Do I really need to take a math course to be a competitive applicant?

[Danny L]

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So most schools I looked at say they accept AP credit for the calculus requirement without asking for some sort of upper level math course instead. I've also seen in general that medical schools don't care about majors

However, I saw something circulating somewhere else that said med schools, specifically the top end ones, prefer applicants with "upper level quantitative skills" (ie upper level math/engineers). Is this true? Is it worth pursuing if your current major is science based (neuroscience) but not math intensive?

If I could get some more information on this that would be great

 

[7331poas]

Why in the world would med schools look for upper level math preferably?

Are you talking calc 1 here or complex analysis?

 

[Lawpy]

For the most part, no one requires upper level math courses (exception: Harvard HST would like it but it's for a very different reason).

Statistics can sufficiently substitute for the "upper level quantitative skills" requirement.

 

[osckey]

One of the dumbest things I did in undergrad was to take the calculus track instead of the statistics track to fulfill the admissions math prereq because I thought it would be more impressive. By Calc II, I had no idea what was going on or why it was happening. Thankfully, I survived calc II with a B but don't ask me what I learned because I have no idea.

 

[MaxPlancker]

Lol no. If you want to pursue more math then do it. If you're trying to do it for application-sakes, you will probably be miserable…most upper level math classes aren't jokes.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

I think Biostats, in particular, is worthwhile but I was also required to take it. (My school actually recommended that I take Biostats over Calc because they feel it's more useful.) Other than that, I wouldn't worry about upper level math courses unless you're applying somewhere with a Calc requirement (and AP won't suffice).

 

[Danny L]

Yeah I was interested in stats but my school doesn't offer a stats major unfortunately. I've taken econ stats for a minor but definitely want to take another one (bio stats maybe) later.

@7331poas The posters didn't specify a course, they just said applicants that demonstrated a high aptitude in quantitative skills (ie good grades in upper level math) were seen as better applicants (because there were a lot of applicants with upper level science courses? Can't confidently recall the exact reason). It was a while ago but I just thought of it now and wanted to verify

@Lawper hmm yeah I know they don't require it but is there like a "secret" consideration or anything. The pinned survey says that they do consider the completion of challenging non-science courses. Would the math thing apply here then or would other upper level courses (ie finance, spanish, english, etc) work as well

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

And yes, medical schools do not care about majors. Major in whatever you want! 🙂

 

[MaxPlancker]

Yeah I was interested in stats but my school doesn't offer a stats major unfortunately. I've taken econ stats for a minor but definitely want to take another one (bio stats maybe) later.

@7331poas The posters didn't specify a course, they just said applicants that demonstrated a high aptitude in quantitative skills (ie good grades in upper level math) were seen as better applicants (because there were a lot of applicants with upper level science courses? Can't confidently recall the exact reason). It was a while ago but I just thought of it now and wanted to verify

Whatever you heard is not true minus perhaps HMS HST.

 

[Lawpy]

@Lawper hmm yeah I know they don't require it but is there like a "secret" consideration or anything. The pinned survey says that they do consider the completion of challenging non-science courses. Would the math thing apply here then or would other upper level courses (ie finance, spanish, english, etc) work as well

Nah. Stats and calc are more than enough.

 

[eteshoe]

For me:

Fun upper level math courses:
- DEs, PDEs, BVPs, Biostats, Numerical Analysis, Mathematical Modeling

Not so fun upper level math courses:
- Fxns of Real+Complex Variables, Abstract Algebra

 

[aldol16]

I'm surprised that your major in neuroscience did not require at least differential equations. Nevertheless, math through linear algebra and differential equations is great to know but not required at any med school except one that I know of (same one people have been mentioning).

 

[nwts]

I highly doubt that many medical schools would care if you took upper level math. I had to take some upper level math courses for my major, and I cannot imagine how that stuff would be necessary or even very useful for physicians. I feel like it's one of those things where it's like: "It's cool that you know that, but that won't help you in this field."

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

There are some schools that only require college algebra. Many allow statistics in place of calc, and/or only require 1 semester.

Its not going to make you a more competitive applicant either way. Just fulfill the prereqs for the school(s) you want to attend.

 

[Crayola227]

back when I did my thing, it came up that Calc 1 & 2, plus a stats course, would cover your bases as far as math pre-reqs at the vast vast majority of schools

however, I would consult the MSAR

taking math beyond that, I would only rec if needed for your major and you could do well in it, and I guess some people will do to plump up a sGPA (presuming they get A's)

if you take some for plumping and it's obvs not related to your major, and you don't get a minor (although you might be asked why you pursued any minor), that might raise questions as to why you took them

I was 3 courses shy of a math minor, and I got straight A's in single variable calc, however by the time I got to diffy Q and multivariable those grades had come down to B's, and I was pretty sure the next level with Numerical Analysis would have been C's, so I had to prioritize GPA as a pre-med over math minor pride and didn't go for it

food for thought

 

[tskbdmnd]

Linear algebra is a good subject to take. Vectors and systems of equations seem to show up often.

 

[freak7]

For me:

Fun upper level math courses:
- DEs, PDEs, BVPs, Biostats, Numerical Analysis, Mathematical Modeling

Not so fun upper level math courses:
- Fxns of Real+Complex Variables, Abstract Algebra

Abstract Algebra got me through virology in Biochem

 

[dontbelievemejustwatch]

For me:

Fun upper level math courses:
- DEs, PDEs, BVPs, Biostats, Numerical Analysis, Mathematical Modeling

Not so fun upper level math courses:
- Fxns of Real+Complex Variables, Abstract Algebra

have you taken stoichatric processes? i kinda want to take it at might school, but im not sure if the class is hard. says probability 1 is all you need as a prereq

 

[Lawpy]

have you taken stoichatric processes? i kinda want to take it at might school, but im not sure if the class is hard. says probability 1 is all you need as a prereq

Here are some lecture notes I found online regarding stochastic** processes. Check them out and see for yourself

 

[dontbelievemejustwatch]

Here are some lecture notes I found online regarding stochastic** processes. Check them out and see for yourself

thanks! i can't believe you linked me to my own school's notes though haha

 

[eteshoe]

have you taken stoichatric processes? i kinda want to take it at might school, but im not sure if the class is hard. says probability 1 is all you need as a prereq

Wasn't a math major (had a minor though) so I didn't have to take a stochastic processes course.

 

[Lawpy]

thanks! i can't believe you linked me to my own school's notes though haha

literally the second thing i found when I googled "stochastic processes" 😛

 

[dontbelievemejustwatch]

Wasn't a math major (had a minor though) so I didn't have to take a stochastic processes course.

are there any fun math classes that you would recommend?

 

[Link2]

have you taken stoichatric processes? i kinda want to take it at might school, but im not sure if the class is hard. says probability 1 is all you need as a prereq

It is pretty interesting, and even though it is usually a higher level course, you only need some basic knowledge of probability. Covers Poisson processes, Markov chains etc. I wouldn't really recommend it though unless you are a math or stats major (not because of the difficulty, but the content might not be as appealing).

 

[eteshoe]

are there any fun math classes that you would recommend?

I listed the courses I found fun/useful to myself. After DE, the upper level classes you take will really come down to what you're interested in broadly speaking. I was interested in applied math and stuff that would be useful for modeling physical processes and so I took courses in that area.