Which physics class for Harvard?

[bobbiexd]

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I’m currently enrolled in College Physics 1 and my dream is to go to Harvard medical school. I read on their website that they require calculus based physics. Should I drop the class and take physics w/ Calc instead?

I also read a few posts here on SDN about Harvard requiring Calc 2, however I do not see any mention of Calc 2 being required on their website.

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

Calc II is usually required to take calc based physics

 

[Dox4lyfe]

I’m currently enrolled in College Physics 1 and my dream is to go to Harvard medical school. I read on their website that they require calculus based physics. Should I drop the class and take physics w/ Calc instead?

I also read a few posts here on SDN about Harvard requiring Calc 2, however I do not see any mention of Calc 2 being required on their website.

You need to know integration for calc based physics. Some schools, like mine, even use concepts from 3d Calc.

 

[tiramisucheese]

Can you link where they say that calculus-based physics is specifically required? I just went online out of curiosity but couldn't find anything in their prerequisites list.

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

Actually, you made a good point and resolved things @tiramisucheese quicker than otherwise
meded.hms.harvard.edu/admissions-prerequisite-courses
It appears only Health Sciences & Technology track has to do calc-based

 

[CherryRedDracul]

Do calc-based physics anyway. Way more fun.

 

[Disciple of Sattar]

Do calc-based physics anyway. Way more fun.

Not fun if you are allergic to math like I am. If you actually like physics you should do calc based. If it's just another pre-req like it was for me, algebra-based was two semesters of easy A and exactly the same content that was on the MCAT.

 

[bobbiexd]

Calc II is usually required to take calc based physics

In my university Calc 2 is only required for physics 2. But thank you for telling me. I completely overlooked this requirement.

Can you link where they say that calculus-based physics is specifically required? I just went online out of curiosity but couldn't find anything in their prerequisites list.

I was confused. It’s only required for the HST program.

While I’m not too interested in the HST program, I would like to make myself as competitive as possible. Will Calc based physics give a slight edge up in the eyes of adcoms?

 

[Dox4lyfe]

In my university Calc 2 is only required for physics 2. But thank you for telling me. I completely overlooked this requirement.



I was confused. It’s only required for the HST program.

While I’m not too interested in the HST program, I would like to make myself as competitive as possible. Will Calc based physics give a slight edge up in the eyes of adcoms?

Nope no edge. It'll just open up programs that require it. If you're good at conceptual thinking, trig and calculus, and find physics interesting, go for it.

Calc based is 1000% more interesting because you actually understand how physics works in the real world and not the over simplified version which is algebra based.

If you have mathphobia, I'd take algebra based to avoid a hellish semester.

 

[bobbiexd]

Nope no edge. It'll just open up programs that require it. If you're good at conceptual thinking, trig and calculus, and find physics interesting, go for it.

Calc based is 1000% more interesting because you actually understand how physics works in the real world and not the over simplified version which is algebra based.

If you have mathphobia, I'd take algebra based to avoid a hellish semester.

I loved Calc 1 and math is no problem for me. However I already have too many credits and being that I would have to take Calc 2 which is another 5 credits, I think I’ll go with the easier path just to save myself some time and money.

 

[begoood95]

Nope no edge. It'll just open up programs that require it. If you're good at conceptual thinking, trig and calculus, and find physics interesting, go for it.

Calc based is 1000% more interesting because you actually understand how physics works in the real world and not the over simplified version which is algebra based.

If you have mathphobia, I'd take algebra based to avoid a hellish semester.

Can you explain that? I've heard it over and over again, but I took the algebra based Physics in college, and definitely felt like I still understood "how physics works in the real world."