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regular or calc based physics
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No.
From what I've heard, either one is acceptable. Take which ever one you think you'll be able to get an "A" in as that's what's most important for your medical school applications (i.e. that you got an A). The calculus portion won't be tested on the MCAT. If you are into math, by all means take the calc-based one if you can get an "A" and you want to learn more.. If I had had the option to take a non-calculus-based one I surely would have taken it and avoided the C's I got in Physics! 
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lolIf I had had the option to take a non-calculus-based one I surely would have taken it and avoided the C's I got in Physics!
great advice!
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The non-calc based class is MUCH More difficult. Calc based is much easier
I'd disagree because I sucked at calculus, but I'm curious why you think that the non-calc one is harder?
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I think Calc-based physics classes are inherently easier..
Doing problems using Calculus almost always circumvents useless
steps and routines. Try any problem and you'll see solving it with
Calculus is almost always easier and less work.
Doing problems using Calculus almost always circumvents useless
steps and routines. Try any problem and you'll see solving it with
Calculus is almost always easier and less work.
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This kind of advice is only useless if you enjoy/understand calculus and when someone proposes a question asking if it matters which physics course to take, odds are they aren't into calculus.
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From what I've heard, either one is acceptable. Take which ever one you think you'll be able to get an "A" in as that's what's most important for your medical school applications (i.e. that you got an A). The calculus portion won't be tested on the MCAT. If you are into math, by all means take the calc-based one if you can get an "A" and you want to learn more.. If I had had the option to take a non-calculus-based one I surely would have taken it and avoided the C's I got in Physics!
agreed. most non-calculus based physics classes (in my experience) are ridonkulously easy. get some numbers, memorize equations, and plug & chug.
I'm right there with you LtD (C's in my physics classes).
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W
Wizard of Oz
If I had a choice between an A in physics on a transcript or a 12-13 PS MCAT, I'd go with the MCAT.
Take whichever one will help you learn the material better. It doesn't matter to the school. They will use the MCAT PS to decipher whether or not you learned what you were supposed to. At one place I was at, they didn't even use different names for the 2 different types of classes.
This was true at my school too, but maybe it was just because my calc-based teacher was better.
I can't really answer the OP without more info. What is your math background like? Do you like and understand calculus? What do students at your college think of both profs? What textbooks are used for each? Is the calc-based really calc-based or do they just derive all the formulas for you using calc and then you just use the simpler formulas anyway?
I took the calc-based and got A's. MCAT PS was 11 five years later with no prep course or refresher, so it must have stuck alright for me.
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I'm in calc 2 right now and I'm pretty good with math. I don't like it very much I just need it for my major.
If I pick up physics this semester I'm gonna be at 21 credit hours.
I've heard that the regular physics teacher thats available right now is a good teacher with hard tests but still makes it possible to get an A if you do the work.
There aren't any calc based physics classes that have openings and I wanted to get ahead on my med school pre reqs so I could apply after junior year.
W
Wizard of Oz
Physics is very important for the MCAT PS. I wouldn't squeeze it in anywhere without giving it its due attention. If you really want to be an MD, value your premed prereq's more greatly than your major.
I'm leaning toward the gen phys as far as my advice is concerned.
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Thanks for the advice.
S
sle3pyguii
If by U of A, you mean Unviersity of Arizona, I recommend Algebra-based. I was originally in Calculus-Based with Visscher, i think it was. No offense to the professor, but I did not learn anything from lecture. Then when it was homework time, he used Webassign. Basically, if u do not have the EXACT SAME answer as the computer, you are wrong and it will deduct points for each submission. For example, if you do not simplify the answer enough, it will be wrong.
I dropped that class before the W deadline.
Algebra-based was pretty challenging also, but not as bad as Calc-based. I never went to lecture, so I ended up with a C in the class. You can learn a lot from the people at the physics tutor lab. Most students go there for the homework and test prep.
But for this semester, I hear the professor is very good, but has hard tests and lets you redo tests for 2/3 of the points.
I dropped that class before the W deadline.
Algebra-based was pretty challenging also, but not as bad as Calc-based. I never went to lecture, so I ended up with a C in the class. You can learn a lot from the people at the physics tutor lab. Most students go there for the homework and test prep.
