Math

[J_shep75]

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What are the math requirements for the majority of DO schools, I know a lot of MDs you need one semester of calc and one of stats but some schools are different. Overall my main question is would it be a bad decision not to take calc?

 

[bcurtis]

You answered your own question: "...some schools are different."

Instead of starting a new thread on here, go look at the academic requirements at the DO schools you're thinking about applying to.

I'm sure there are TONS of people on here that didn't take calc that got in. All the schools that I'm applying to in the future (as of now) don't require calc.

Now do your part and look them up. It's part of the application process. It's a grind.

Edit: I just looked at the ONLY two threads you've started on here and both of them are asking questions that have been answered a million times over. Go do the research instead of asking questions on a forum. I understand that this website is here to help people, but you can understand that these questions (especially to the more senior members here) get really old and really annoying.

Go do your part.

What are the math requirements for the majority of DO schools, I know a lot of MDs you need one semester of calc and one of stats but some schools are different. Overall my main question is would it be a bad decision not to take calc?

 

[AM508]

Some of the schools require some type of math, not necessarily calc, some don't...As other posters have suggested, you really need to look at each school you are planning on applying to and make sure you understand their individual pre-reqs as they do vary. On that note, you really should spend a significant amount of time researching your schools in general before you apply. As @bcurtis states, it is all part of the process.

 

[J_shep75]

I apologize I did search the threads but couldn't find one specifically for this question in the DO forums only in MD, I'll try to make more of an effort next time before posting.

 

[AM508]

The best place to start looking at each school is the AACOM College Information Book : http://www.aacom.org/docs/default-source/cib/2015_cibfull-web.pdf?sfvrsn=12

 

[J_shep75]

The best place to start looked at each school is the AACOM College Information Book : http://www.aacom.org/docs/default-source/cib/2015_cibfull-web.pdf?sfvrsn=12

Thank you!

 

[songl4a]

.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Why doesn't AACOMAS factor math classes into sGPA @Goro

Because Math is not a science. Math is Math.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Generally most DO schools require 1 to 2 semesters of math. None require calculus outright, but some do require stat.

 

[J_shep75]

Generally most DO schools require 1 to 2 semesters of math. None require calculus outright, but some do require stat.

So for the most part a semester of college algebra and a semester of stats should be sufficient?

 

[songl4a]

.

 

[kalat]

I'd recommend taking statistics regardless of whether or not the school requires it. I'm still not sold on how relevant calculus is to medicine, but I also took it anyways. Do both if you can, but if you have to choose at least take statistics.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Then why do MD schools consider math/statistics in BCPM? And why do DO schools count physics as part of sGPA? It's just math.

Because it is an experimental science that examines the natural world? And because BCPM includes math, Scigpa is just sciences.

 

[costales]

Let's just say your calculator won't see much use in med school. Any med school.

 

[bcurtis]

I second this wholeheartedly. Statistics has literally been the only math class that I can really apply to real life. I had an advanced psychological statistics course as well and it has greatly prepared me for research (if that is ever very important to me).

Calculus is just awful, along with physics. I honestly prefer organic chemistry to both of them.

I'd recommend taking statistics regardless of whether or not the school requires it. I'm still not sold on how relevant calculus is to medicine, but I also took it anyways. Do both if you can, but if you have to choose at least take statistics.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I second this wholeheartedly. Statistics has literally been the only math class that I can really apply to real life. I had an advanced psychological statistics course as well and it has greatly prepared me for research (if that is ever very important to me).

Calculus is just awful, along with physics. I honestly prefer organic chemistry to both of them.

Statistics as an applied theory driven thing is ok. But I prefer calc to stat because stat is literally just memorizing a bunch of tests that excel does for you. Though theory wise it teaches a lot of good stuff.

 

[bcurtis]

The general stats class I had was like the memorization class. The advanced class was much more theory based and I believe both had their merits. Calc and physics are not my cup of tea, which upsets me. Learning about applied physics and how it "makes the world go round" is really fun, but the concepts and understanding the math just blows my mind.

Statistics as an applied theory driven thing is ok. But I prefer calc to stat because stat is literally just memorizing a bunch of tests that excel does for you. Though theory wise it teaches a lot of good stuff.

 

[AM508]

Calculus is just awful, along with physics. I honestly prefer organic chemistry to both of them.

Whoa whoa whoa...lets not get all crazy now...If given the choice between organic chem and chewing on razor blades, I would strongly consider the razor chewing .

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Whoa whoa whoa...lets not get all crazy now...If given the choice between organic chem and chewing on razor blades, I would strongly consider the razor chewing .

I still don't entirely comprehend the issue people have with organic chemistry. It was arguably one of my most interesting and entertaining classes.

The lab though, I would chew razors.

 

[AM508]

I still don't entirely comprehend the issue people have with organic chemistry. It was arguably one of my most interesting and entertaining classes.

The lab though, I would chew razors.

