Mathmatics

[chancer]

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Hello,

I am looking at going back to school to take pre-reqresites for veterinary school. I am nearing 30 and have had a wide assortment of work and travel experience. I think I would be a good Vet for several reasons, but the one thing that concerns me is the complex mathmatics that is involved in some of the pre-req courses, namely physics.

I can work my way through biology and chemsitry and obtain decent grades, but when complex mathmatics get involved, my brain starts to feel like it is developing a tumor.

Is there anyone else out there who isn't mathmatically inclined but still made it through physics?

Just curious,

Thanks.

 

[are_jay]

Hello,

I am looking at going back to school to take pre-reqresites for veterinary school. I am nearing 30 and have had a wide assortment of work and travel experience. I think I would be a good Vet for several reasons, but the one thing that concerns me is the complex mathmatics that is involved in some of the pre-req courses, namely physics.

I can work my way through biology and chemsitry and obtain decent grades, but when complex mathmatics get involved, my brain starts to feel like it is developing a tumor.

Is there anyone else out there who isn't mathmatically inclined but still made it through physics?

Just curious,

Thanks.

The basic physics-for-biology-majors physics series has little math beyond algebra, a little trig perhaps. It is very conceptual. They aren't looking for the highest level physics class... find out which physics series at your school satisfies the pre-vet requirement and then get some help with it. Most schools have a tutoring program set up, as most people in the non-calculus physics series are only taking it to satisfy major or other requirements.

 

[chancer]

Thank you for your response.

Ok, that is good to know. I appreciate the advice.

 

[MissBehavior]

Hello,

I am looking at going back to school to take pre-reqresites for veterinary school. I am nearing 30 and have had a wide assortment of work and travel experience. I think I would be a good Vet for several reasons, but the one thing that concerns me is the complex mathmatics that is involved in some of the pre-req courses, namely physics.

Thanks.

Chancer,

This doesn't relate specificially to the physics courses (haven't taken them yet), but I've been in a similar situation. I took college algebra before taking an 8-year break from working toward my bachelors. Originally I had actually excelled at math, but after 8 years I didn't remember anything. I thought about taking college algebra over again, but didn't qualify for it after taking the placement tests, even though I originally received an A in the course. So I just decided to refresh my memory along the way with whatever math I needed (my advisor actually recommended this, because my major and most vet schools don't require calculus). I sort of freaked out with my 1st semester of chemistry, but I just had to put in extra time to figure out the math that was needed- I didn't remember how to do anything with exponents, fractions, etc. It was a pain to do the extra work, but it ended up being better for me than taking community college courses to get back up to par.

So, my advice is to not let the math intimidate you. You may have to spend extra time learning on your own, or with a tutor, etc. But in my experience one can definitely get by with learning the math along the way. And I think that you'll find, as I have, that being a "non-traditional" student has annoying disadvantages like this one, but there are many more advantages that make up for it. Good luck!!

 

[chancer]

MissB,

Good post. I appreciate your resposne.

I was wondering whether or not I should just take an extra refresher course.

I have never enjoyed math. My mind starts wandering, followed by a headache, followed by the sudden urge to relieve my bladder half way through a problem...i don't know. I think it's innate.

I definitely appreciate your response.

Good luck to you too🙂

 

[HorseyVet]

I can work my way through biology and chemsitry and obtain decent grades, but when complex mathmatics get involved, my brain starts to feel like it is developing a tumor.

Is there anyone else out there who isn't mathmatically inclined but still made it through physics?

What everyone said about physics is correct. Most schools generally offer 3 tiers of intro physics: basic (teachers, nursing, PT, people who just want to take a physics-type class to meet their science requirement for undergrad, etc), non-calc based (pre-med/vet/dent/pharm, biology majors), and calc based (people majoring in physics, engineering, some chem tracks, etc).

You only need to take the non-calc based course which is more about learning basic ideas and applying them through simple algreba equations.

However, some vets schools do want calc and/or statistics. I'd start looking right now to see if any of the schools you plan to apply to want these courses. Generally stat is more boring then difficult. Calc can be tough for some people.

If any of the schools you want to apply to want calc/stat, find out exactly what they want you to have covered, then call your math department and see which class(es) meet the requirement. Like physics there are "math track" math classes and non-math track classes. Usually for calc's 0-3 they do the same material, but move slower and don't test you in the same depth. No sense in taking something well beyond what you need especially if you're concerned about doing well.

 

[chancer]

HorseyVet,

Thank you for your response.

That is good to know about the different options. I will see if I can't take the first or second tier and get away with it.

I took statistics already, and surprisingly I did better in that class than I did algebra (got a 2.8 in algebra). The only problem is I took it after the algebra class and didn't know what to expect so I took it P/F. If I would of taken it for grade it would have been around a 3.2.


I appreciate your detailed response.

 

[HorseyVet]

That is good to know about the different options. I will see if I can't take the first or second tier and get away with it.

Some additional, maybe useful info....try to get out of taking a math/calc with a lab. In my experience these are a sort of slow form of torture.

 

[ginkogirl]

try to get out of taking a math/calc with a lab.

Ekk, a math lab?!? So glad I never had to take one of those, physics lab was bad enough as it was 😉

 

[chancer]

We must stand united against all forms of torturous math!!!

We must I say!

🙂