Should I take Calc course?

[DRCM]

Just wondering, is it required or recommended to take Calculus for pod school? I know that for M.D. and D.O. medical schools, Calculus is a requirement or highly favorable, but pod schools don't really mention it. It's almost time for me to register for next semester, and I'm wondering if I should take this course. In the first undergrad school I went to, I got placed into a Calculus class, but ended up withdrawing from the course. So I'm wondering, should I take the course over in my current school so that it replaces that W? Or does it not even matter? It's just that I've been taking some pretty easy math courses (Statistics, and some Liberal Arts math course), but I don't want the pod schools to think that I cannot handle more rigorous math work. If I do take a higher level math course, do you think Pre-Calc its good enough, or should I just worry about retaking the Calc class? The only reason I kind of don't want to take Calc is that it takes up soo much time. In my school, Calculus comes with a computer lab course, and altogether it takes up 8 hours a week. And I will be taking 21 credits next semester (since I'm on the Dean's List, I can take over the 12-16 fulltime credits with his permission). So these 4 credits will be taking up 8 hours each week, when I still need time to take 17 more credits!! Plus working and E.C. and shadowing and whatnot.. So what are your opinions on this? Thanks to anyone who leaves their inputs..

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[MaseratiGT]

Just wondering, is it required or recommended to take Calculus for pod school? I know that for M.D. and D.O. medical schools, Calculus is a requirement or highly favorable, but pod schools don't really mention it. It's almost time for me to register for next semester, and I'm wondering if I should take this course. In the first undergrad school I went to, I got placed into a Calculus class, but ended up withdrawing from the course. So I'm wondering, should I take the course over in my current school so that it replaces that W? Or does it not even matter? It's just that I've been taking some pretty easy math courses (Statistics, and some Liberal Arts math course), but I don't want the pod schools to think that I cannot handle more rigorous math work. If I do take a higher level math course, do you think Pre-Calc its good enough, or should I just worry about retaking the Calc class? The only reason I kind of don't want to take Calc is that it takes up soo much time. In my school, Calculus comes with a computer lab course, and altogether it takes up 8 hours a week. And I will be taking 21 credits next semester (since I'm on the Dean's List, I can take over the 12-16 fulltime credits with his permission). So these 4 credits will be taking up 8 hours each week, when I still need time to take 17 more credits!! Plus working and E.C. and shadowing and whatnot.. So what are your opinions on this? Thanks to anyone who leaves their inputs..

I took Calc and honestly, it was the easiest math course I have ever taken, and I'm really hideous at math.

IMHO, I would take it, IF i could do it without sacrificing my other grades. That way you get a grade over the 'W' and higher math courses never hurt anyone in the admissions process.

 

[Dr. Gangrene]

Just wondering, is it required or recommended to take Calculus for pod school? I know that for M.D. and D.O. medical schools, Calculus is a requirement or highly favorable, but pod schools don't really mention it. It's almost time for me to register for next semester, and I'm wondering if I should take this course. In the first undergrad school I went to, I got placed into a Calculus class, but ended up withdrawing from the course. So I'm wondering, should I take the course over in my current school so that it replaces that W? Or does it not even matter? It's just that I've been taking some pretty easy math courses (Statistics, and some Liberal Arts math course), but I don't want the pod schools to think that I cannot handle more rigorous math work. If I do take a higher level math course, do you think Pre-Calc its good enough, or should I just worry about retaking the Calc class? The only reason I kind of don't want to take Calc is that it takes up soo much time. In my school, Calculus comes with a computer lab course, and altogether it takes up 8 hours a week. And I will be taking 21 credits next semester (since I'm on the Dean's List, I can take over the 12-16 fulltime credits with his permission). So these 4 credits will be taking up 8 hours each week, when I still need time to take 17 more credits!! Plus working and E.C. and shadowing and whatnot.. So what are your opinions on this? Thanks to anyone who leaves their inputs..