I actually loved the lab. My real distaste actually stems from Organic II. My school went out of its way to make Organic much more painful that it had to be. There was no real multiple choice or anything. Basically, blank sheets of paper with 30-40 pt 10-15 step synthesis problems where they gave you a starting material and a desired product and the page was yours and then some really ugly mechanism problems. On a whole it wouldn't have been bad if you had say an hour and a half or so to do it, but they gave you an hour. Most of the exams had like a mean score in the 50's with many people (me included periodically) unable to finish the exam in the allotted time. It always really irked me that it COULD have been a good class if it was not made harder for no other purpose than to make it harder. So in the end, its not fair of me to totally hate on Orgo...I just hate how it was approached by my school. Other schools in the area seemed to have a much more tolerable approach.

 

[OsteopathicHopeful]

I still don't entirely comprehend the issue people have with organic chemistry. It was arguably one of my most interesting and entertaining classes.

The lab though, I would chew razors.

I have to agree. Organic chem was by far more interesting than gen chem ever was!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I actually loved the lab. My real distaste actually stems from Organic II. My school went out of its way to make Organic much more painful that it had to be. There was no real multiple choice or anything. Basically, blank sheets of paper with 30-40 pt 10-15 step synthesis problems where they gave you a starting material and a desired product and the page was yours and then some really ugly mechanism problems. On a whole it wouldn't have been bad if you had say an hour and a half or so to do it, but they gave you an hour. Most of the exams had like a mean score in the 50's with many people (me included periodically) unable to finish the exam in the allotted time. It always really irked me that it COULD have been a good class if it was not made harder for no other purpose than to make it harder. So in the end, its not fair of me to totally hate on Orgo...I just hate how it was approached by my school. Other schools in the area seemed to have a much more tolerable approach.

Maybe, most of my test questions were 3-5 steps ( 60% of the grade) and then 6-10 stepers ( 40% of the grade). I can't actually imagine a sincere 15 step synthesis problem by organic chem two admittedly. Mostly because there's a limit to the sheer amount of pertinent reactions that can happen.

 

[67552931811]

I still don't entirely comprehend the issue people have with organic chemistry. It was arguably one of my most interesting and entertaining classes.

The lab though, I would chew razors.

Organic was a walk in the park compared to physics. Not to mention extremely interesting.

Physics is basically if hell and math had a baby.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Organic was a walk in the park compared to physics. Not to mention extremely interesting.

Physics is basically if hell and math had a baby.

Physics for me is always a struggle. Maybe it's because I ended up trying to memorize it all instead of learning hah.

 

[OsteopathicHopeful]

Organic was a walk in the park compared to physics. Not to mention extremely interesting.

Physics is basically if hell and math had a baby.

Physics and me don't get along much. Although I find the conceptual aspects of physics fascinating, counting on my fingers isn't really conducive to effective problem solving in the class. hahaha Is it bad that I just admitted to that

 

[67552931811]

Physics for me is always a struggle. Maybe it's because I ended up trying to memorize it all instead of learning hah.

Understandable. I'm very good at math (I get lost in time doing it and even tutored the subject) and love bio/chem; however, within physics, the equation to physical scenario relationship just never clicked for me. I actually stopped doing problems second semester and tried my best to understand the logic/ theory behind it. And, somehow, that yielded better results for me.

 

[67552931811]

Physics and me don't get along much. Although I find the conceptual aspects of physics fascinating, counting on my fingers isn't really conducive to effective problem solving in the class. hahaha Is it bad that I just admitted to that

No, it's not: The right hand rule destroys all.

 

[AM508]

I didn't particularly care for physics but it wasn't all that hard for me. I definitely preferred solving a physics problem over a big organic synthesis problem. But then again I was good at calculus and evidently not all that good at organic.

 

[OsteopathicHopeful]

Understandable. I'm very good at math (I get lost in time doing it and even tutored the subject) and love bio/chem; however, within physics, the equation to physical scenario relationship just never clicked for me. I actually stopped doing problems second semester and tried my best to understand the logic/ theory behind it. And, somehow, that yielded better results for me.

I wish I was more gifted in math. I have always struggled in that area. My mind just doesn't think that way. I would rather think about the qualitative/conceptual side of science. I think that is why I didn't like gen chem as much as orgo. In orgo I never picked up a calculator. 🙂

 

[AM508]

Maybe, most of my test questions were 3-5 steps ( 60% of the grade) and then 6-10 stepers ( 40% of the grade). I can't actually imagine a sincere 15 step synthesis problem by organic chem two admittedly. Mostly because there's a limit to the sheer amount of pertinent reactions that can happen.

To be fair, I say 15 rather arbitrarily because I know that we had some longer than 10, but I do not recall exactly how long they ended up being. It was 3 years ago and I care not remember.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Understandable. I'm very good at math (I get lost in time doing it and even tutored the subject) and love bio/chem; however, within physics, the equation to physical scenario relationship just never clicked for me. I actually stopped doing problems second semester and tried my best to understand the logic/ theory behind it. And, somehow, that yielded better results for me.

That's the thing. I'm good at math, I can handle calculus very easily, but physics just has a lot of things that are complicated and in my opinion contradict logic or themselves.