For those of you that didn't take Calculus

There are generally two physics tracks: calc-based and non-calc-based. What school do you go to that doesn't offer non-calc-based physics?

 

Calculus is not that hard.. especially if you have a TI-89.

 

Ha. Were you allowed to use that?
What a joke.

 

I just took the non-calc based physics. Worked just fine. I believe that is all the MCAT requires? Good luck. I hate math.

 

You should avoid taking med school prereqs at a community college anyways. Find a 4 year college or university that offers the non-calc based physics and go that route.

 

Looking at that list, it appears that 2A and 2B are what you would need. They certainly seem to cover the requisite topics. Perhaps someone more knowledgable about Cali schools could tell you for certain, though.

I did not take Calculus and I've been accepted.

Some schools get their panties all in a bundle about community college coursework. Most don't. Generally speaking, though, if you start off at a CC you should prove yourself by taking upper division science coursework once you transfer to a 4 year university (and you should kick @ss).

 

Sweet Jebus people.... just take a year of Calculus. No big deal.

 

it's a big deal when you waste class hours taking something boring and useless like calculus, when you could use that time to take a class you might enjoy or is useful in the real world.

 

I kinda thought the same way until I met a guy in my G-Chem 2 class at a community college. This is my only class I'm taking outside of a 4 year college, but the guy had majored in Econ in college. I was surprised when he told me he had taken ALL of his med school prereqs at community college. He has since gotten interviews at UMich, Duke, Harvard, and a couple other top schools. I was thinking "that's not fair! these classes are so much easier!"

 

just force yourself to do all the practice problems, whether or not homework is required. and check your answers at office hours. you should be fine if you do this.

 

Funny, I thought that calculus was just that, applicable to the real world. Let me see:
(1) space shuttle goes to space....calculus
(2) architecture...calculus
(3) forensic science (determining a crash/crime)...calculus
(4) giving specific dosage of medicine...calculus
(5) how K+ channels work...calculus

Pretty much a situation where dynamic modeling is necessary requires calculus
I could go on...neovenom I hope you don't place your future patients at risk with your ignorance.

 

I took college calc based physics without calculus and got an A both semesters. whenever i found stuff i didn't get, i just got my friend [who is a math major] to explain it but that didn't happen too often. so it is possible to take physics sans taking calculus but i would definately not recommend it unless you have a tutor handy and are good with concepts.

the messed up part is i took calc the following year and got a fricking D! dunno how that happened as i got A's in the semester tests so i much have totally effed up the final. now i am taking calc again and i am doing so bad but loving the class---i totally get the concepts but get caught up in the little "tricks". anyway enough of this rambling...point is although you can do without it for physics (and this is a painful can) you should take calc cause it is a good thing to have in and of itself, and is useful to life and to developing thinking itself

 

Hi I was in the same dilemna as you it seems. I almost chose UCSB over UCSD because they didn't require calc based physics there, but after I talked to a couple of professors about the topic i was kind of glad that I chose to do the calc series. It really is the only way to completely solve physics problems =P I haven't started dissecting the mcat yet, still a sophmore, but I would assume that it would help you alot in the section that deals with physics if you took a calculus based physics class. Just some food for thought. And yes brett, I didnt get to use my TI either =(, and calculus really isnt that bad, just hope you get a good teacher.