Which physics to take for Medical School

[willie0120]

So in my undergrad they offer both College Physics and University Physics. University Physics is a calculus based course while in College Physics you need algebra and trigonometry. In other words I would have to take calculus in order to take the University Physics, which means I would have to take it next year (BTW i'll be a freshman in the fall) I just want to get this pre-requisite out of the way. Here are the course descriptions :

.University Physics I. Prerequisites: MATH 122 is prerequisite or co-requisite. Special fee. This one-semester calculus-based course including laboratory is a study of the principles of physics and some applications to society's problems. Topics covered include mechanics, thermodynamics, fluids, and harmonic motion. Meets the 1983 General Education Requirement (GER) - Natural/Physical Science, Laboratory or Non-Laboratory Science. 3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab.
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.College Physics I. Prerequisites: MATH 100. Special fee. This one-semester course including laboratory is a study of the principles and applications of classical physics. Topics covered include mechanics, heat and thermodynamics, wave motion and sound, as well as societal applications of physical principles. Calculus is not used, but familiarity with some algebra and trigonometry is required. Meets the 1983 General Education Requirement (GER) - Natural/Physical Science, Laboratory or Non-Laboratory Science. 3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab.

So which one should I take ??
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[Artimacia]

College is the general one most pre-meds take (unless you're an engineer major)

 

[rikibamboo]

I had this question during my freshman year. I eventually took University Physics. I was told both would be acceptable for med school but University Physics obviously has more weight (being calculus based) - as to how much weight, I don't know.

It comes down to what you think you can do. I thought University Physics was okay. But I've met people who struggle through it. I guess it also had to do with the fact that my professors gave study sessions and asked questions in class that were very similar to the questions in the tests that they gave. If you're the math/visual type of person, University Physics will not be hard at all.

I would say, when you get to college in the Fall, if you think you can handle the calculus math classes, then take those. If your school is like mine, that'll leave open the choice of taking either the non-calculus or calculus based physics. Ask around and get an idea of what the calculus based physics course is like. Make your choice then.

 

[Artimacia]

Yea, at my school, the physics professor are pretty bad, so most of the premeds took college physics, unless you were an engineer major, then you would take the calculus based physics. Physics isn't one of my better subjects, neither was calculus, so if you're good with math, and can take calculus before, I've heard to take calc based because you can get a better understanding of it. I just stuck with college.

 

[FutureInternist]

If you already took calculus & did well, I would suggest the cal-based one. the eqns are easier than trig based & the questions require less work than the round about way trig-based physics requires.

Good Luck.

 

[Artimacia]

If you already took calculus & did well, I would suggest the cal-based one. the eqns are easier than trig based & the questions require less work than the round about way trig-based physics requires.

Good Luck.

Yea, that's what I heard if you're good with calculus, that the calc based makes more sense since it explains how the equations are derived.

 

[rikibamboo]

Yea, that's what I heard if you're good with calculus, that the calc based makes more sense since it explains how the equations are derived.

Actually, I think the only time calculus in University Physics came in handy was during those derivations - which is relatively simple to understand. Everything else just seemed to be trig/algebra based.

 

[willie0120]

I'll be taking College Algebra in the Fall, never taken Calculus before so I'll just stick with the College Physics.

 

[littlealex]

I'd say take whatever the hardest class is offered. I've always done that and it paid off for the MCAT.

 

[RomanCandle]

take algebra based. getting an A in algebra based will look better than getting an A- in the harder calculus based. doing calc based will not prepare you better for the MCAT.

 

[physicsnerd42]

I'm too lazy to restate answers, so I refer you here.

I'm obviously a bit biased (physics major in undergrad, now in the middle of a biomed engineering PhD), but I say take calc-based physics. Newton (edit: and Leibniz) invented calculus for a reason: to help describe physics. Calculus-based intro physics makes more sense than algebra-based because you need calculus to understand basic physics. Algebra-based physics repackages the calculus you need into more convoluted algebra terminology. Also, the calculus in calc-based into physics isn't particularly advanced (you'll pick it up). I would suggest you take into calc at the same time as intro physics and you'll be fine.

To answer another question, though: med schools probably won't care that much either way.