General or University Physics

[drlo59]

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I'm a pre-med/music major at Mary Washington College (VA). For introductory physics, there are 2 levels: General Physics (101 and 102) and University Physics (105 and 106). As I understand it, University Physics is a lot harder than General Physics and incorporates more calculus, etc. Would I be ok to take the General Physics for pre-med, or will med schools/the MCATs not like that? I kind of want to do as little work as possible, especially in physics! 🙂

 

[UDbiochem]

i took lower level physics with less calc, my school has the same kind of thing, 2 levels, one for engineers, one for the premeds. i don't think the mcat physics is that tough, probably only need the lower level.

 

[dynx]

You only need the lower level. MCAT physics is not calc. based and Med schools generally have no idea about the specifics of the course you took. They see upper division physics and thats it. Take the easier one and get an A.

 

[kg9921]

Does that apply to life science vs. non life science physics? Both fulfill requirements i believe, one is just more rigorous.

 

[PianoGirl04]

General Physics is fine, and my premed advisor actually recommends it instead of calculus-based physics. At my school, gen phys is an auto-tutorial course...no lectures or midterms/finals, just labs, problem sets, notebook checks, and quizzes. It takes up as much time as a normal course, but you're on your own schedule. Calc-based physics is a beast of a course that has labs, lectures, and recitations for a total of 6 times a week. Ugh.

As for life science physics, my guess is that you should take the life science one since medicine is (of course) a life science! Also, it will probably correspond better with the topics tested on the MCAT. Non-life science physics is probably for chemistry and physics majors. But that's just a guess, since my school doesn't make that distinction. Interestingly enough, they do it for orgo...we have orgo for chem majors and orgo for the life sciences.

 

[Nutmeg]

Take the hard one and embrace the pain!!!!

😉

 

[kito]

Originally posted by Nutmeg
Take the hard one and embrace the pain!!!!

Yeah suck it up and don't be a pansy.