What is meant by "2 semesters of college mathematics"?

[Usant]

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Hello, I'm wondering what is meant exactly when medical schools say they need "2 semesters of college mathematics". Does this mean 2 semesters of math no matter when and how I decide to take them? For example, can I take only one semester of calc I in year one and another semester of math in year 2? Or, do they mean I need to take a full year of one math, as in calc I and calc II, both in one year. Or, does it not matter what math courses I take, as long as i take 2 semesters of math, say, calc I in first semester of first year and another math course offered by the math department that is NOT calc in second semester of first year. Would that satisfy the requirement of "2 semesters of college math"? I'm also not sure whether taking a semester of stats counts as a semester of college math. Where I go calculus and mathematics are different departments... Sorry for these seemingly misinformed questions, I'm attending a Canadian university so I am not too sure about American medical school requirements, I'm so confused 🙁 halp please

Thanks!

 

[Haislip]

As long as you complete the prereqs, time doesn't really matter. Although it will raise some question as to why (for example) you complete calc 1 freshman year and calc 2 junior year. 2 semesters of calculus will suffice for the math requirement for most schools.

 

[Filius Lucis]

As long as you complete the prereqs, time doesn't really matter. Although it will raise some question as to why (for example) you complete calc 1 freshman year and calc 2 junior year. 2 semesters of calculus will suffice for the math requirement for most schools.

I thought it was a combination between Calc and Statistics...? 😕

 

[Haislip]

It honestly depends on the school you are apply to. My advisor advises us to take two calc classes and a stats class but it varies. Do you have an idea of what kind of schools you are looking at? Check their websites and see what they require. You can't go wrong with two semester of calc unless you do poorly

 

[WorldChanger36]

Hello, I'm wondering what is meant exactly when medical schools say they need "2 semesters of college mathematics". Does this mean 2 semesters of math no matter when and how I decide to take them? For example, can I take only one semester of calc I in year one and another semester of math in year 2? Or, do they mean I need to take a full year of one math, as in calc I and calc II, both in one year. Or, does it not matter what math courses I take, as long as i take 2 semesters of math, say, calc I in first semester of first year and another math course offered by the math department that is NOT calc in second semester of first year. Would that satisfy the requirement of "2 semesters of college math"? I'm also not sure whether taking a semester of stats counts as a semester of college math. Where I go calculus and mathematics are different departments... Sorry for these seemingly misinformed questions, I'm attending a Canadian university so I am not too sure about American medical school requirements, I'm so confused 🙁 halp please

Thanks!

What two semesters of math means is usually Calc 1 and a stats or calc 2. It doesn't matter when you take them just take them.

 

[Usant]

What two semesters of math means is usually Calc 1 and a stats or calc 2. It doesn't matter when you take them just take them.

Oh alright, so I wouldn't necessarily need to take a full year of math right? As long as I have two semesters of math by matriculation? Also, would calc I + another math from math department suffice?

 

[Usant]

And also a stats course counts as math right? I'm wondering this because at my school all stats courses are offered by the statistical science department and not the actual mathematics department.

 

[iforget2]

Also, make sure you know the math requirement that is needed by your school in order to graduate. It may be different than the prereqs needed for the med schools you want to go to.

 

[RecycleRinsed]

And also a stats course counts as math right? I'm wondering this because at my school all stats courses are offered by the statistical science department and not the actual mathematics department.

Statistics is not a math course. It is English.

But seriously, I envision you asking an attending if bactrim is an antibiotic.

 

[Usant]

Statistics is not a math course. It is English.

But seriously, I envision you asking an attending if bactrim is an antibiotic.

Haha 🙂 But I'm genuinely wondering this cause at my school stats and math are two different departments (canadian university)

 

[RecycleRinsed]

Haha 🙂 But I'm genuinely wondering this cause at my school stats and math are two different departments (canadian university)

Same division in the USA, eh. No one cares if it says STAT or MATH. Go game on some chicks and quit worrying.

 

[WorldChanger36]

And also a stats course counts as math right? I'm wondering this because at my school all stats courses are offered by the statistical science department and not the actual mathematics department.

Yes stats is math...

 

[Fakhter]

wtf I just made a similar thread and everyone said that it doesn't matter what math you take as long as it is taken in college

 

[Usant]

wtf I just made a similar thread and everyone said that it doesn't matter what math you take as long as it is taken in college

http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/slife/pre_med/Math_Req_for_Medical_School.pdf

Here's the link where I got most of my info from, its a list of schools that have math requirements, compiled from the 2011-2012 AAMC handbook. Take a look 🙂 I just didn't know what was meant by 2 semesters of college math haha. That link tells you which schools require calc or stats or just two maths...I think!

