Math Requirement

[tc13]

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All but one of the medical schools in Texas will accept either statistics or calculus to fulfill the math prereq requirement. Are most of you taking stats or going ahead with the precal and cal 1 route? Stats would be easier and faster, but it seems like there is a lot of talk about "rigor or course work."
Any thoughts?

 

[ShyRem]

Depends how math oriented you are. Both were fairly simple and easy for me.

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

SOme of my schools require a year of math so i took both. I don't think taking stats instead of calc 1 will make an imapct as far as rigor goes. As long as you do well in physics, I don't see why it would matter. You need statistics in med school. so i think it should be fine. Calculus on the other hand is totally useless. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Truth_seeker]

Speaking of physics and calc. What are you all taking by means of physics? Are you taking calc based physics or non-calc based physics. I spoke w/ a current med student and he said adcom's want physics period and don't really distinguish from calc based from algebra based. What it means for me is I have to take two or three pre-calc classes prior to taking calc then physics? Perhaps he was talking about the schools he applied to. He applied to all med schools in NC which is what I'm going to do. Thanks!

 

[MollyMalone]

I am not a math person. Hence I went the stats route and the non-calc based physics route (this also cut a year off my pre-req time, which was ultimately the more important factor in my decision).

These are the schools that I recorded as absolutely, positively requiring calculus (may not be entirely complete and is based on 2005 MSAR):

UC-Irvine
UCLA
USUHS
WashU
Harvard
Dartmouth
Duke
Brown
UT-Houston

There are many others who require "calculus or stats", and many that "recommend" calculus. There are a few that want calculus if you tested out of "college math" via AP or some other means. I don't think anyone requires calc-based physics.

Given that the number of schools that require calculus is so small (and, according to my premed advisor, dwindling), I didn't think it was worthy of the significant time investment.

I also think that stats in general is far more useful than calculus in medicine (although my stats class sucked hardcore and I really didn't learn much).

Just my $0.02. There are certainly people who disagree.

 

[ShyRem]

Only 1 person failed my calc class. Over 70% of my stats class were folks who had previously failed the class - one had failed it seven (yes, that's SEVEN) times. Lest you say the professor sucked for the stats class, both classes were taught by the same professor, and he is absolutely brilliant, straightforward, helpful, and has a gift of making the horridly complex be absolutely simple to get through and remember.

Oh, and 25% of my stats class failed (yet again in many cases).

I say again, depends on how your brain works. If calculus is a good fit, take it. If you like doing tests on bunches of numbers (and in some cases trying to figure out what test to use), take stats. Calculus will teach you a different kind of math, stats is just an algebraic application (unless you take statistical methods class which requires extensive calculus, linear algebra, and group theory background - I don't recommend this one). I do agree that in most cases stats will be more helpful.

 

[midwestSkitch]

Hi there, In my case I lack confidence in math. I find story problems in general or problem solving that is on the MCAT to be a bit difficult. I have all my prereq. except physics and am carrying a 3.95 GPA. I have this fear that I am only BOOK smart and am not a critical thinker. I have taken trig., college algebra, and statistics, getting an A in all three. However, when I open up the physics text or look at MCAT question in which you have to take several different avenues to arrive at the correct answer, I find myself in trouble. I am hoping taking precalc and calculus1 at the same time as physics will give me some confidence in this area. Since most tradition students have calculus at my school I feel I might not be as equal to them academically unless I take this class. Does my reasoning make sense? Will I benifit from the added math courses somewhat? thanks.

 

[ShyRem]

Check into whether your college offers a math lab or math tutoring service. Many people have math phobias (which I personally equate to lack of confidence), and colleges are well prepared to deal with this problem.

As for not a critical thinker... think about all the things you do during your normal day and whether they require critical thinking. You'll be surprised. Life is about solving problems (especially if you're a parent!).

For solving problems, make lists. Also, find a good math person and get a list of word-to-math-functions. Look at the problem and write down everything you know. Then write down what you WANT to know. Write down all the equations you know that have what you WANT to know and at least parts of what you DO know. then plug 'n chug.

I may not be the best one to ask if added math will help you - as a math major I find math extremely helpful to have an intuition about what's going on behind the scenes of the problem. But I have come to terms with the fact that most people do NOT think like me. 🙂

 

[midwestSkitch]

Thanks SHyRem,
My school does have a good acedemic skills center will many math tutors, that will help alot I'm sure. The phobia makes more sense also. I think thats why I need to tackle it head on. I want to eliminate any possible stressful areas before taking the MCAT. Even though the math should be somewhat basic, I've heard it helps to think through things in a mathmatical way. I've also talked to an MD prof in med school and he said the most successful candidates tend to be the folks with strong math skills.

Thanks for the good advice on problem solving. With 3 kids and one with special needs I can look at critical thinking in a whole new light now. 🙂

 

[Law2Doc]

Speaking of physics and calc. What are you all taking by means of physics? Are you taking calc based physics or non-calc based physics. I spoke w/ a current med student and he said adcom's want physics period and don't really distinguish from calc based from algebra based. What it means for me is I have to take two or three pre-calc classes prior to taking calc then physics? Perhaps he was talking about the schools he applied to. He applied to all med schools in NC which is what I'm going to do. Thanks!

I tend to agree with your med student friend. I'd had calc and stats in the distant past, but where I was taking my prereq sciences, they only offered non-calc based physics, so that is what I took. No schools I encountered ever mentioned it or cared. So I think as long as you take a class with "physics" in the title, and do well on the PS section of the MCAT schools won't take issue.