Do I Need Math?

[EMTI]

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I'm wondering if I really NEED to take math to be admitted to a DO school. I have taken a pre-algebra course, which touched on algebra, and got an A, but I'd really like to avoid taking pre-calc and calc, as I don't really enjoy math. I know it's not an admissions requirement, but is it sort of implied?

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

I'm wondering if I really NEED to take math to be admitted to a DO school. I have taken a pre-algebra course, which touched on algebra, and got an A, but I'd really like to avoid taking pre-calc and calc, as I don't really enjoy math. I know it's not an admissions requirement, but is it sort of implied?

Can you get into your University's physics class without Trigonometry? I would say a bare minimum you'd need (for physics/mcat) would be pre-cal. But "officially" I don't think any DO schools require a math pre-req.

 

[DocHomer]

I'm wondering if I really NEED to take math to be admitted to a DO school. I have taken a pre-algebra course, which touched on algebra, and got an A, but I'd really like to avoid taking pre-calc and calc, as I don't really enjoy math. I know it's not an admissions requirement, but is it sort of implied?

How do you get through any major w/o even taking an algebra course?

 

[EMTI]

How do you get through any major w/o even taking an algebra course?

I was an English major. I just started my post-bac up, and after this post, and researching the pre-reqs for physics, I see it will definitely be necessary/beneficial to take AT LEAST through algebra. Thanks.

 

[DocHomer]

I was an English major. I just started my post-bac up, and after this post, and researching the pre-reqs for physics, I see it will definitely be necessary/beneficial to take AT LEAST through algebra. Thanks.

I think that many schools require at least 6 hours of college level mathematics. So your best bet is taking algebra and a pre-calculus course. Pre-calc is pretty low-stress.

 

[Stixman28]

I was an English major. I just started my post-bac up, and after this post, and researching the pre-reqs for physics, I see it will definitely be necessary/beneficial to take AT LEAST through algebra. Thanks.

Yeah, cmon bud. You need to be very comfortable with algebra to take gen chem. there will be use of logs in chem (pH calculations), and if you feel uncomfortable when you see those relatively simple functions, it might just be easier to take some basic math.

Also multiplication and division of exponents. if you can do those fast for approximations, it helps a lot on the mcat.

For chem and physics, at least where i took my pre reqs, feeling very comfortable moving things quickly around was essential. if you were getting bogged down on the math, it made the classes much harder.

and just for disclosure, i was a philosophy major who really really did not want to take any math...

It keeps showing up in med school though. just learn it right the first time.

 

[EMTI]

Yeah, cmon bud. You need to be very comfortable with algebra to take gen chem. there will be use of logs in chem (pH calculations), and if you feel uncomfortable when you see those relatively simple functions, it might just be easier to take some basic math.

Also multiplication and division of exponents. if you can do those fast for approximations, it helps a lot on the mcat.

For chem and physics, at least where i took my pre reqs, feeling very comfortable moving things quickly around was essential. if you were getting bogged down on the math, it made the classes much harder.

and just for disclosure, i was a philosophy major who really really did not want to take any math...

It keeps showing up in med school though. just learn it right the first time.

Thank you for the advice 🙂 I suspected I should follow through. My algebra is pretty strong (as my "'pre-algebra" course went through beginning algebra) and I took stats and some algebra and trig in high school, and I'mt aking chem right now. So far it's going okay, but you're right, a stronger math background does help, and I'm sure this will even more applicable to physics.

Can I take ochem without taking algebra II? With my schedule and the accelerated classes in chem this summer, I won't be able to take math at the same time. But obviously I can't take physics until I have taken through algebra II (it's a prereq at my school). I'm just not sure how heavily "math" based ochem is, or if it's more general chem I'll need to be solid in.

 

[DocHomer]

Thank you for the advice 🙂 I suspected I should follow through. My algebra is pretty strong (as my "'pre-algebra" course went through beginning algebra) and I took stats and some algebra and trig in high school, and I'mt aking chem right now. So far it's going okay, but you're right, a stronger math background does help, and I'm sure this will even more applicable to physics.

