Engineering Physics = Bragging Rights?

[usermike8500]

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Hello,
I was wondering if anyone else on here has taken calc-based engineering physics as opposed to the algebra-based biomed physics? I took three quarters of the engineering physics. It was a huge pain and demanded way too much time, but I finished them and did well. Do you think I could bring this up at an interview to show that I'm "not afraid of a challange" haha, or is that just too lame?

-sorry if this is a stupid post. I just don't want to appear too desperate to impress at interviews.

 

[odddodo]

Are you an engineer? Either way, you just did what most pre-med bioengineers have to do, so it's not really much of an impressive feat...

 

[drizzt3117]

Yes its too lame. Do some ECs that you can bring up at an interview.

 

[Jaded03]

UCLA does that. Split the two forms. In all honesty "engineering" physics and chemistry are the real deal that most schools have. "Life science" versions are just watered down barely MCAT worthy versions. So in context to everyone else, you did not perform any feat. This goes back to the "honors" question. Nice, but if your GPA suffered you made a mistake. It's just that black and white with them. Unless you were going to use that engineering like say...an MSTP in Biophysics, I'd let it go.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I took three quarters of the engineering physics.

The only thing you can say for sure is you're either nuts or at very least a high-order masochist.......

BTW, I wouldn't brag on yourself for it......it would make you look like a self-righteous little twit.

 

[bubbachuck]

your interviewer will have a copy of your transcript and will see what courses you took.

 

[PBandJ]

i took those courses and it definitely did not have any relevance at an interview, let alone would i have even brought them up. just let your transcript speak for itself.

 

[MossPoh]

I've taken the calc based "engineering" physics and the albebra/trig based physics. I really didn't notice that much of a difference besides the fact that the calc one was in more math talk. It also depends on the school...some places don't have a trig based physics with lab...so the premeds can ONLY take the calc one..and it is required for graduation anyway. So no...not that big of a deal.

 

[Law2Doc]

i took those courses and it definitely did not have any relevance at an interview, let alone would i have even brought them up. just let your transcript speak for itself.

Agreed. It has a far far greater potential of hurting you than helping you. If you love calc and think you can get A's then great -- otherwise just take the minimum required by the schools you are applying to. (That's all they care about).
The only time physics ever came up in an interview was when an interviewer muttered to himself out loud that he didn't understand why physics was still a prereq.

 

[littlealex]

This is a stupid thread.

You realize that a bunch of the pre-meds out there are engineering? How is taking 1/20th of their curriculum a source for bragging rights?

"I'm hardocre! I took an engineering class once."

Well, most schools only offer calculus based physics.

 

[Law2Doc]

Well, most schools only offer calculus based physics.

I suspect this isn't true.

 

[MossPoh]

I suspect this isn't true.

Agreed. I wouldn't use the word "most" perhaps "a lot"

As stated earlier, there wasn't even THAT much of a difference to me. If anything the calc stuff kind of showed me convienent ways to figure out some of the stuff.

I've taken courses that I'd venture to say 99% of premeds never took...still not worth mentioning in my opinion.

 

[Law2Doc]

As stated earlier, there wasn't even THAT much of a difference to me. If anything the calc stuff kind of showed me convienent ways to figure out some of the stuff.

I suspect the biggest difference would be the level of competition of classmates. The folks who took the calculus based tended to be more science/engineering minded, which likely hurt the curve.

 

[RxnMan]

...You realize that a bunch of the pre-meds out there are engineering? How is taking 1/20th of their curriculum a source for bragging rights?

"I'm hardocre! I took an engineering class once."...

I agree.

Beyond confirming my AMCAS information, my interviewers didn't care that I had an engineering degree. Nobody in med school has asked me what I majored in.

Save yourself the trouble and take the easiest A that'll fulfill your prereqs. And don't bring this up in your interview.

 

[usermike8500]

Thanks for the responses! I think you've saved me some embarrassment at interviews. I won't mention anything about the engineering physics.

