For those of you that didn't take Calculus

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Manjot

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Hi. This question is for those of you that didn't take Calculus. How did you manage to take Physics without talking Calculus? At my school, Calculus is a pre-req for Physics. How are you supposed to take Physics without Calculus, do you use those pre-req challenge forms? 😕 (I'm confused)

Also, I talked to the admissions people at my local state school and they told me that in order to major in Bio, the highest math that I need is pre-cal. I DON'T want to take Calculus (@ all), so how am I supposed to take physics!


I'm losing my brain!!!! :scared: 😕 :scared:
 
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?
 
Basically, at the local community college there are two kinds of physics. General Physics (Calculus pre-req) and Intro to Physics...the only Physics that doesn't require Calculus is Into...I want to take general Physics (I heard thats the one that med schools require) without having to take Calculus.
 
Calculus is not that hard.. especially if you have a TI-89.
 
TheDarkSide said:
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?
I just took the non-calc based physics. Worked just fine. I believe that is all the MCAT requires? Good luck. I hate math. 👎
 
Manjot said:
Basically, at the local community college there are two kinds of physics. General Physics (Calculus pre-req) and Intro to Physics...the only Physics that doesn't require Calculus is Into...I want to take general Physics (I heard thats the one that med schools require) without having to take Calculus.

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.
 
I see, so there exists such a thing :meanie:

These are all of the Physics classes offered at my local community college, can any of you help me pick the right (non Calculus based) one.
http://bw3.clpccd.cc.ca.us:7000/clpccd/2005/cat_phys.htm#PHYS4C

I really appreciate your help...Thanks a million!




(ps, you can take non Calculus based Physics and still get into med school right?)

😍 SDN
 
So, state schools are ok to attend? (The only reason I don't want to attend a UC is because I have to take Calculus)
 
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).
 
Telemachus said:
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.
 
medicalbound said:
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.


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!" 😡
 
The only reason I don't want to take Calculus is because it's going to kill my gpa...I've always been bad at math, oh well.
 
Manjot said:
The only reason I don't want to take Calculus is because I know that it's going to kill my gpa...I've always been bad at math, oh well.

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.
 
neovenom said:
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.


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. 😳
 
So basically, I can take Intro to Physics and still get into med school?
 
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.
 
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