Do I need Calculus? No clear answer?

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very few schools like harvard for sure needs some calc. i think you might be able to get by with the ap credit. but to be safe and not limit your choices later on, i would take calc
 
MilkIsGood said:
very few schools like harvard for sure needs some calc. i think you might be able to get by with the ap credit. but to be safe and not limit your choices later on, i would take calc
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i thought harvard needed 2 semesters of calc. do most or any schools need/recommend 1 semester of calc taken in college rather than using AP credit?
 
focus1 said:
So I am a sophomore who has AP Calc AB credit for a math credit in college. I am taking a statistics course this semester. I was planning on using my credit and not taking calculus at all in college because my advisor said I didn't need it for med school. But when I talk to friends from other schools, they say they are told something else, like med schools RECOMMEND calc taken in college. Is there a right answer to this or is this just opinion? Is taking a statistics course (possibly 2) enough? I don't feel comfortable taking an advanced calculus class, so if I need to take calc, I could forfeit my credit and probably do pretty well in an intro calc class.would i be at a disadvantage for not taking calculus in college?

thanks in advance
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If you're that worried, check out the med schools you're interested in applying to and ask them. That's a surefire way to get a solid answer. Always check with the school if in doubt. However, I'm pretty sure for at least the majority of schools, you don't need to have taken calc in college. AP calc credit is fine. What is more important upon applying to med school is your performance in classes taken in college, the MCAT and other life experiences like patient interaction/clinical exposure, extracurriculars, awards/honors etc...
 
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Ask the schools directly. When I have asked about other AP courses, they tell me as long as the undergrad institution recognizes it, they take it. This may not be the case with Calculus, so contact program directors directly.
 
TO EVERYONE who took AP calculus credit:

It's a good idea to take the next level in the university you are at to prove competency. This is not required, but advice given to me. For example, I got calc I & II credit so i took calc III in college. If you can't pull an A in calc III, then take linear algebra. Take a math course IN your university.
 
why can't u take AP credit to bypass calc I and take calc II at your college?
 
Doodl3s said:
why can't u take AP credit to bypass calc I and take calc II at your college?
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I haven't taken it in a while and don't feel comfortable jumping into it. math skills aren't too strong
 
in that PDF...for "Recommended Courses: calculus", does that mean calculus taken in college, not AP credit?
 
focus1 said:
So I am a sophomore who has AP Calc AB credit for a math credit in college. I am taking a statistics course this semester. I was planning on using my credit and not taking calculus at all in college because my advisor said I didn't need it for med school. But when I talk to friends from other schools, they say they are told something else, like med schools RECOMMEND calc taken in college. Is there a right answer to this or is this just opinion? Is taking a statistics course (possibly 2) enough? I don't feel comfortable taking an advanced calculus class, so if I need to take calc, I could forfeit my credit and probably do pretty well in an intro calc class.would i be at a disadvantage for not taking calculus in college?

thanks in advance
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lol take calc for easy grades.
 
Hey.
Check your major reqs because I didn't need calc2 but I need it now because I'm a bchm major.
 
I also had AP calc 1 credit from high school but re-took calc 1 (thinking that it would be an easy A class, but it wasn't...) at the university. I took calc 2 and actually liked it and felt like it wasn't related to calc 1 at all.. but maybe that's just my opinion. 😳
While I think it's great that you're taking a stat class (some med schools require/recommend stat class), I would recommend that you take calc 2 instead of (or along with, if you like stats) taking extra stat courses.
I do not think that you will be at a "disadvantage" for not taking a calc class in college, but I do know that there are many pre-med students who would take all those recommended classes to impress the adcoms.
Also, when in doubt, I would either see the pre-med advisor at your college or even call up the admissions office to find answers to your questions.

This is my 2 cents. 😀 Hope it is somewhat helpful. 🙂
 
I would advise against taking Calc 1 in college unless you do very well with math. That class is filled with engineering students and is frequently a weed out class. Jump into Calc 2 if you can or take a business calculus class.
 
Harvard Med accepts AP credit calc. So does Dartmouth. So does Hopkins.

I had credit for AB calc on a college transcipt from a long time ago (7+yrs), applied to schools that required it, and got interviews. It wasn't a requirement at the school I attend, but I was asked about it in my interview, pointed out the AP credit on my interviewers copy of AMCAS, and that seemed to satisfy him.

There are a handful of schools that don't accept AP for ANYTHING, but you'd have to know who they are. Check the websites. Worse case scenario you could take it over the summer before you start, schools tend to be flexible about that so long as you have all your science pre reqs in hand at the time you apply.

You really don't need it if it appears for credit on a college transcript. Don't take it if you don't want to and don't need it as a prereq for a college course/major. What a waste. Take something you might actually benefit from.
 
focus1 said:
So I am a sophomore who has AP Calc AB credit for a math credit in college. I am taking a statistics course this semester. I was planning on using my credit and not taking calculus at all in college because my advisor said I didn't need it for med school. But when I talk to friends from other schools, they say they are told something else, like med schools RECOMMEND calc taken in college. Is there a right answer to this or is this just opinion? Is taking a statistics course (possibly 2) enough? I don't feel comfortable taking an advanced calculus class, so if I need to take calc, I could forfeit my credit and probably do pretty well in an intro calc class.would i be at a disadvantage for not taking calculus in college?

thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Buy MSAR(Medical school admission requirements)
 
@gravitywave - do you know what are some examples of med schools that don't accept ANY ap's?
 
focus I'd recommend you taking at least one more quarter/semester of calculus. Some schools require it. I'd suggest going to schools' websites and see if they require it. My college required 3 quarters of math. I used AP credit for the first level of calc then I took Calc 2 and Stats. I'd suggest you do the same.

Use the credit for one course, then take another calc class and stats.

or don't even use that AP credit if you dont have to, retake calc to boost up your BCPM gpa.
 
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