MdPhD: Calculus and other advanced math/physical science necessary for admission

[kimicurtis]

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I am interested in the MDPhD program. I am highly involved in research and the PI for my project, as well as other mentors have advised me they see me making a great impact in research. My question is: how great does calculus, differential equation, calc-based physics play in admissions, because I will not be taking any of these type of courses in undergrad. I have the regular physics, and may take 1 semester of calculus or just end up with two semesters of stats. I am interested in neuroscience, and will take or have taken advanced bio courses e.g. biochem, molecular, genetics, physiology, neuroscience. But will not 'enough' math or physical science limit my chances at the MDPhD?

 

[SBR249]

I am interested in the MDPhD program. I am highly involved in research and the PI for my project, as well as other mentors have advised me they see me making a great impact in research. My question is: how great does calculus, differential equation, calc-based physics play in admissions, because I will not be taking any of these type of courses in undergrad. I have the regular physics, and may take 1 semester of calculus or just end up with two semesters of stats. I am interested in neuroscience, and will take or have taken advanced bio courses e.g. biochem, molecular, genetics, physiology, neuroscience. But will not 'enough' math or physical science limit my chances at the MDPhD?

In general, MD/PhD programs' course requirements are identical to those of their respective medical schools. So in your situation, the only medical school that I can recall that may require a year of calculus is Harvard Medical School. Other schools may require just a semester at most. Also, HMS and other schools do accept AP credit if you have it. HMS is very specific in pointing out that stats will not substitute for calc.

Otherwise, I have, in rare circumstances, come across departmental restrictions in MD/PhD programs. For example, one program said that biomedical engineering applicants must have done their undergrad in engineering or have had significant experience postgrad in an engineering setting. Other programs may place restrictions on social science PhDs. Those requirements obviously apply to a very narrow subset of the applicant pool and don't seem to affect you from what you've said.

 

[kimicurtis]

In general, MD/PhD programs' course requirements are identical to those of their respective medical schools. So in your situation, the only medical school that I can recall that may require a year of calculus is Harvard Medical School. Other schools may require just a semester at most. Also, HMS and other schools do accept AP credit if you have it. HMS is very specific in pointing out that stats will not substitute for calc.

Otherwise, I have, in rare circumstances, come across departmental restrictions in MD/PhD programs. For example, one program said that biomedical engineering applicants must have done their undergrad in engineering or have had significant experience postgrad in an engineering setting. Other programs may place restrictions on social science PhDs. Those requirements obviously apply to a very narrow subset of the applicant pool and don't seem to affect you from what you've said.

Thanks, that helped!

 

[RagingBeauty]

In general, MD/PhD programs' course requirements are identical to those of their respective medical schools. So in your situation, the only medical school that I can recall that may require a year of calculus is Harvard Medical School. Other schools may require just a semester at most. Also, HMS and other schools do accept AP credit if you have it. HMS is very specific in pointing out that stats will not substitute for calc.

True to a certain degree but with options. According to the medical school's website,

"New course requirement option for students applying to enter in 2011 or beyond......
A broader and more flexible range of requirements is encouraged, however, and, given the importance of statistics for understanding the literature of science and medicine, adequate grounding in statistics is required. Rather than increasing the one year devoted to mathematics preparation, the one-year effort should be more relevant to biology and medicine than the formerly required, traditional, one-year calculus course. Flexibility will be welcome in meeting these requirements (e.g., a semester course in calculus that covers derivatives and integration and a semester course in statistics; a calculus-based physics course and another science course that includes a firm grounding in biostatistics; or, preferably, a unified two-semester course that covers important, biologically relevant concepts in calculus and statistics).

Although a formal year-long course that covers these concepts will meet the mathematics requirement, other innovative approaches (including interdisciplinary courses taught together with biology and biologically relevant physical sciences) that allow students to master these “competencies” are encouraged and will be considered.

Meeting either set of requirements will be acceptable for classes entering from 2011-2015. Beginning with the class entering in 2016, only the new requirements will be acceptable. "

Kimicurtis, you should be fine. Contact the medical school's office of admissions if you have any additional questions and/or concerns regarding this issue.🙂

 

[SBR249]

^ An incomplete quotation unfortunately.

From the new requirements of HMS:

Although a formal year-long course that covers these concepts will meet the mathematics requirement, other innovative approaches (including interdisciplinary courses taught together with biology and biologically relevant physical sciences) that allow students to master these "competencies" are encouraged and will be considered.

Advanced placement calculus credits may satisfy the calculus component of this requirement (Calculus AB and/or Calculus BC). A course in statistics does not satisfy the calculus component of this requirement.

emphasis mine

Edit:

Also, would like to point out the following aspects of the new requirements:

Computational skills are required for contemporary scientific literacy. Although the calculus of derivatives and integration represents important concepts for the precise, quantifiable understanding of dynamic physiological processes and systems, a full year of calculus focusing on the derivation of biologically low-relevance theorems is less important than mastery of more relevant algebraic and trigonometric quantitative skills. Still, to prepare adequately for the quantitative reasoning demands of the contemporary medical curriculum and certain medical specialties, to provide analytic perspective and to appreciate the uncertainties in evaluation of biological systems, students are required to have familiarity with calculus.

again emphasis mine

So the point is that calculus may not be as emphasized as before but it is still required by HMS.

 

[RagingBeauty]

SBR249
My previous post was designed to simply show Kimicurtis that there's flexibility in meeting HMS's mathematics requirement. Nothing fancy or trivial. For all we know, Kimicurtis' future endeavors as a physician-scientist may or may not lie with this particular medical school. Nonetheless, this matter is not even worth debating about and sooooooo off topic.

Kimicurtis, good luck!🙂
__________________


Super-egos....Inferiority complexes...Superiority complexes......Oh my!

 

[SBR249]

Was merely reply to a bolded comment

 

[kimicurtis]

Thank you for the encouragement raging beauty!! 🙂

 

[kimicurtis]

and i see both your perspectives but i had no intention to apply to harvard anyway, due to location etc. Its a misconception that many schools require calculus, but i know harvard is the biggest stickler about that requirement.