Physics Prerequisites

[khilburg]

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I am about to make my schedule for next semester and I am not sure whether to take calculus based physics or algebra based. Does anyone know if the physics prerequisites have to be calculus based? I assume that I would need to take calculus based course but there is nothing on the prerequisite list on the AAVMC website the specifies this.

Thanks
Katey

 

[Beer Brewer]

The universities I applied to neither asked, stated, nor cared (Auburn, Tennessee, Tuskegee). I had to retake one of my physics due to time (too long ago), and took the algebraic physics this semester. No problems, fully accepted!

 

[Emiloo4]

I am about to make my schedule for next semester and I am not sure whether to take calculus based physics or algebra based. Does anyone know if the physics prerequisites have to be calculus based? I assume that I would need to take calculus based course but there is nothing on the prerequisite list on the AAVMC website the specifies this.

Thanks
Katey

Depends on the school. I took trig based and it was fine for the 12 schools I applied to. But you'd have to check at the schools you are interested in applying for. 🙂

 

[ViaBea]

None of the schools that I applied to specified, but I would check on the websites of the schools your interested in just to be sure.

Mine was algebra based, and I don't think it was a problem.

 

[Frozenshades]

The universities I applied to neither asked, stated, nor cared (Auburn, Tennessee, Tuskegee). I had to retake one of my physics due to time (too long ago), and took the algebraic physics this semester. No problems, fully accepted!

👍 Check just to be sure, but I don't think most schools are too picky about that. I didn't even take physics in college, tested out, and it was a non-issue.

 

[adams30]

It depends. All the schools I applied to (IL, KS, MN) only required algebra based college physics but they accept calc based too.

Double check with schools you want to apply to of course but I have yet to see a school that specifically requires calc based physics.

 

[Foxhunter]

Do a lot of school have a two class series of algebra based physics? At mine if you wanted two semester you had to take calc based

 

[khilburg]

Do a lot of school have a two class series of algebra based physics? At mine if you wanted two semester you had to take calc based

My school offers two semester of Algebra based! I'm going to check the schools I'm applying to just to be sure, but if its okay I'm definitely going to take the algebra based.

 

[Kpowell14]

I took algebra based for Mizzou & TN and it was just fine.

My understanding was that most Health Profession schools require at minimum the algebra based, but would also accept the Calc based.. In retrospect I wish I had taken the calc based because apparently there aren't as many confusing steps from what I've been told.

 

[Foxhunter]

I took algebra based for Mizzou & TN and it was just fine.

My understanding was that most Health Profession schools require at minimum the algebra based, but would also accept the Calc based.. In retrospect I wish I had taken the calc based because apparently there aren't as many confusing steps from what I've been told.

I'm gonna say something slightly off character for me here, but then I'll come back to my Physics is the best persona.

If you truly, TRULY struggle with math and calculus, then take the algebra based physics, you just want to get the best grade possible. However, if anything in the B range and up in calculus isn't that hard for you, take calculus based. Calculus was invented to explain physics, so without calculus there is a lot of hand-waving and "ok so this is the formula" as opposed to "this is why this is the formula and this is how it is derived and this is how you can derive it for special situations." When you take algebra based, it's a lot harder to understand the whys. When I used to tutor/teach physics so many students would have trouble understanding that you can't just apply the same formula over and over and it's instead about working out the right formula for the problem at hand. It's easier to understand that in calculus based physics classes. In theory for the first two semesters of physics you should only have to memorize at most 8 to 10 equations, everything else can be derived. So many students though memorize every single formula in the book (or try to) and then go to the prof or TA and are like "just tell me what equation to use here."

 

[kernel]

Generally, if a hard science major that is NOT physics or engineering requires a year of physics, algebra based is fine (I've seen this at many universities).

Similarly, most pre-health programs will only require the full year of algebra based (with lab).

It's always good to double check, but I'd say that algebra based is fine across the board.