Physics for MCAT

[JeremyDyer33]

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So I've found out today that I cannot take Physics in High School due to it clashing with my schedule. I could challenge physics, but I'm not sure if that would be too much along with the Internation Baccalaureate program. My question here is, would it difficult for me to do the physics required for the MCAT if I have not done it in Physics? Would I be expected to know the stuff that my friends who are doing Physics know? Thank's a lot!

 

[chad5871]

Wait, you're in high school? Why aren't you going to take physics in college? It's required for medical school entrance anyway...

 

[Phoenix 47]

My question here is, would it difficult for me to do the physics required for the MCAT if I have not done it in Physics? Would I be expected to know the stuff that my friends who are doing Physics know?

probably, and yes. is this an ap/ib physics we're talking about, and you've already taken a regular class? i thought most high schools required three years of basic science - bio, chem, phys.

Wait, you're in high school? Why aren't you going to take physics in college? It's required for medical school entrance anyway...

that was one of my questions, the other being-why are you worrying about it so far in advance?

 

[wcbcruzer]

My question here is, would it difficult for me to do the physics required for the MCAT if I have not done it in Physics? Would I be expected to know the stuff that my friends who are doing Physics know? Thank's a lot!

Yes it would be very difficult to do the MCAT physics if you've never taken it. Physics is something that introduces you to a completely different train of thought. You start seeing the world like you've never seen it before. Although the MCAT physics isn't as hard as exams you will encounter in college, you will be screwed if you've never taken a physics course. Hey you can self study the MCAT physics and do well but such books are aimed for reviewing only, not to teach for the first time.

Now... Go buy a paintball gun or something and start enjoying your summer while you still can! You will NEVER have the same kind of freedom and lack of responsibility that you have in high school as you get older. You will soon realize that high school is a joke.

 

[JeremyDyer33]

No, I'm talking about just academic physics. My school doesn't offer IB Physics or AP even- there wasn't enough interest.

I AM planning to do physics in college, as you said it's apart of the pre-med. But what I am wondering is, would it be hard for me to do physics in college when I have no foundation from doing it in high school. And three years of science is required, and this is my three year plan so far:

Grade 10 - Level 1:
Chemistry
Biology / Science 1206 (they had to combine the course to fit it all in)
Math level 1 / level 2
Canadian History
French
English

Grade 11 - Level 2:
IB Biology
IB Chemistry
IB English
IB French
IB European History
TOK

Grade 12 - Level 3 (Basically a continuation of grade 11):
IB Biology
IB Chemistry
IB English
IB French
IB European History
TOK

In this course load, I get one free period a day for working on homework or studying and such. I wanted to take Physics during the free period, but it doesen't fit that time slot : ( So the only way for me to do it is to challenge it and do it on my own, and write the final and the midterm. I know a lot of people in physics now that say it is very difficult, and the thought of doing it on my own scares me a little. Also, the thought of doing college physics scares me without any high school background. I want to persue a career in medicine so any advice on what the best move here would be excellent. Hope this is more clear, and thanks again!

 

[chad5871]

You don't need any Physics from high school to take Physics 1 and 2. All you need is some trigonometry and algebra if you're taking the "easy" physics, or calculus if you're taking the "hard" physics. I did take Physics in high school but it was a complete waste of time -- my teacher was terrible and the class didn't learn a thing about Physics. She had really fun activities planned (slip'n'slide, the "Newton Games," etc.), but I learned absolutely nothing. This was Honors Physics, too, in case you're wondering. In Physics 1 and 2 in college I had no problem getting an A.

 

[JeremyDyer33]

I see. I'm meeting with the principal tomorrow about challenging it. So far I'm thinking I'll just let it go and hope I don't struggle too much with it when I do it in college. My teachers would rather I not take it anyways, and devote my time to my IB studies. Plus, I'm pretty good at picking new things up on my own; this year I joined my chem and bio class over half a year late and managed to catch up fine.

 

[wcbcruzer]

I took physics in college without taking it in high school. Did fine. At the beginning it did seem like most people in the class already knew some of the stuff though. But that was just the beginning. Like I said, high school is a joke... They don't teach you anything. All my serious science I learned in college.

 

[Cytotoxic]

But what I am wondering is, would it be hard for me to do physics in college when I have no foundation from doing it in high school.

From my experience as a physics tutor, those who haven't had an introduction to physics in HS tend to do worse than those who have. There are, of course, exceptions.

 

[JeremyDyer33]

Really not what I wanted to hear... 😛

Thanks for post!