Do I have to take calculus based physics?

[cheesier]

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I was in calc based physics (called university physics at my school) and I dropped it and got a w. I had taken 1 semester of calc based physics prior so I was completing the sequence. My question is, will it raise eyebrows if I now take general physics 2 given my w in university physics 2?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Why did you make a new thread? And the answer is no, get an A in algebra-based physics and enjoy the non-calculus-based goodness...

 

[CodeBlu]

No. I did not. I did just fine.

Algebra ftw.

 

[cheesier]

Why did you make a new thread? And the answer is no, get an A in algebra-based physics and enjoy the non-calculus-based goodness...

Thanks. I'm not sure why it posted twice. I'm sure a mod will lock one of them up.

 

[raltima07]

No

 

[Doctor246853]

I was in calc based physics (called university physics at my school) and I dropped it and got a w. I had taken 1 semester of calc based physics prior so I was completing the sequence. My question is, will it raise eyebrows if I now take general physics 2 given my w in university physics 2?

That is an evil class stick with algebra.

 

[flatearth22]

no...take the easiest physics class possible.

At my UG they have physics and calculus classes made just for humanities majors. They are easy conceptually and don't have a big workload....lots of shrewd premeds take those classes.

 

[Doctor246853]

no...take the easiest physics class possible.

At my UG they have physics and calculus classes made just for humanities majors. They are easy conceptually and don't have a big workload....lots of shrewd premeds take those classes.

shrewd = smart

 

[Lil Mick]

Until the MCAT. You definitely don't need calculus-based physics for the MCAT, but you want a decent background (algebra-based for science majors sort of class) for it (and for biophysics in medical school)...

 

[MSU2009]

shrewd = smart

Isn't that what he was implying?

 

[cheesier]

Just to clarify, I know general physics is fine and fulfills the requirement. I'm just worried about having the w for university physics followed by a retake in an easier class.

 

[Doctor246853]

Isn't that what he was implying?

yeah my bad.

 

[NightGod]

Just to clarify, I know general physics is fine and fulfills the requirement. I'm just worried about having the w for university physics followed by a retake in an easier class.

"I was originally strongly considering an Engineering undergrad degree and Physics made me realize that my passion did not lie in a math related field, so I switched to _____"

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Why all the hate for calculus? I took calc-based physics and didn't have any problems at all. I even TA'd it for a semester. There's very little difficult calculus involved and I think learning physics with calculus is much more intuitive than doing it with algebra.

 

[asli]

^ yeah, but that isn't the point. Calc based is harder than algebra based, so why take it if you don't have to.

 

[Lil Mick]

I love calc-based physics, too, but it isn't for everyone, especially if someone has already tried it and dropped it...

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

I may be in the minority when I say calc-based physics is easier to understand than algebra-based physics. It's much more conceptual, rather than plug-and-chug, when calculus is involved, IMO.

But OP, the others are right. Calc-based physics is not required. You'll do fine on the MCAT with algebra-based.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

I may be in the minority when I say calc-based physics is easier to understand than algebra-based physics. It's much more conceptual, rather than plug-and-chug, when calculus is involved, IMO.

I agree. I think it's a lot easier to get the concepts in physics when you take calc-based, and that will ultimately help you do the problems successfully.

 

[Geekchick921]

As I said in your other thread...

Algebra-based physics is all you will be tested on for the MCAT. I can't imagine anyone will really care if you switch from "university phsyics" to "general physics". I can't imagine AMCAS and the schools you apply will look up the course descriptions on your school's website anyway.

 

[cheesier]

As I said in your other thread...

Algebra-based physics is all you will be tested on for the MCAT. I can't imagine anyone will really care if you switch from "university phsyics" to "general physics". I can't imagine AMCAS and the schools you apply will look up the course descriptions on your school's website anyway.

Yeah I'm well aware. It's the issue of having a w in calc based physics followed by a retake in algebra based.

 

[Geekchick921]

Like I said, I can't imagine they'll care since calc isn't required for most schools, and how will they know? It's not like the classes are called "Calc-based Physics that Cheesier couldn't handle" and "Algebra-based Physics that Cheesier took instead". 🙂 IIRC, you don't have to give a course description and I doubt anyone is going go to go to the trouble to look it up anyway.