Can I take ochem without taking algebra II? With my schedule and the accelerated classes in chem this summer, I won't be able to take math at the same time. But obviously I can't take physics until I have taken through algebra II (it's a prereq at my school). I'm just not sure how heavily "math" based ochem is, or if it's more general chem I'll need to be solid in.

You don't need any math class for o-chem. It's much more conceptual.

 

[Stixman28]

Thank you for the advice 🙂 I suspected I should follow through. My algebra is pretty strong (as my "'pre-algebra" course went through beginning algebra) and I took stats and some algebra and trig in high school, and I'mt aking chem right now. So far it's going okay, but you're right, a stronger math background does help, and I'm sure this will even more applicable to physics.

Can I take ochem without taking algebra II? With my schedule and the accelerated classes in chem this summer, I won't be able to take math at the same time. But obviously I can't take physics until I have taken through algebra II (it's a prereq at my school). I'm just not sure how heavily "math" based ochem is, or if it's more general chem I'll need to be solid in.

It's not. I think the most we used was addition/subtraction. maaaaybe division.

 

[EMTI]

Will I hurt myself if I only take through pre-calc? If I take calc, I will end up in post bac for another term, and I''m going to be there long enough (another year and a half). But if it's going to hurt me not to take calc, I'll stay longer.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

Will I hurt myself if I only take through pre-calc? If I take calc, I will end up in post bac for another term, and I''m going to be there long enough (another year and a half). But if it's going to hurt me not to take calc, I'll stay longer.

9/10 people will say Calc is not necessary. The other 1/10 took calc only for medical school and feel they need to justify a reason they took the course.

Only taking pre-cal will knock you out of the running for a very small fraction of MD schools, though.

 

[DocHomer]

Will I hurt myself if I only take through pre-calc? If I take calc, I will end up in post bac for another term, and I''m going to be there long enough (another year and a half). But if it's going to hurt me not to take calc, I'll stay longer.

Check the requirements of the schools you would like to apply to. You could get away with it.

 

[beachblonde]

anybody else find it borderline criminal that the OP got away with taking zero higher level math and yet still has a college degree?

take calculus or at least statistics. really. you need math skills for medical school-not a ton, but when your physiology professor asks you calculate things, you'll need it.

 

[stoptouchingme]

I'm wondering if I really NEED to take math to be admitted to a DO school. I have taken a pre-algebra course, which touched on algebra, and got an A, but I'd really like to avoid taking pre-calc and calc, as I don't really enjoy math. I know it's not an admissions requirement, but is it sort of implied?

I think I just got ill after reading this. How can you expect to become a physician when you hate math? How are you going to do dose calculations (IV rates)? And that's only simple math but can be fatal if done incorrectly. We may not use calculus directly but if you are required to analyze studies, it does help to have a background in calculus, differential equation, etc. Don't be afraid of math, its your best friend.

Math does the brain good.

 

[pyropig]

I think I just got ill after reading this. How can you expect to become a physician when you hate math? How are you going to do dose calculations (IV rates)? And that's only simple math but can be fatal if done incorrectly. We may not use calculus directly but if you are required to analyze studies, it does help to have a background in calculus, differential equation, etc. Don't be afraid of math, its your best friend.

Math does the brain good.

This is the correct response. Seriously dude man up, quit whining and get it done. If you can't get past PRE-ALGEBRA without crying save yourself some money and pick a career better suited to your strengths.

 

[Parietal Lobe]

I think I just got ill after reading this. How can you expect to become a physician when you hate math?

Oh please. Someone can hate math and still know how to do 5th grade calculations. I know a lot of people in my class who can't stand math and only too the very minimal amount necessary to get through college.

 

[pyropig]

Oh please. Someone can hate math and still know how to do 5th grade calculations. I know a lot of people in my class who can't stand math and only too the very minimal amount necessary to get through college.

You don't need to like math to be a doctor. You do however need to do Better than a REMEDIAL math course. They make prerequisites because they're difficult, and it proves you can slog trough the crap you don't enjoy and still do well. You're not going to enjoy even close to everything in med school and you don't get to go "well i won't really need that so do I have to do it?" I mean seriously give me a break. You can whine about calculus because it's hard, but a remedial math course in pre-algebra? He wants an answer that's not all lovey-dovey and is honest? Grow a pair and take math, you don't need to like it but you need to do it. Jesus, what a weenie.

