Math for Premeds

[Golfer9393]

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Do most premeds take calc 2?

Thank you

 

[sunshinefl]

Do most premeds take calc 2?

Thank you

Can’t answer for most, but I personally took in college— college algebra, trigonometry, pre-calc, stats 1, and stats 2.

While researching the process, schools, making my plan and list etc, I found only 2 Medical schools still requiring calculus. The trend I saw was moving toward recommending/requiring statistics more often.

 

[Typeracer]

I stopped after Calc 1. I'd hazard a guess that the majority of people don't take Calc 2 because it's generally not required for most pre-med majors.

 

[Mopsd]

At my school, Calc II is known for negatively affecting one's GPA...and for this reason most pre-meds I know don't take it unless it's required for their major.

Calc 1 + stats is the route I'll be taking.

 

[Catalystik]

Do most premeds take calc 2?

Thank you

It depends on whether their major requires it or not, or if they're aiming for the maybe two med schools that require it.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I took it because I majored in math. There was maybe one other premed in the class. There is a very small number of med schools that require a year of calculus I think, but even they might allow you to take calc 1 and a semester of stats. I’m not sure how calc 2 would be beneficial to a physician or med student.

 

[Golfer9393]

At my school, Calc II is known for negatively affecting one's GPA...and for this reason most pre-meds I know don't take it unless it's required for their major.

Calc 1 + stats is the route I'll be taking.

But did your AP test waive calc?

 

[Golfer9393]

I stopped after Calc 1. I'd hazard a guess that the majority of people don't take Calc 2 because it's generally not required for most pre-med majors.

Did your AP score waive calc?

 

[Golfer9393]

Like calc 1 would be extremely boring because I took calc BC in high school, but at the same time, I don’t want to risk my gpa when it wasn’t required in the first place.

 

[Golfer9393]

I took it because I majored in math. There was maybe one other premed in the class. There is a very small number of med schools that require a year of calculus I think, but even they might allow you to take calc 1 and a semester of stats. I’m not sure how calc 2 would be beneficial to a physician or med student.

Is Calc 2 as hard as what people say? Is it hard to get an A?

 

[FreeRadicals]

Calc 2 is a GPA killer at my school and is unfortunately required for the hard science chem/biochem majors.

 

[deleted890552]

Do most premeds take calc 2?

Thank you

It depends on your major probably. Precalc and discrete computational structures is enough math for me. Most med schools don't require any Calculus from what I've seen, Harvard does but I wouldn't spend thousands on course work and 100's of hours of my life to apply to one school (that I have no chance in hell at getting into anyways). An increasing number schools want you to take statistics, preferably biostatistics. If you care about prestigious schools you will want to take all of potentially required premed courses you can like Biochem with Lab/Calculus/Statistics etc because those schools tend to have more prerequisites.

 

[Cheenghee Koh]

I understand that we are talking about GPA here. However, I wish I could have taken the series of cal, linear algebra, real analysis, and discrete math in undergrad. If you take your 4th or 5th class in stats/biostats, you will find that everything is about math. Nowadays, no study is going to only use the materials covered in the first two stat classes - they are too basic. Of course, you can always collaborate with a statistician, but it is always nice to be able to know what they are doing, and why, so that you can make your own judgements when engaging in the evidence you are reading.

 

[Golfer9393]

My only dilemma is that I don’t know if taking calc 1 would be a waste of time, since I already took calc BC in high school. But like I said, I don’t want to get like an A- or a B in calc 2 and lower my gpa.

 

[Golfer9393]

I forgot to mention, I got a 4 on my BC exam.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Is Calc 2 as hard as what people say? Is it hard to get an A?

Calc 2 is often considered the most difficult of the series. This is because it requires a lot of pattern recognition and is not as structured as calc 1. Rather than having a very clear cut direction to take each problem, it's more open with no obvious way to go. There are also typically a lot of proofs and derivations, which can be difficult for some students.

Personally, I found calc 2 to be the most fun out of the series, but I love proofs and patterns.

If you don't need to take calc 2, don't take it. You can totally study the concepts on your own through various resources if you're a math enthusiast. PM me if you want some suggestions.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I understand that we are talking about GPA here. However, I wish I could have taken the series of cal, linear algebra, real analysis, and discrete math in undergrad. If you take your 4th or 5th class in stats/biostats, you will find that everything is about math. Nowadays, no study is going to only use the materials covered in the first two stat classes - they are too basic. Of course, you can always collaborate with a statistician, but it is always nice to be able to know what they are doing, and why, so that you can make your own judgements when engaging in the evidence you are reading.

There are many good resources to learn that stuff on your own without putting your gpa at risk if you are not a math or stats major.