But for this semester, I hear the professor is very good, but has hard tests and lets you redo tests for 2/3 of the points.
calc based physics is easier because they do a better job explaining how things work. Physics needs calculus in order for some things to make sense. Heck, Newton pretty much invented calculus and he was pretty big in physics i would say 🙂
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Thanks, I read that also about the 2/3 thing. My friend has vischer this semester i think (he's sweedish right?).
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I'm surprised nobody has brought this up, but wouldn't medical schools rather see the more rigorous of the two classes offered being taken? Such as Calc. based physics over non-calc based physics?
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Med schools don't care.
I think it really depends on who's teaching either course. Physics, for me at least, was learned much better when attending lectures by passionate and creative teachers. You're going to need a thorough understanding of the physics material for the MCAT, so it will help incredibly to learn from a good teacher. Just something to take into account while deciding, OP.
I think it really depends on who's teaching either course. Physics, for me at least, was learned much better when attending lectures by passionate and creative teachers. You're going to need a thorough understanding of the physics material for the MCAT, so it will help incredibly to learn from a good teacher. Just something to take into account while deciding, OP.
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Some medical schools recommend and I believe require you to take the more rigorous course in order to be considered to the full extent. So I say they do care.
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Yes, but it would seem that which course is more "rigorous" can vary depending on which school you are taking it at.
W
Wizard of Oz
Example of such school?
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are you good at calculus? if yes, take calc based. If you suck at calculus, take the other one. Simple. If you haven't taken calculus, take the trig based one instead of waiting.
S
sle3pyguii
Yeah. Fun guy.
Anyways, you still have some time to think it over. Most people I know prefer to take physics at Pima College because it's an easy A there, but if you want a challenge, take it at school.
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For med schools and the MCAT, either is acceptable. If you really want to learn physics, take calc-based.
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If you're at least decent at calc, I recommend you take the cal-based physics. You will actually learn concepts as opposed to just be spoon-fed formulas that you must memorize and plug into out of context. If you fear higher math, then do yourself a favor and take algebra physics. Algebra physics suffices for MCAT purposes as long as you try to learn the concepts, on your own if your professor sucks. I don't know how it works at other schools, but at my undergrad, the crappiest profs are the ones who teach algebra physics, and the good ones teach calc-based. Calc-based physics is also 3 semesters instead of 2 here. I don't know about other schools.
To summarize: algebra based is enough for the mcat and for what you will do in med school, but don't expect to learn concepts or the "why" behind things..expect to memorize a bunch of equations and to have to plug things into them to find the missing values. Calc-based may be harder if you're not into higher math, but it will teach you why things are. As a matter of fact, if you are good with calc, it may actually be easier than the other class because you will learn to derive most of the formulas from diagrams/key concepts...much less to memorize. Chances are, the stuff will stick better, and I believe this process makes you into a better thinker. You will actually KNOW physics. I destroyed physics on the mcat while others had far more trouble, probably because of my background in it.
On a side note, we are currently doing our cell physiology / pharmacology module and the prof brought up a circuit to model the cell membrane and its transient response to a current input...and there were derivatives on the board...awesome
The prof must have thought the entire class was comfortable with calc because back in his day, there WAS no algebra-based physics. Calc or bust.
To summarize: algebra based is enough for the mcat and for what you will do in med school, but don't expect to learn concepts or the "why" behind things..expect to memorize a bunch of equations and to have to plug things into them to find the missing values. Calc-based may be harder if you're not into higher math, but it will teach you why things are. As a matter of fact, if you are good with calc, it may actually be easier than the other class because you will learn to derive most of the formulas from diagrams/key concepts...much less to memorize. Chances are, the stuff will stick better, and I believe this process makes you into a better thinker. You will actually KNOW physics. I destroyed physics on the mcat while others had far more trouble, probably because of my background in it.
On a side note, we are currently doing our cell physiology / pharmacology module and the prof brought up a circuit to model the cell membrane and its transient response to a current input...and there were derivatives on the board...awesome
The prof must have thought the entire class was comfortable with calc because back in his day, there WAS no algebra-based physics. Calc or bust.
