Retake Calc II?

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fghgf

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I received a 1.0 in Calc II my freshman year (yikes!) for a lot of reasons, but mostly the guy was the worst professor/teacher I have ever had in my entire life by FAR. Sucked at lecture, didn't make himself available for help, didn't care about his students, graded very unforgivingly etc. Looking back on it, it was a terrible decision to take Calc II (had AP Calc in HS) but I guess it was because I was interested in engineering at the time. My question is, how hard do admission committees look at your math grades? I absolutely HATE calculus but if I need to retake it I will. The rest of my grades are solid, I haven't ever received below a 3.0 in any class except for that one and my science GPA is 3.4 overall 3.5, still awaiting April MCAT scores (first time taking it). Any thoughts on this subject are appreciated. Thanks!
 
Agree with everyone. One class won't make a difference. I won't take the class over. You may need to explain to adm during your interview. If it is your major req, then most school requires you to take it over. Of course, some people will take it over regardless because they want to prove of themselves...
 
Do doctors use Calculus II, Its freakin Sequences, and integration techniques 😀
 
Im tking calc II this upcoming semester...Im scared :scared:
 
KyleSBU said:
Im tking calc II this upcoming semester...Im scared :scared:

Don't be. Integration and sequences/series aren't really all that hard if you have a good teacher. If you don't be sure to get a copy of the instructor's solution manual for when you get stuck. The big thing to remember about integration is that it's simply the opposite of derivatives. Trig substitutions are a pain in the ass, and problems can end up being insanely long, but it's really not that bad (And I had a bad teacher for Calc II and major math phobia before my third Calc I teacher and my physics teacher cured me of it.)

What scares me is Differential equations lol. They aren't that bad in physics but the math division's Diff. eq's scare me 😛
 
fghgf said:
I received a 1.0 in Calc II my freshman year (yikes!) for a lot of reasons, but mostly the guy was the worst professor/teacher I have ever had in my entire life by FAR. Sucked at lecture, didn't make himself available for help, didn't care about his students, graded very unforgivingly etc. Looking back on it, it was a terrible decision to take Calc II (had AP Calc in HS) but I guess it was because I was interested in engineering at the time. My question is, how hard do admission committees look at your math grades? I absolutely HATE calculus but if I need to retake it I will. The rest of my grades are solid, I haven't ever received below a 3.0 in any class except for that one and my science GPA is 3.4 overall 3.5, still awaiting April MCAT scores (first time taking it). Any thoughts on this subject are appreciated. Thanks!

3.4 science and overall 3.5?

Your in a good boat if you ask me. Aim for a 25+ on your MCAT and you'll be fine 👍

Remember this is calculus. Unless your going into research on pacemaker potential and burster oscillations in the nervous system, I don't think you'll need to find the anti-derivative of (cosine5x + 8i)/2 or anything like that. 🙂
 
Thanks for the feedback guys and gals. I guess I know what I won't be taking next semester. 😀
 
DRKUBA said:
CALC II was my only F 😱 and a lowpoint in my academic career . I retook it with a worse professor for a C+ 🙁 .

The more and more i read this thread the more nervous I am to take Calc II next semester :scared: .....is it really that bad???
 
We don't need Calc II, do we?
 
I need calculus II for my major but i dont see how i would use integration unless im doing an engineering degree.
 
fghgf said:
I received a 1.0 in Calc II my freshman year (yikes!) for a lot of reasons, but mostly the guy was the worst professor/teacher I have ever had in my entire life by FAR. Sucked at lecture, didn't make himself available for help, didn't care about his students, graded very unforgivingly etc. Looking back on it, it was a terrible decision to take Calc II (had AP Calc in HS) but I guess it was because I was interested in engineering at the time. My question is, how hard do admission committees look at your math grades? I absolutely HATE calculus but if I need to retake it I will. The rest of my grades are solid, I haven't ever received below a 3.0 in any class except for that one and my science GPA is 3.4 overall 3.5, still awaiting April MCAT scores (first time taking it). Any thoughts on this subject are appreciated. Thanks!


My stats r exactly the same as urs and got a D in Cal II....ill be starting med school in aug...so i think ur fine as long as u make a 26 or above on the mcat
 
KyleSBU said:
The more and more i read this thread the more nervous I am to take Calc II next semester :scared: .....is it really that bad???

***math is my worse course**** I got a 2.6 in trig, 3.1 in Calculus I, and now, after my first midterm I am getting a 3.5 in calculus II. I love calculus II a lot, but I also have the best math teacher at my university teaching the class. btw, I am planning on getting a 3.7 + in the class because every math course I've taken, I've always done better on my second midterm and even better on the final. Good luck!
 
I've got to dissent with the conventional buzz on this one. I've been through the interview process, and regardless of GPA, bad grades stand out. I got a D in a zoology lab in which I didn't care for the instructor, but looking back, I didn't put much effort into it either.

If it truly was the professor's fault you got a D, then you should have no fears about retaking Calc and proving your theory, especially if you can find out who the better profs are and sign up for one of their classes. Retaking the class and doing well shows that you are willing to back up what you said.

"I did poorly in Calc because my professor sucked" probably isn't going to sit well with the professors who are interviewing you. Whether or not your professor is mostly to blame, it shows a lot more character to take the high road, retake the class and have a better grade on your transcript.

-WVSOM Class of 2005
 
Thanks for the tips InductionAgent, but I wasn't exactly planning to say "my professor sucked" to the adcoms if asked. 😉
 
Med schools require Calc II now?
 
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