calculus requirement

[violetchild]

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So a lot of schools say they want one year of calculus.... (or one year of math in general). At a university on the quarter system, one year of calculus is Calc I, Calc II, and Calc III. At my community college, one year of calculus is Calc I and Calc II (since we're on the semester system). Is just I&II sufficient for most medical schools, or should I take Calc III after I transfer just to be safe?

 

[Geekchick921]

Two semester of calc is overkill for most schools. No way do you need a third.

http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/slife/pre_med/Math_Req_for_Medical_School.pdf

 

[violetchild]

Awesome, thank you for that link!
So, would Precalc and Calc I count as 2 semesters or would Calc I and Stats be better?

 

[Geekchick921]

If I were you, I'd base that decision on the requirements for the schools I was interested in applying to.

 

[raltima07]

Awesome, thank you for that link!
So, would Precalc and Calc I count as 2 semesters or would Calc I and Stats be better?

I would take stats no matter what - it is much more useful than calc in many facets. An example would be research papers and stuff

 

[Lil Mick]

Take as many as you want to take (math person here). For most schools, either stats or a semester of calc is required. Taking both will probably suffice, unless your major requires more or you are applying to Hopkins or Harvard (or MD/PhD in something quantitative).

 

[Iso4ane]

I know if your askingthe question math probably isn't your forte, but for me (non-math major) my math classes where probably on the easier end (Took calc III, Diff eq, and other random math classes) just don't sweat it too much, but if worry too much just call the school.

 

[violetchild]

Wow, thanks for all the responses! True, I'm not really a math person lol, but I'm just trying to narrow down to as many classes as possible because I have to fit all pre-med requirements except for gen chem into 2 years, along with 12 upper-div classes and additional weird gen ed requirements at UCSD. I'll probably just take Calc I at my community college and then either stats over the summer before I transfer or somehow fit it in to my schedule once I get there. Again, thank you all so much, and I appreciate any additional comments/ideas!

 

[Geekchick921]

I would take stats no matter what - it is much more useful than calc in many facets. An example would be research papers and stuff

This is a very good point. Unless the OP has her eye on schools that require 2 semesters of calculus (there aren't many), she'd be much better served by a semester of calc and a semester of stat.

 

[Freigeist]

Two semester of calc is overkill for most schools. No way do you need a third.

http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/slife/pre_med/Math_Req_for_Medical_School.pdf

Sucks for most Texas schools, they require Statistics from the Math Department only.

I've taken AP Calc I, Community College Calc II, Computer Science, and Statistics (based in the Psych department) but technically, I do not fit the requirements for those schools. wtf?

 

[gettheleadout]

This is a very good point. Unless the OP has her eye on schools that require 2 semesters of calculus (there aren't many), she'd be much better served by a semester of calc and a semester of stat.

Harvard and Hopkins have both eliminated the requirement for Calc II (excluding Harvard HST) so I think the only school left that requires more than 1 semester is WashU.

EDIT: Just checked, and yep, WashU still requires Calculus through integral and differential equations (through Calc II), but states that a semester of statistics can be substituted for a semester of calculus. By this, I'm assuming they mean if you don't have AP or prior college credit for Calc I and want to skip it, you can just take Calc II and Stat and be fine.

 

[camierz]

The new medical school, Virginia Carilion, requires two semesters of calculus.

 

[Bungie]

Quarter calc 1, 2, & 3 = semester calc 1 & 2. My school (quarters) had a calc 4 = semester calc 3. Also I only took calc 1 & 2 (not the full year) as did probably 95% of the pre-meds at my school and we had tons of them.

 

[gettheleadout]

Quarter calc 1, 2, & 3 = semester calc 1 & 2. My school (quarters) had a calc 4 = semester calc 3. Also I only took calc 1 & 2 (not the full year) as did probably 95% of the pre-meds at my school and we had tons of them.

This is a good point to mention. Equivalencies for material may be different at quarter schools, since you can't easily cram in a semester worth of material in a single quarter.

