Math is not my strong suit....sigh. Am I alone in this?

[Saluki313]

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I fancy myself a smart person. My last three semester GPA's have been 4.0's and a 3.9. I can learn anything....that is, as long as it is not math-based. I struggle a great deal with math. It's difficult for me to comprehend, and then once I vaguely understand it, I do not retain the material well. I muddled through Mathematical Reasoning and Algebra I with B's in both. I've never taken a math-based science, but I got A's in both of my bioscience classes (Bio: Survey of the Human Body, and Oceanography). The #1 reason I waved off a future in Vet Med was because I fear math.
Does anyone else quiver at a math equation like I do, and am I kidding myself? I understand that it is harder for me and I have to work harder at it then some people. Am I the only one? :/

 

[rileydog]

I hate math too. I hate memorizing formulas; I also mix up a sign or add when I should subtract or stupid things like that. Over time, I have found it to get easier, since I learned what works for me. You need to find a way to learn it that makes sense to you. Tutors, extra help, and extra studying are the only things that got me through college math. It is possible. If I can do it, you can do it 🙂

 

[Saluki313]

Yes, that sounds a lot like me, mixing up signs and little, detail-oriented things. Were you able to get through calculus? I'm soooo afraid of calc!

 

[squibby]

I think that if you can calculate drug doses, and understand basic statistics, you should be fine. Am I wrong? Outside of maybe research, is there a need as a veterinarian to use calculus on a day-to-day basis? Shoot me now if I am wrong, because I hate math too. Scientists hire statisticians to do the number crunching for them, anyway, is what I have heard. Physics is the only course I took that required some knowledge of calculus. Of course there will be algebra and geometry on the GRE too.

 

[Saluki313]

I am not prepared for my GRE at all, and I don't plan on taking it soon because I am not at all prepared. Thank you for the info.

 

[Saluki313]

OK Great. Thanks guys! I'm feeling better that my lack of mathematical prowess won't sabotage me completely. 🙂 A couple more years and a lot more veterinary-based animal experience and I think I will be a good candidate for schools. Pheeww

 

[FutureDVM2016]

Dont forget, Calculus is not a required course for many of the schools. I have only seen a few that require it. Many require up to Algebra, and/or Trig...

 

[chyactnate]

Ugg math! I am not a big fan of it at all. I withdrew once from calculus but then I took it over the summer and managed to get a B+ and I was THRILLED with that. I dont remember formulas and I think when I had a regular semester I would learn it, then forget it when test time came. So during the summer I took it again and we had a test every week which was perfect because I remembered more formulas and got decent grades. Also my teacher in the summer was a SAINT!!! She explained everything so well and would go over in detail if you really didnt understand it. Good Luck 🙂

 

[Saluki313]

I could only dream of a B+ in a math class! FutureDVM, I have seen that many schools do not require it, but nearly all require physics classes. My local Community College, and Stony Brook University (my present school) require Calc as a prereq to physics. VMRCVM says they accept Non-Calc based physics. What does that mean? Any physics under the sun?

 

[NStarz]

I could only dream of a B+ in a math class! FutureDVM, I have seen that many schools do not require it, but nearly all require physics classes. My local Community College, and Stony Brook University (my present school) require Calc as a prereq to physics. VMRCVM says they accept Non-Calc based physics. What does that mean? Any physics under the sun?

If it's anything like my school, then "non-calc based physics" would mean algebra-based. Instead of being expected to derive formulas using calc to get other useful formulas, you basically just memorize them all 🙂 That's at least my understanding of the differences.

 

[Tobysgirl81]

I'm not terribly good at math either, but being forced to do drug calculations on a regular basis made me a lot better at it 🙂 A lot of vet med math is repetition, so you become more comfortable and familiar with what you're doing. The worst is dilutions, but if I can learn them anyone can learn them 😛

 

[Lab Rat83]

One of the best vets I know failed Calculus in undergrad. It can be done! You can do it!

I actually enjoy math and I have fun figuring out problems, same thing with physics and chemistry. It's memorizing details (such as biology and genetics) that I struggle with.

 

[nyanko]

Genetics is so not about memorizing details!!! It's all about using logic and it's very quantitative! I'm the same way, good at math and problem solving but not so much at the memorize-recall stuff. And genetics is the field that has me in its grip. I have to admit, what really happened is that something just totally clicked for me when we started doing the genetic mapping problems, and then pedigree analysis. I got so excited about transferring statistics and probabilities to the idea of inheritance that I think I just short circuited and have been able to think of nothing else since.

I'm sorry you had a bad professor for it or something, apparently!

 

[rileydog]

Yes, that sounds a lot like me, mixing up signs and little, detail-oriented things. Were you able to get through calculus? I'm soooo afraid of calc!

Yeah I did, I actually got an A in Analytic Geometry and Calculus. I took it during the summer. It was taught by a TA, instead of the regular instructor who I heard is really hard. In Gainesville, there are large tutoring companies who make packets of what you need to know and hold sessions every week and before tests. They teach you tips and tricks and give you hints and mnemonics for remembering the formulas and how to solve them. I definitely went to a lot of them, especially before the tests. Maybe there are similar places by your school? I really hope there is not much calculus in vet med. I honestly could not tell you a single thing I learned in that class. IME at a vet clinic and wildlife rehab clinic, it was all calculating meds. The formula for that is not hard, even I could handle it and there was always a calculator around. 🙂 I don't think hating math is a deal breaker for vet school success. Guess I will find out when classes start on Thursday!

 

[FutureDVM2016]

I could only dream of a B+ in a math class! FutureDVM, I have seen that many schools do not require it, but nearly all require physics classes. My local Community College, and Stony Brook University (my present school) require Calc as a prereq to physics. VMRCVM says they accept Non-Calc based physics. What does that mean? Any physics under the sun?

Wow, I'm sorry haha... my school has both but we don't have to take the calc-based class. Those are meant for the engineering students. The physics classes that the pre-vet students have to take are trig-based... I believe that is what it means when they say they accept non-calc based physics.

 

[Armymutt25A]

I survived calculus by sheer regurgitation and the curve. I didn't even understand the purpose until I was a senior and we were discussing how to determine the volume of a silo. I have never used calculus, though I do use algebra and a little geometry quite often. My favorite problems are the ones where you have to do a lot of unit conversions. Glad to see that they have dropped the calc requirement for most vet schools.

 

[Caper2X]

You are most definitely not alone. I have always loved Math, I like the idea of it, however I had the same Math teacher for all of highschool (Math 10 AP, Math 11 AP, Math 12 AP, Pre-Calculus and Calculus).

I have to take Calculus I and II at University next year. Calculus is not a requirement for the vet school I'm applying to (One statistics and one other math elective is the requirement), however Calculus is a requirement for anybody taking a B.Sc at my undergrad institution.

I attempted Calc I for like.. 2 weeks of last year, however I was completely lost in translation so I dropped the course. Registered with a new prof this year.. crossing my fingers that if I make Calculus an obsession this year that I will actually be able to pull through, with a good mark 🙂