 

[EMTI]

Ok well-- first of all-- this has gotten way out of hand.

I didn't say I "hate" math. It's just not my favorite subject. Do I believe it's important as a doctor? Of course it is! And, for the nay-sayer complaining about how I won't want to do drug calculations-- I was simply asking about calculus. That's all. I have taken plenty of courses in drug calculating for my EMS work. And I took stats when I was in college for my BA. I was simply asking if I should take calc., because it will put me in school even longer.

There is such a thing as constructive criticism and advice- this has turned into something worse. I've seen these kinds of "attacks" on other SDN forums, but never expected to be part of it. Oh well.

And it would be hard to "man up", being a woman, and all.

All I ask is that people keep in mind we come here for camaraderie and solicited advice-- not unnecessary criticism. There is far too much shooting-each other-down. I did not come from a "math background", since I was an English major. Are you all implying that I should not want to change my career path at 25 years old, simply because I did not need upper level math as a liberal arts major? I can't imagine all science majors out there willingly took 400+ and graduate level literature classes. I appreciate the good advice in here (mostly towards the beginning). But as for the rest of you... try to find something more productive to do than criticizing everyone who's academic background doesn't mirror yours.

 

[EMTI]

And, as an aside-- because of the advice here that HAS been productive, I am certainly going to take through pre-calc, at the very least, to prepare myself for medicine further, and for my own personal benefit. So, thank you to those of you who were helpful! There are plenty of "good" SDNers out there who are out to help, and I appreciate you all.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

Ok well-- first of all-- this has gotten way out of hand.

I didn't say I "hate" math. It's just not my favorite subject. Do I believe it's important as a doctor? Of course it is! And, for the nay-sayer complaining about how I won't want to do drug calculations-- I was simply asking about calculus. That's all. I have taken plenty of courses in drug calculating for my EMS work. And I took stats when I was in college for my BA. I was simply asking if I should take calc., because it will put me in school even longer.

There is such a thing as constructive criticism and advice- this has turned into something worse. I've seen these kinds of "attacks" on other SDN forums, but never expected to be part of it. Oh well.

And it would be hard to "man up", being a woman, and all.

All I ask is that people keep in mind we come here for camaraderie and solicited advice-- not unnecessary criticism. There is far too much shooting-each other-down. I did not come from a "math background", since I was an English major. Are you all implying that I should not want to change my career path at 25 years old, simply because I did not need upper level math as a liberal arts major? I can't imagine all science majors out there willingly took 400+ and graduate level literature classes. I appreciate the good advice in here (mostly towards the beginning). But as for the rest of you... try to find something more productive to do than criticizing everyone who's academic background doesn't mirror yours.

Don't sweat it too much, there are a good number of SDN folks that have nothing better to do then "freak out" on someone. And as you've seen after one person posts their opinion others LOVE to pile it on, we all tend to act like lemmings around here.

Once again don't worry about Calculus (unless you enjoy math or it is a pre-req for a school you're looking at). As bleach said, if you're going to be interested in research it probably wouldn't hurt to take a Stats class.

 

[pyropig]

And, as an aside-- because of the advice here that HAS been productive, I am certainly going to take through pre-calc, at the very least, to prepare myself for medicine further, and for my own personal benefit. So, thank you to those of you who were helpful! There are plenty of "good" SDNers out there who are out to help, and I appreciate you all.

99% of us are quite pleasant people. That alone should have indicated to you that your the one who posted something that incited all of this. When you're the author of the only thread in the last 5 pages of them that elicited even close to a response like this you might want to take a look at the content of your own post. On that topic you weren't asking about calculus at all. You didn't even mention calculus until your fourth post and even then you were asking about pre-calc. You need to be very strong in the sciences to ve a doc, and wether you like it or not math and science are married subjects and they are necessary. We have all worked our asses off in undergrad and we will be more than happy to sympathize with you during calc and whatnot, but I'm not sure what your expecting when all you've taken is a math course most people take in early high school and want to know if that's enough. Even the notion that someone could get into med school with no more than pre-algebra is super irritating, as you can tell by these responses.

 

[stoptouchingme]