 

[Stumpyman]

wtf I just made a similar thread and everyone said that it doesn't matter what math you take as long as it is taken in college

Yes, but calc 1 is very often a requirement for many med schools, as is stats. So while algebra and pre calc may technically be 2 semesters of college math, they don't count towards some of the more specific math reqs for med schools (like calc).

 

[mechengmed]

Same division in the USA, eh. No one cares if it says STAT or MATH. Go game on some chicks and quit worrying.

👍

Half the people on this site need to take this advice.

 

[Fakhter]

Yes, but calc 1 is very often a requirement for many med schools, as is stats. So while algebra and pre calc may technically be 2 semesters of college math, they don't count towards some of the more specific math reqs for med schools (like calc).

http://www.medschool.vcu.edu/admissions/md/prerequisites.html

That's the link to VCU prerequisites requirements. Clarify the math part for me please.

 

[Usant]

👍

Half the people on this site need to take this advice.

Your sig says it all haha 😉

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

Stats, PreCalc algebra and trig, calc for the life science, and Calculus all count. It literally only has to be two college mathematics courses. The only ones I didnt ask about were the liberal arts math classes.

 

[Usant]

Stats, PreCalc algebra and trig, calc for the life science, and Calculus all count. It literally only has to be two college mathematics courses. The only ones I didnt ask about were the liberal arts math classes.

You don't need to take a full year of math right? Full year as in two semesters of say calc or two semesters of stats all in the same year? Cause a bunch of people keep saying stuff about a "full year" of math... hm if you took 2 0.5 course maths in two different years, can you add them together and say you took a full year? Or am I complicating things? :/

 

[Stumpyman]

http://www.medschool.vcu.edu/admissions/md/prerequisites.html

That's the link to VCU prerequisites requirements. Clarify the math part for me please.

2 semesters of any math would work. Although it might be advised to take calc 1 and stats (or calc 2), as a lot of other schools require those instead of any 2 semesters of college math.

 

[Galatasaray]

this has to be the saddest thread ever....

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

You don't need to take a full year of math right? Full year as in two semesters of say calc or two semesters of stats all in the same year? Cause a bunch of people keep saying stuff about a "full year" of math... hm if you took 2 0.5 course maths in two different years, can you add them together and say you took a full year? Or am I complicating things? :/

Well it means two full classes. For regular semester based schools that would be 2 3-4 credit hour classes. So say you had a 3 Credit Hour Precal algebra class and a 3 credit hour precal trig class, that would count as your 2 that you need.

 

[Usant]

Well it means two full classes. For regular semester based schools that would be 2 3-4 credit hour classes. So say you had a 3 Credit Hour Precal algebra class and a 3 credit hour precal trig class, that would count as your 2 that you need.

Oh, ok thanks. At my university in canada one semester classes are 0.5 credits... I actually have absolutely no idea what you mean by credit hours haha 😉 But I'm assuming in the states one year has two semesters right? So basically two semesters of math, either both in one year, or one semester in year one and one semester in year two would both be fine?

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

Oh, ok thanks. At my university in canada one semester classes are 0.5 credits... I actually have absolutely no idea what you mean by credit hours haha 😉 But I'm assuming in the states one year has two semesters right? So basically two semesters of math, either both in one year, or one semester in year one and one semester in year two would both be fine?

What we have in the US is two normal semesters (Fall and Spring) And Summer (Which is optional) where you can do a full semester (~5 months) in a month or two. Our 3 credit hour classes means our classes meet 3 times a week during that semester for 1 hour (ours is 50 min but it can vary) each of those 3 days. So it means you can take almost any two as long as you take them before college is over and is generally 6 credit hours (or two classes). Its not too confusing🙂

 

[Praefectus]

I believe that the only school that requires 2 semesters of calc is HMS, so you're probably fine with 1 calc and 1 stat class.

 

[BABSstudent]

Do you guys think AP calculus credit would count for part of it?

 

[NightGod]

You don't need to take a full year of math right? Full year as in two semesters of say calc or two semesters of stats all in the same year? Cause a bunch of people keep saying stuff about a "full year" of math... hm if you took 2 0.5 course maths in two different years, can you add them together and say you took a full year? Or am I complicating things? :/

Yes, you are. One year = two full semesters worth. When and how you take that are up to you. I would personally recommend Calc I and Stats to cover your bases at 99% of the schools, but you're WAY over-thinking it.