Do most med schools recommend/require a statistics class?

[CaliGirl14]

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I can't seem to find the info. sorry for the lack of!

 

[eldoctor]

I can't seem to find the info. sorry for the lack of!

http://www.nyu.edu/cas/prehealth/documents/MedicalSchoolswithGeneralMathRequirements.pdf

Found on some website. Looks like it has lots of info.

 

[LizzyM]

Officially, most do not. However, med schools are coming around to the idea that it is pretty important and when the pre-med requirements are revisited (there have been rumblings over the past couple years) it is likely that statistics will get added and something else might be dropped or compressed.

 

[JonathanMD]

I have to dig back into pre-calculus every once in a while, especially for physiology and biochemistry. I normally have to dig back into statistics whenever I read an article for my PBL class.

I have never needed to apply calculus to anything.

Just saying.

😳

 

[Vulcan]

Stats are becoming more and more important in medicine. Evidence based medicine is becoming a big thing now and it utilizes statistics. In addition, I believe it shows up on Step 1 in small numbers.

 

[silverhorse84]

Even if they don't, you might want to look into taking it. At my medical school we take a statistics class - I had never taken statistics in my life which made the class really difficult for me. Everyone else was skating by with their prior knowledge and I was worried about passing.

Not saying you would be me, but it's worth looking into. 😳

 

[curlytop]

A lot of schools have a math requirement, and often statistics can be used to fulfill this partly. It's easier than calc, I think, and a more applicable/relevant math when it comes to medicine. It's probably a good idea if you have the room in your schedule.

Edit: It can boost your sGPA, too, since AMCAS factors in math classes and stats will count as math on your primary.

 

[Narmerguy]

A lot of schools have a math requirement, and often statistics can be used to fulfill this partly. It's easier than calc, I think, and a more applicable/relevant math when it comes to medicine. It's probably a good idea if you have the room in your schedule.

Edit: It can boost your sGPA, too, since AMCAS factors in math classes and stats will count as math on your primary.

Don't assume this. Some people may not do well in their stats class.

 

[web2linc]

In terms of math, Statistics is more practical and useful in medicine and research than calc.

 

[web2linc]

I took 3 semesters of college stats and AP stats in high school. I also tutored stats for 3 years during my undergrad at my university. From my experiences, I would say statistics isn't hard, but don't walk into it like it's easy. I've had people tell me that statistics is harder than calculus because it's more abstract. I've tutored engineering students who are very good at math, but couldn't seem to understand stats. 😱

 

[sharmi]

Some schools like UCLA, UC Irvine and University of Pennsylvania have a sems of statistics requirement. Several others highly recommend it. There are several schools that have a 2 sems math requirement and will accept statistics as one of the courses.

But I do get the point that for person with an engg. hard science background it may be hard at first to grasp the abstract concepts and approximations of stats. It does not always add up and that is Ok. For instance, concepts like the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis seemed totally vague to me at first. But if you just try to take the concepts at face value and not think too hard about trying to tally things up as you do in calculus or physics or even chemistry, it should be a relatively easy A.

 

[curlytop]

Don't assume this. Some people may not do well in their stats class.

That's why I said "it can", not "it will."

 

[Narmerguy]

That's why I said "it can", not "it will."

I was simply drawing emphasis to what you included rather cursorily.