Math Important for Admissions?

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FutureDocHopefl

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hello,

i was wondering if math was a big factor when determining applications. my major doesn't require math beyond trig, but i keep hearing all these people talking about calculus. is math really that important? i plan on applying to virtually every DO school when it comes that time.


thanks!
 
Nah, you don't need to know how to do math to be a doctor. pssh. 🙄

/sarcasm

Just take whatever's required and you'll be fine. Calc was not a requirement when I was applying to med school. There might be some schools that require it. If this is the case then you just don't go there.
 
FutureDocHopefl said:
hello,

i was wondering if math was a big factor when determining applications. my major doesn't require math beyond trig, but i keep hearing all these people talking about calculus. is math really that important? i plan on applying to virtually every DO school when it comes that time.


thanks!

Well, science and math DO go together 😀 .

I know a few MD schools now do require calculus but most schools don't so you should be able to get away without calculus.
 
I believe UMDNJ and the DO school in Texas require math. That's why I'm taking calc next year, so I can apply to all schools.
 
The Penn State premed requires math, but that is simply because in order to take physics with labs then you are required to have a concurrent calculus...since it is calculus based physics. I'm not in osteopathic or allopathic yet but I mean...if you are scared don't...but it can never really hurt to learn more as long as you don't screw up your gpa in the process. I have found that my stat course and my logic and discrete math courses were very helpful ...if not for medicine later on..just for understanding day to day things...Yes seriously....no I'm not kidding..I really do use this stuff sometimes..although indirectly.
 
A bunch of schools require at least Calc I, so double-check your schools' admit requirements.
 
I never took Calc and I haven't run into any problems because of that so far. I'm finishing up my second semester now and so far all the math I've encountered (just a few times in physiology and biochem so far) has been pretty basic equations that even those of us who are not math inclined can manage. 🙂
Best of luck!
 
I took no math beyond a 100-level course in undergrad and have made it through *almost* 2 years of med school-- it's no problem!
 
For those current medschool students commenting. You may not have had to use calculus in your classes but as someone involved in research I come across it in about every article I read. After you become a doctor do you not think that you will need to stay up to date on the current literature because most articles I have come across involve some math beyond just trig?
 
pokeytu said:
For those current medschool students commenting. You may not have had to use calculus in your classes but as someone involved in research I come across it in about every article I read. After you become a doctor do you not think that you will need to stay up to date on the current literature because most articles I have come across involve some math beyond just trig?

This is definitely true. Although I'm not directly involved with any serious research at the moment, I am always trying to keep up with current biomedical literature. I've been forced a couple times to dig through a math book or two just to be able to really understand what was being discussed.
 
FutureDocHopefl said:
hello,

i was wondering if math was a big factor when determining applications. my major doesn't require math beyond trig, but i keep hearing all these people talking about calculus. is math really that important? i plan on applying to virtually every DO school when it comes that time.


thanks!

No. There is no math in medical school beyond a middle school level.
 
FutureDocHopefl said:
hello,

i was wondering if math was a big factor when determining applications. my major doesn't require math beyond trig, but i keep hearing all these people talking about calculus. is math really that important? i plan on applying to virtually every DO school when it comes that time.


thanks!

only if you are planning on calculating your student loan payments 🙁 . seriously, i don't think that math is really that important beyond what you major requires.

dnrme44
 
CJDocS said:
This is definitely true. Although I'm not directly involved with any serious research at the moment, I am always trying to keep up with current biomedical literature. I've been forced a couple times to dig through a math book or two just to be able to really understand what was being discussed.


I would at some point take biostatistics, when I am at investigator meetings that is all we talk about.
 
I am a current first year at ATSU-KCOM. I have used no math what so ever with the exception of a little algebra. I have pretty much forgotten all the math I learned in engineering school.
 
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