How important is it to have taken calculus when applying to dental school?

[usernametaken]

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I know Harvard wants two semesters of calc, a couple other dental schools would like at least calc I, and most do not require it. FYI - I have a pretty minimal background in math (college alg, stats). I have a psychology degree (with a good amount of research experience) and am starting to work on my dental prereqs. Should I take calc I and/or II? Any advice is welcome.

 

[Regmata]

Only if you think you are going to get into Harvard...and you actually want to go there...

 

[OceanBlue]

I know Harvard wants two semesters of calc, a couple other dental schools would like at least calc I, and most do not require it. FYI - I have a pretty minimal background in math (college alg, stats). I have a psychology degree (with a good amount of research experience) and am starting to work on my dental prereqs. Should I take calc I and/or II? Any advice is welcome.

Take them if Harvard is your top choice. Otherwise, I wouldn't take them. I don't think it will impress the interview people that you take them. I would spend my energy on other important courses.

 

[OceanBlue]

Only if you think you are going to get into Harvard...and you actually want to go there...

you beat me to it

 

[jza70]

Don't most schools want physics too? If so most physics classes require calc as a prereq.

 

[chocolateeth]

yea.. there are 2 types of physics: one is algebra-based (for many majors including Bio) and the other is calculus-based which is for engineering and chem majors

 

[predental7200]

Isn't it true though that most people that get accepted into dental universities have at least a bachelors degree in science? Cuz normally these do require at least 2 courses of calculus. (Even a degree in kineseology requires 2 courses of calculus but they can be biology calculus instead of the normal calculus) At least here in British Columbia, Canada, they do.

So although not directly stated, I've found it's hard to avoid not taking them cuz you end up doing them for your bachelors anyhow, but I could be wrong.

 

[WPIDDS]

I think it depends on school that you attend. There is no math offered below Calc I at my school and the school requires at the very least two math classes to graduate for ANY major. Because of that everyone takes at least Calc I and II. Im sure you can find a school that accepts Alegebra or Stats as acceptable math. It all depends on where you go....

 

[pmantz]

Calculus I & 2 was a required course for the biology degree at my school. I think the class is important and everyone should take it. I am a chem major so I had to take more math on top of C1&2 but I found although math can be tough, it also is rewarding. Calculus is the if not one of the single greatest human achievements, fascinating to think about how things were done before it. I think Calculus gives one a better understanding of all science, and other academic fields. I think just like everyone has to take a foreign language and liberal art classes, everyone should appreciate if not learn the basics of a form of math which is used so widely.

 

[OceanBlue]

I think the class is important and everyone should take it. I am a chem major so I had to take more math on top of C1&2 but I found although math can be tough, it also is rewarding. Calculus is the if not one of the single greatest human achievements

It helps you to think quantitatively, but it can hinder you from thinking holistically.

 

[usernametaken]

Most biology undergrad degrees require 1 year of calculus, and they also include plenty of biology labs. I know a lot of pre-dental students are bio majors, and that dental schools generally (Harvard excluded) only mention that they require the biology labs and not calculus. I'm thinking that my time might be better spent on something more productive then calculus, although since so many people have it, part of me wants to try to make my application look better next to theirs.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[jza70]

It really depends o what school you go to. We had two versions of physics at my school - one physics that required calc for those who were in engineering and math majors and one physics that did not require calc for those who aren't in engineering and math but are required to have physics.

My school has 3 physics. 1 for BA bio degrees, and marine bio etc. 1 for bio BS and econ/business majors and another physics for physics/engineering majors. The latter two requiring calc.