Should I take Calc 2...

[passionformed]

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I'm currently a freshman, and I want to pursue a major in Biochem (interest plus its a good plan B or so I think) but Calc 2 is required. Now at my school Calc 2 is notoriously hard (as it is at most schools). There are some other majors I am interested in, but Biochem seems the best option. Should I go for it (at the risk of my GPA) or forget about Calc 2 (and thus Biochem?)

Also, I am doing/did well in calc based physics 1 and 2 and gen chem 2.

 

[dudewheresmymd]

Depends if you really will pursue biochem after taking it... one B is not going to hurt your app and if it means pursuing something you have an interest in or might develop a passion for, so be it.

 

[JSB72993]

I'm currently a freshman, and I want to pursue a major in Biochem (interest plus its a good plan B or so I think) but Calc 2 is required. Now at my school Calc 2 is notoriously hard (as it is at most schools). There are some other majors I am interested in, but Biochem seems the best option. Should I go for it (at the risk of my GPA) or forget about Calc 2 (and thus Biochem?)

Also, I am doing/did well in calc based physics 1 and 2 and gen chem 2.

I take Calc II right now and its really not that bad. Its just a mix of limits derivatives and integrals and then you get into series but its really not that hard, I'm sure you can get a B in it

 

[pre med 2014]

You'll need 2 semesters of calc if you plan on applying to Harvard med

 

[twizzlers713]

Calc 2 is tough but overhyped imo. My professor explains things pretty well though. If you can get through calc based physics you should be able to do calc 2

 

[CyberMaxx]

OP, I was in your shoes 5 years ago. I wanted to major in chem/biochem, but thought that the math requirements (Calc II) and PChem would kill me. I ended up declaring a major in history even though I definitely preferred chemistry.

Long story short, when I took organic as a pre-req my junior year, I liked it so much that I just bit the bullet and declared a chemistry major. Unfortunately, there is no way you can complete a chem major in under two years so I have had to stay for an extra year. Oh and:

PChem 1 & 2 = B+ and A
Calc II & III = A and A. 🙂

What I'm trying to say is you should do what you love, you'll be happier and you'll be surprised at how well you can do in difficult classes if your genuinely interested.

 

[Josh7]

You'll need 2 semesters of calc if you plan on applying to Harvard med

Is that true? I was under the impression that the second semester of calc was only a requirement for the Harvard/MIT HST MD/PhD program but you may be correct.

Calc II was definitely a difficult class, I thought it was hard but not as hard as multivariable calculus. I'd bite the bullet and take the class so you can pursue the major you're most interested in.

 

[BigBlueBear]

Calc 2 is notoriously hard at your school? So your school is renowned for its difficult calc-2 classes? 🙄

 

[passionformed]

Calc 2 is notoriously hard at your school? So your school is renowned for its difficult calc-2 classes? 🙄

I said, and I quote, "calc 2 is notoriously hard at my school (as it is at most schools)," meaning that it's really hard at my school, just like every other school.

 

[Amba]

You'll need 2 semesters of calc if you plan on applying to Harvard med

No it's not. It's not a requirement for NP anymore.

Sent from my HTC Desire CDMA using SDN Mobile

 

[Almost7Famous]

Is calc 1 and calc 2 (AP credit) necessary for hms hst if you take multivariable calc, diff eq, and linear algebra as an engineering major?

 

[IniestaDeMiVida]

If it's required for the major you wish to pursue, take it. I don't know why one class would keep you from a major you want? You haven't even taken it yet, so you don't know if it will bust your GPA.

 

[NewYorker9]

Take Calc II

 

[medicalmnt]

Taking calc2 right now. Currently have a C+, but it's probably the hardest class I've taken so far. I got an 86.5% (teacher wouldn't round to a B+) in calc1. Trying to bring it up into the B range.

I'm glad I'm taking calc2 though, we're only freshman and have a lot of time to raise our GPAs if we get a C in calc2