Im currently studying for the MCAT and will apply this comming summer. I have not taken calculus and was wondering if I should or if I should only apply to schools who do not require it. Also, if I was to take it, the class would be pending while my application is being reviewed. Will this exclude me from schools requiring calculus, seeing that I will have not COMPLETED the class. Thanks for your help!
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Calculus Req neccesary?
- Thread starter eliscord
- Start date
Calc is not necessary for most medical schoosl. take it only if you like math or if one of the schools your looking at requires it (i think about 20 do). otherwise i recommend taking a class like cell bio, genetics,or biochemistry since they are more useful for your future medical education.
cheers
cheers
eliscord said:
Some schools require calculus (Harvard, UofTex come to mind, but there are others) while many just require two semesters of college math. Calc is not on the MCATs. You can apply with classes in progress, so if you are taking calculus the schools that require that will accept an application. I don't think people can really advise you as to whether it pays to skip calculus and apply only to schools that don't require it -- that depends on what kind of student you are, how good at math you are, and what schools you would want to attend. If you think you can do well at it, it seems silly to preclude yourself from applying to schools that require it.
If you haven't taken the course it doesn't exclude you from schools that require it. I haven't taken calc, and if I get into my one "calc" school AND decide to go there (either of which may not come to pass) then I am going to take it in summer school. It will be rough, but it is better than taking an unnecessary class.
Haven711 said:
So you would be taking two semesters of calculus accellerated within the span of a summer? Seems a little dicey, seeing as most acceptances are contingent on getting C or better in all remaining coursework, and you would have to give up all your remaining acceptances as of mid-May. Good luck with that.
I was accepted to a TX school, and I am currently finishing up a calc class. No, it is not required on the MCAT, and as the previous poster noted, it probably isn't used in med school. However, as I am taking the class, I am realizing that even if the mathematical theory aren't used directly, the thinking process is very useful. It is like o chem - probably not directly useful in curing disease, but helpful in forming your thinking process. JMHO
