 2005 cycle but it would be great if you have lots of volunteer experience and some research to show. They will definetly look at what you have been doing for the past 4 years and it better be something good. Also I don't know if you ahve already taken the DATs but if you perform well then you should be good to go!

GOOD LUCK!!!! 😀

 

[topolm]

thankyou for the detailed reply! 😀

Well, Dental schools factor in 4 averages for you. One of which is the BCP (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics - no matter which ones you take) and another which is your science GPA ( math, all sciences, computer science) your general (overall including everything) GPA and finally your non-science GPA (every class except those that are considered to be sciences)

They will defintely put into consideration that you picked a very difficult major and did not take the easy way out. However, they will still factor in all your chemical engineering classes.

And the fact that you haven't been in college for 4 years will not really make them pay less attention to your GPA (that's in my opinion- but im not an adcom so what do i know?) It also depends what type of job you've held and if it is a full time job that takes up a lot of your time. Hopefully, if it has to do with dentistry than that will be very good. Also, I don't know if you are applying for the 2005 cycle but it would be great if you have lots of volunteer experience and some research to show. They will definetly look at what you have been doing for the past 4 years and it better be something good. Also I don't know if you ahve already taken the DATs but if you perform well then you should be good to go!

GOOD LUCK!!!! 😀

 

[Hildergard]

I took Cal 1 last semester and I am now taking Cal 2. It is wayyyyyy more difficult than Cal 1. Problems are much more involved with critical thinking and formulas. I don't even know how I will survive this semester. Since I'm in California, I believe that most schools (UC/CSU) require 1 year of Calculus, which is Cal 1 and Cal 2, for all science majors. Thus, I have no choice but to take it. Anyway, if you had the choice not to take it, then don't. It is not worth risking your science GPA.

Good Luck

 

[Midoc]

I would agree with those who say take a statistics course instead of calc 2. I see absolutely no connection between calculus (the math subject) and anything even remotely related to clinical dentistry except that it shares the same name as calcified plaque (aka tartar).

The only time when calculus might be beneficial would be with materials research, but I only say that because I don't know much about materials research so I can't fully say calculus wouldn't be needed there.