 

[gallbladder2]

Major in engineering and then bring it up

I majored in electrical engineering and that is all that most of the interviewers wanted to talk about
one class doesn't mean much
medschoolrocks.com

 

[coralfangs]

its pretty lame
everyone here probably has taken some hardcore courses b4
it doesnt make u unique or anything

 

[Meatwad]

If you took something like Honors Physics for Physics Majors, now THAT'S something to brag about... my school doesn't even have a non-calculus-based physics course. I took an engineering physics as opposed to a biology major (still calc-based) physics class and I would never even begin to think it would be considered impressive.

 

[jochi1543]

my school doesn't even have a non-calculus-based physics course.

Same here for my alma mater.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Well, most schools only offer calculus based physics.

I would not even say a lot......our school limits enrollment to the calc-based physics to the engineering majors. Having attended several schools over the past decade, I have yet to attend one that did not offer some form of algebra based physics. To be quite honest, I don't see a need for anything beyond algebra based physics in medicine, unless you're planning on doing research that specifically requires it and then it's easier to go get a physics major to do it for you.

 

[Bacchus]

I think this is all amusing because our calc based physics was less difficult than the algebra counterpart.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I think this is all amusing because our calc based physics was less difficult than the algebra counterpart.

So I've heard, but every math, statistics and physics prof (with one notable exception, but he's an extremely bipolar case so I take anything he says with a grain of salt) I've ever talked to has agreed with the point I'm about to make: there is no benefit to any common manner of research done in the biomedical field (in other words statistics) gained from utilizing calculus based operations as opposed to algebra based setups. Only when you get into things like biophysics or something involving really detailed analysis of flow or the like, does calculus become necessary.......

 

[Kikaku21]

This is possibly the stupidest thread I have ever seen.

First, OP, get over yourself. A lot of us were engineers. I, for one, hope that being an engineer and doing well at it will help me in the admissions process, but I would never suggest that it makes me better than any other applicant out there.

Also, please realize that a classes difficulty is dependent on far more than the concepts presented. In the chicago area, for example, some schools have an O-chem sequence that is notorious for kicking your ass, while others are known to be much easier. So it depends on the prof, the exams he throws at you, your competion, etc. There were non-engineering classes that I took that were much more difficult than my engineering physics classes.

Keep your head down and stop sucking.

 

[Bacchus]

I think this is all amusing because our calc based physics was less difficult than the algebra counterpart.

I know I just quoted myself, but let me add that this is kicking me in the ass now when I'm trying to memorize formulas (we got formula sheets). Sure, I know a lot of them from sheer repetition but there are some that I wish would just stick. I guess its not hopeless because I haven't forgotten pv=nrt or v=lambda(f). And cos always goes with x except on slope problems. To answer to OP, because that's the intent of this board, no I don't think its going to help you. Let your work speak for itself. If its notable to the Adcoms they'll be sure to let you know or ask you about how you did so well. Modesty and humbleness are good things at times.

 

[UCDavisdude]

i was a chem major my first 3 years, so i ended up taking the engineering/chem major calc, physics, ocem ,pchem...yadda yadda yadda...and my gpa suffered dearly for it. and no, it wont make a difference to adcoms whatsoever.

 

[Bacchus]

i was a chem major my first 3 years, so i ended up taking the engineering/chem major calc, physics, ocem ,pchem...yadda yadda yadda...and my gpa suffered dearly for it. and no, it wont make a difference to adcoms whatsoever.

Yay a former chemmer. I switched before third year (upcoming) because one semester of pchem will be enough. Obviously there are other reasons too, one being I didn't really care all that much for all the analytical/interpretitive classes I'd be taking.

 

[andymac08]

The first thing you should do is not worry about it. physics is physics, whether you derived the formula or memorized it. The only advantage I see in taking the calc-based physics (which I did) is how trivial it makes the MCAT physics problems look. adcoms will bring it up if its a big deal, you shouldn't.

 

[Jacks Mannequin]

Yeah, I don't really think it's worth talking about. They don't even have the non-calc based physics at my school.