What's the deal with calculus?

[hopefulneuro]

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Is it the consensus that calc is a must or not? I started it today and already I can tell it's going to be tons of work. I'm wondering if it's worth it considering I'm not going to apply to JHU. What other schools require it?

 

[it.]

i think most schools require calc-based physics...which in turn would require calculus...so, yeah, life sucks

 

[iamgoaloriented]

Virtually all schools require Calc 1. My Calc 1 class was pretty easy. Calc 2 is required by a few schools, Harvard being the only one I can think of. Calc 2 is a lot harder than Calc 1, but you learn so much more about Calc that I think people should take it, although many people thinks it really hard. Some schools require 8 credits of Math but let you take Stats instead of Calc 2, which is a lot easier but still something you should take.

I cant think of any schools that require calc based physics. There is a special program at Harvard (some joint program with MIT) that requires calc based physics and calc up to differential equations (calc 4 basically), but that is only a special program, you can take algebra based physics and calc 1 and 2 and still apply to Harvard.

JHU requires 8 credits of math but you can take stats instead of Calc 2, or at least thats the way it used to be.

 

[Babooshka]

i think most schools require calc-based physics...

wait, that's wrong right?

 

[PHD_2007]

As long as you have physics whether general or cal based your cool. Duke, Wash U, and Harvard are some of the top tier schools that require u to take a year of Cal. But at Wash U u are able to get a wavier for Cal 2 in some instances. (Spoke to Admin offices at these schools) 😍 😎

 

[shiraz84]

All of the schools which I applied to did not require Calc-based Physics; however, most (if not all) required at least Calc 1.

The Calc based Physics at my undergrad (UK) required Calc 3! I took Calc 2 and hated it (although Calc 1 was pretty easy), so I decided against taking Calc 3 & the Calc-based Physics...

 

[liverotcod]

Take it for self-enlightenment. Calculus will make you smarter and help you understand physical relationships better than any other single class, except perhaps Physics.

 

[Law2Doc]

wait, that's wrong right?

I think actually all schools require a year of "math", but only a handful specify that it must be calculus. But if you can hack calculus, that keeps all the doors open for you.

 

[Law2Doc]

Calculus will make you smarter.

I think I am living proof that this is not the case. 🙄

 

[liverotcod]

I think I am living proof that this is not the case. 🙄

Do you say that because you *did* take it, or *didn't*? 😉

 

[Law2Doc]

Do you say that because you *did* take it, or *didn't*? 😉

I did -- yeah I should have clarified. Pretty "not smarter" of me, I guess. 🙂

 

[DrBuro]

I'm confused. Maybe I should go to law school before I apply to med school. 😀

 

[gujuDoc]

For physics, calc or non calc based physics is ok. Although, I personally think Physics makes more sense with some calc knowledge due to better understanding of where formulas etc. come from.

As per Calc, it is required by many med schools along with another semester of calc or one semester of stats. I would really recommend you take it to be on the safe side.

 

[PTPoeny]

For physics, calc or non calc based physics is ok. Although, I personally think Physics makes more sense with some calc knowledge due to better understanding of where formulas etc. come from.

I completely agree with that. If you know where the formulas come from you can't panic and forget them on the MCAT 😛

All the schools I applied to required one semester of calc. Some required a second semester of calc or stats and one required a semester of stats. I would take calc because you will need it in order to apply to medical school unless you want to be tremendously limited in what schools you apply to. If you only plan on applying to your own state school or something like that than just find out that schools requirements.

 

[it.]

didn't you guys need to take calc as a prereq for physics? or at least have it as a background? sure, the physics for bio majors may not require any integration, differential equations, etc but basic calc is still a prereq isn't it?

 

[DrBowtie]

for both chem and bio majors...calc 1 is a requirement at my school. Calc 2 for B.S. in Bio and Chem

 

[gujuDoc]

didn't you guys need to take calc as a prereq for physics? or at least have it as a background? sure, the physics for bio majors may not require any integration, differential equations, etc but basic calc is still a prereq isn't it?

Not at my school. However, it is still better to take it before you take physics. It is only required if it is calc based physics. However, for algebra based physics you only need trig and algebra as prereqs. I still agree that it is better to have calc and be able to understand the integrals that bring about these equations. It makes more sense. For the MCAT you may not need that, but for class it makes it make more sense. At least, that's the way I feel.

 

[XT777]

You may be surprised to find that at least 66 of the U.S. Allopathic schools do not REQUIRE any math whatsoever including:

Mayo
http://www.mayo.edu/mms/md-prerequisites.html

Cornell
http://www.med.cornell.edu/educatio...ype1=2Select&name2=Requirements&type2=3Active

Vanderbilt http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/medschool/admissions/applicants.php#required

USC:
http://www.usc.edu/schools/medicine/education/admissions/mdp/mdp_adm/require.html

Yale:
https://medapps13.med.yale.edu/msa/msa_web.procrqmt#minimum


Columbia:
http://t1.berlinprod.com/accounts/columbia/columbiasite8/applying.htm

...and at least 60 others


Also, at least 13 of the U.S. Osteopathic schools also do not REQUIRE any math.


XT777

I think actually all schools require a year of "math", but only a handful specify that it must be calculus. But if you can hack calculus, that keeps all the doors open for you.

 

[MikePlayingDoc]

I took Calc and thought it was a complete waste of time. There is no direct relation for math to medical school. Physics also does not relate to medical school. I am currently taking a medical school phys class and you could learn all the physics you need to know for that in two days. Nonetheless, admission committees consider Calc Physics an important class. God knows why. I think physics is just a weeder class.

Mike

PS - I recall liverotcod saying once that he wished he had taken non-Calc based physics. Also, a friend of mine who is an engineer said he was always concentrating on the math in his calc physics class and felt like he didnt really learn the physics concepts. When he said that I decided to take non-calc physics. The last thing I need is another class where I spend a zillion hours learning how to solve the word problems without ever learning the concepts for the MCAT ( this was my exact experience with Gen Chem )

 

[Law2Doc]

There is no direct relation for math to medical school.

Well, there certainly is a direct relation at places where it is a prereq.

Quite frankly ALL of the prereqs are just hurdles you have to vault, and once you get in you will barely use, if at all.