How Imperative is it for a pre-med to take calc 2

[akhasawneh]

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Didn't do too well in Calc 1 (received a B) and was wondering if it would be necessary for me to take calc 2. If I opt out of taking it, I can just take a statistics class to fulfill the math requirement for premed. If I take calc 2 I would also be required to take statistics (BS requirement) - this leads me to my next question - do adcoms give priority to BS graduates over BA graduates?


Thanks

 

[prettyNURSEtoMD]

So a B is not doing too well... I thought you were going to say a C...

 

[gettheleadout]

Not imperative at all, no difference between BS and BA.

 

[sinombre]

Agreed. I never took calc 2. I did take a year of statistics though.

 

[gyngyn]

Stats is way more useful than calc2. We don't care if you have a BA vs BS.

 

[HelpPleaseMD]

i wish i took stats instead of calc. calc has little to no use in med school while stats shows up all the time from classes to boards

 

[Beargryllz]

Unless you're dead set on mastering engineering or rocket physics, don't torture yourself with calc beyond the very basics

I thought calc 2 would give me a competitive edge. It helped tank my GPA because I am not a smart man

Do take statistics

 

[juliuspepperwood]

As far as I know Harvard is the only school that requires 2 calc classes. Stats is required by a lot of schools and you will need it if you ever want to read a research article and understand what is going on.

 

[gettheleadout]

As far as I know Harvard is the only school that requires 2 calc classes. Stats is required by a lot of schools and you will need it if you ever want to read a research article and understand what is going on.

Only HST requires Cal II, NP doesn't.

 

[juliuspepperwood]

Only HST requires Cal II, NP doesn't.

Boom even less need for 2 semesters of Calc.

 

[rfvbnmju]

Am I the only odd ball that finds Calc 2 easier than Stats? Calc is mostly Alg manipulation and one Calc step whereas stats require a type of thinking I'm not as used to.

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[911 Turbo]

idk I've always had the impression that more math = better results from adcoms. taking higher leveled math classes (cal III, linear, ODE, PDE, etc) looks more impressive.


but seeing as there is no difference between a physics major and a basketweaving major in the eyes of the stupid adcoms, it probably doesnt matter

 

[gyngyn]

but seeing as there is no difference between a physics major and a basketweaving major in the eyes of the stupid adcoms, it probably doesnt matter

Sticks and stones...

 

[deleted407021]

It's not imperative at all. Don't take it if you don't want to.

 

[neurotroph]

idk I've always had the impression that more math = better results from adcoms. taking higher leveled math classes (cal III, linear, ODE, PDE, etc) looks more impressive.


but seeing as there is no difference between a physics major and a basketweaving major in the eyes of the stupid adcoms, it probably doesnt matter

lol wtf

 

[knv2u]

It depends on the school. Some program require two semesters of calculus. You should consult the MSAR.

 

[knv2u]

Only HST requires Cal II, NP doesn't.

Are you absolutely sure?

Under the current requirements, point #4, it lists a full year of calculus. Bullet point #6 includes the additional requirements required by HST, making me think that the NP program also requires a full year. HST seems to want math all the way through differential equations/linear algebra.

http://hms.harvard.edu/departments/admissions/applying/requirements-admission

 

[gettheleadout]

Are you absolutely sure?

Under the current requirements, point #4, it lists a full year of calculus. Bullet point #6 includes the additional requirements required by HST, making me think that the NP program also requires a full year. HST seems to want math all the way through differential equations/linear algebra.

http://hms.harvard.edu/departments/admissions/applying/requirements-admission

Yes I am absolutely sure. I'm on my phone and won't quote right now but read that page more carefully.

 

[Jennifer Garcia]

It's not imperative at all.

 

[Redpancreas]

Didn't do too well in Calc 1 (received a B) and was wondering if it would be necessary for me to take calc 2. If I opt out of taking it, I can just take a statistics class to fulfill the math requirement for premed. If I take calc 2 I would also be required to take statistics (BS requirement) - this leads me to my next question - do adcoms give priority to BS graduates over BA graduates?


Thanks

Unless you are aiming for acceptance into the HST program (MD from Harvard, PhD from MIT), Harvard, JHU (they said 6-8 hrs. of Calc which I interpret as Calc I and II), and maybe a few others I absolutely recommend Statistics. For one, it's more useful and applicable to medical school and often times it's easier. If your worried about the few others that might have the requirement, go onto MSAR and figure out which ones require Calc II. Very few do and out of the ~40 schools I considered applying to, none of them required Calc II. To help guide yourself, look for the the highly ranked research schools.

 

[487806]

idk I've always had the impression that more math = better results from adcoms. taking higher leveled math classes (cal III, linear, ODE, PDE, etc) looks more impressive.


but seeing as there is no difference between a physics major and a basketweaving major in the eyes of the stupid adcoms, it probably doesnt matter

I hear ya bro. But still, premeds despise math and physics as they argue it's irrelevant for medicine, a wonderful, superheroic, altruistic profession that they are destined for, which they obtain through rigorous cutthroat competition. So, people who advocate calculus and calc-based physics (hint: you, me and some really smart and successful applicants/med students/doctors) are shunned by the SDN premeds as barbaric gunners.

OT: OP, don't waste your time with calc II. Reading your post makes it apparent that you'll do awful in calc II and it's not worth your time.

 

[487806]

Are you absolutely sure?

Under the current requirements, point #4, it lists a full year of calculus. Bullet point #6 includes the additional requirements required by HST, making me think that the NP program also requires a full year. HST seems to want math all the way through differential equations/linear algebra.

http://hms.harvard.edu/departments/admissions/applying/requirements-admission

Let's be real here. HST is just ONE school that requires calculus and students to be comfortable with linear algebra and differential equations. HST is also incredibly competitive and has really brilliant and versatile students enrolled. I really really doubt most of the premeds (99.9% SDN or otherwise) has even a shot at HST, so it's not worth the time considering or overanalyzing HST requirements. The people who do have a shot at HST won't be wasting their time analyzing the requirements; they would've got them down immediately.

 

[kyamh]

Unless you are aiming for acceptance into the HST program (MD from Harvard, PhD from MIT).....

Lol, I wish...it's an MD only program, but that's not really the point. I agree that stats is 100% more useful for science.