• First Semester of Calc is generally functions, limits, extrema, derivatives, FTC, and basic integrals.
• Second Semester of Calc is generally techniques of integration, volumes/solids of revolution, sequences, series, and linear algebra (maybe polar coordinates.)
• Third Semester of Calc is generally multivariable calculus.

I may have forgotten some stuff, but those guidelines should be pretty solid. If you've gone through the first two semesters' material in quarter classes, you should be good on the equivalent of two semesters of calculus.

 

[sector9]

The new medical school, Virginia Carilion, requires two semesters of calculus.

... or one semester of calc with 1 semester of stats

 

[Long Way to Go]

Two that haven't been mentioned: Case Western requires a full year of calculus for their MSTP. Harvard's HST requires mathematics through Diff.Eq. and Linear Algebra.

 

[Big Dog]

So a lot of schools say they want one year of calculus.

Only a few schools requires ONE year of calc. Harvard, WashU....

 

[235788]

I've seen more than just 1 school require it. I really don't want to go back to each schools website to see which one it is, but its def one that it on my medapps profile.

 

[nolookpass]

How important is your calculus grade. I'm definitely not a math person (especially calc) which is an issue.

 

[gettheleadout]

Two that haven't been mentioned: Case Western requires a full year of calculus for their MSTP. Harvard's HST requires mathematics through Diff.Eq. and Linear Algebra.

I kind of assumed we weren't discussing combined MSTP/PhD programs... But anyway, I totally put the exception for Harvard HST in my post earlier. 😛

How important is your calculus grade. I'm definitely not a math person (especially calc) which is an issue.

No less important than any other grade, though my intuition would be that it's not as important as orgo/physics/the other "traditional" prereqs.

 

[NYRN]

How important is your calculus grade. I'm definitely not a math person (especially calc) which is an issue.

I second this!! I am horrible at math, in fact those damn math grades are sinking my sGPA to the point that my AMCAS GPA as of now is a little over a 3 and my AACOM GPA is over a 3.5 due to them not counting math in the sGPA.

Dissapointing to see that some schools still require some calculus. I guess I can scratch those off my list!

 

[D elegans]

I didn't know that any school had requirements beyond Calc I. That's ridiculous. That being said, why wouldn't you take more calculus classes? Calculus is awesome. 😎

 

[TriagePreMed]

Two semester of calc is overkill for most schools. No way do you need a third.

http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/slife/pre_med/Math_Req_for_Medical_School.pdf

He means Calc 1 and 2 in a quarter system. That would be like taking 1 semester calc and about 1/3 of calc 2. 1 quarter calc 1 is like 2/3 calc 1 in semester system, which will not be enough to satisfy the prerequisite.

 

[rexxx]

Two semester of calc is overkill for most schools. No way do you need a third.

http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/slife/pre_med/Math_Req_for_Medical_School.pdf

thank you for this! my brother had always told me you have to take calc I and II for med school... had no idea that wasn't necessary, and that statistics was so strongly recommended!

i have AP credit for stats, but no problem with taking the course since i was going to do that anyway with calc for a year of legitimate math prereqs.

i would MUCH rather take stats though since i did calc I about 2 years ago and don't remember anything.

 

[Geekchick921]

He means Calc 1 and 2 in a quarter system. That would be like taking 1 semester calc and about 1/3 of calc 2. 1 quarter calc 1 is like 2/3 calc 1 in semester system, which will not be enough to satisfy the prerequisite.

OP is not at a university on the quarter system, judging from the OP. "A university" vs. "My community college".

So a lot of schools say they want one year of calculus.... (or one year of math in general). At a university on the quarter system, one year of calculus is Calc I, Calc II, and Calc III. At my community college, one year of calculus is Calc I and Calc II (since we're on the semester system). Is just I&II sufficient for most medical schools, or should I take Calc III after I transfer just to be safe?

 

[violetchild]

Thanks for all the replies! Do you think a statistics class through a different department would fulfill that requirement or does it have to be through the math department?

 

[gettheleadout]

Thanks for all the replies! Do you think a statistics class through a different department would fulfill that requirement or does it have to be through the math department?

This depends on the school. I'd suggest looking up specific requirements for school's you're interested in or contact them individually to find out if they require stat from the math dept.