It is absolutely not needed for podiatry school. In fact, there are a minority of med schools that require calculus. I don't know who told you it is required for med school, but when I applied to pod school (I had been pre-med i.e. M.D.) <30% of M.D. schools required calc.
If you love math, take it. But you do not need it in any way to get into pod school.

 

[DRCM]

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[masinga6]

i took calc to help out with my general problem solving area...you are never going to use the stuff again after you finish...but it does help with problem solving/critical thinking

 

[Buspar]

Isn't calc. a pre. req. for physics???...atleast at my school.

 

[dpmPOD]

Isn't calc. a pre. req. for physics???...atleast at my school.

I was wondering the same thing. I had to have calc for physics and organic chemistry.

 

[cool_vkb]

Isn't calc. a pre. req. for physics???...atleast at my school.

hell no! calculus is the prereq for the calc based physics not general physics.

 

[cool_vkb]

Just wondering, is it required or recommended to take Calculus for pod school? I know that for M.D. and D.O. medical schools, Calculus is a requirement or highly favorable, but pod schools don't really mention it. It's almost time for me to register for next semester, and I'm wondering if I should take this course. In the first undergrad school I went to, I got placed into a Calculus class, but ended up withdrawing from the course. So I'm wondering, should I take the course over in my current school so that it replaces that W? Or does it not even matter? It's just that I've been taking some pretty easy math courses (Statistics, and some Liberal Arts math course), but I don't want the pod schools to think that I cannot handle more rigorous math work. If I do take a higher level math course, do you think Pre-Calc its good enough, or should I just worry about retaking the Calc class? The only reason I kind of don't want to take Calc is that it takes up soo much time. In my school, Calculus comes with a computer lab course, and altogether it takes up 8 hours a week. And I will be taking 21 credits next semester (since I'm on the Dean's List, I can take over the 12-16 fulltime credits with his permission). So these 4 credits will be taking up 8 hours each week, when I still need time to take 17 more credits!! Plus working and E.C. and shadowing and whatnot.. So what are your opinions on this? Thanks to anyone who leaves their inputs..

Its waste of time and nothin else. I would rather take biochemistry or micro or immunology or anatomy instead of that. yeah if you are interested in a PhD/DPM program like the one temple offers PhD Bioengineering & DPM then its a different story but as such calculus is not needed for admissions.

 

[Buspar]

hell no! calculus is the prereq for the calc based physics not general physics.

I was reffering to the calc based physics since that is the one that is req. for medicine.🙄

 

[cool_vkb]

I was reffering to the calc based physics since that is the one that is req. for medicine.🙄

Nope!🙂 Calc based physics is exclusively for engineering and physics majors.

Pre-meds, bio majors or bio related majors never take Calc based physics. we take general physics whose prerequisite is College Algebra and Trignometry.

may be few schools require calc physics but the general norm is GENERAL PHYSICS for med school admissions. Iam 100% sure abt it.

I did both calc physics and general physics. Compared to calc physics , general physics is way easier and more of concepts than complex problems where as calc physics is totally application based and lots of problems.

 

[Gryhu]

I would recommend taking it because it actually helps in medicine.

Many drug effects occur primarily when the blood level of the drug is either going up or going down. When the drug reaches steady state, these effects can be either attenuated or completely absent. For those of you who are familiar with calculus, one way to understand this is that these effects only take place if there is a first derivative other than zero.

Source: Medscape

I'm not saying its completely necessary, but it might make it easier to think about.

There are a lot of other things in medicine that could use calculus. For example, this is from a syllubus of a "Calculus for Biology and Medicine" Class at a community college.

VII. Modeling techniques in biology and medicine


A. Analyze documented biological and medical mathematical models.

Analyze allometric models.
Analyze models in cell diffusion.
Analyze models in population growth models.
Analyze models in population biology for interacting species.
Analyze models for respiration and control of respiration.
Analyze models for cardiac dynamics and control of heart rhythms.
Analyze models for neuron dynamics.
Analyze models in pharmacology.

Source: Math 237

Again not necessary, but helpful. In my opinion, Calc I&II were the easiest math classes I've ever taken. Try it out and if you do bad then drop it or, if your school has it, change the grading basis to pass/no credit.

Good luck 🙂

 

[cool_vkb]

I would recommend taking it because it actually helps in medicine.


Source: Medscape

I'm not saying its completely necessary, but it might make it easier to think about.

There are a lot of other things in medicine that could use calculus. For example, this is from a syllubus of a "Calculus for Biology and Medicine" Class at a community college.


Source: Math 237

Again not necessary, but helpful. In my opinion, Calc I&II were the easiest math classes I've ever taken. Try it out and if you do bad then drop it or, if your school has it, change the grading basis to pass/no credit.

Good luck 🙂

Just for argument sake, all these things which you mentioned here can be done after completing two three classes of calc. I doubt he will be spending that much time in mathematics when he can learn some serious courses like micro or neuro which are 1000% helpfull in 1st year classes. It prepare him better to get good grades and understand concepts well.

If i had time , i would have definetly done a micro or neuro course instead of the oriental history class i took :-(

 

[biocmp]

Calc I&II were the easiest math classes I've ever taken

I have to call you on this. Perhaps calculus I was extremely easy for you, but calc II is not an easy course. You have to remember so many pieces in order to manipulate problems. I'm proud to say I took calc II, but it was one of the harder classes due to the volume the professor required us to be responsible for, and because the professor had an extremely thick accent (so, I bought the solutions manual, and basically taught myself)

Regardless, I'm just trying to let people know what they are up against. I didn't think calc I was very difficult, but calc II was a whole different beast, and I agree with other posters. If it isn't needed, you would probably be better served taking upper level bio and chemistry courses.

 

[OSUDDS]

at my undergrad they strongly recommended the Calc based Physics courses for MedSchool, which by default means you would have to take the first two Calc courses

 

[Buspar]

At my school calculus and calc based physics are a req for pre med and from what a remember a requirement for med school. Calculus is easy for some and hard for others...I thought it was easy, but I also had the highest score in the class. The instructor had to give a big curve because so many students were stuggling, which made me end up with like 120% in the class. IMHO, if you are strong in math I would keep the class because a lot oof other science courses use a little calc and it will help you to understand them better.

 

[Gryhu]

I have to call you on this. Perhaps calculus I was extremely easy for you, but calc II is not an easy course. You have to remember so many pieces in order to manipulate problems.

I was comparing it to Linear Algebra or Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations (III & IV). Eigenvectors and values still haunt me in my dreams.

If it isn't needed, you would probably be better served taking upper level bio and chemistry courses.

I agree with you 100%. If you have to choose between one or the other, take the bio and chem classes, for sure. I chose calc because I took it during my freshman and sophomore years (when I still wasn't able to take upper level bio and chem.)

 

[krabmas]

Although calc may not be needed this question is sort of like " will this be on the test?"

If it is not needed and you do not want to take it and think it will be detrimental to your GPA and you will not study that hard to truely understand the topic/concepts then do not take the class.

If you actually learn the topics and understand the concepts it can be helpful in pharmicology/ kinetics and other aspects of medicine/physics.

 

[jpevball]

not needed. Ask any pod student or practicing pod what the limit is of 1/x(cos-1) as x approached infinity and see how useful calculus will be for the profession. 😀

 

[bigdig712]

Ive taken Calc I and II freshmen year of college. I forget it all. I've never used any sort of math other than arithmetic in any of my 1st year classes. There isn't even math on the MCAT. But maybe if you're going into research that may require some advanced statistical analysis you may need it, but otherwise, if you know how to add, subtract, mulitiply, and sometimes divide, you'll be fine.

 

[txlioness]

definitely not needed. Just finished my first year and no calculus knowledge needed. We had enough trouble remembering what day of the week was. Basically, your main concern your first year is when the next exam was gonna be ...lol

You would be better off taking micro, neuro, biochem, or anatomy. Those classes will help you the most your first year. Even though the material will be more (volume and depth), at least it wouldn't be completely foreign to you.

Just my .02 🙂