You actually need Calculus!??!

[Matty44]

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[scottyhoop]

So this is in response to a thread that said some schools require Calculus I, which happens to be total news to me. I never took any calc, and from the couple schools I looked at, and from what a few people had told me, I was under the assumption that you didn't need any. Anybody got a ballpark estimate as to what % of schools actually require a semester? I know my state school doesn't, so that's good, but I'm kinda worried now that my choice of schools will be greatly diminished because of this "new" news. And I'll be applying broadly for sure, so hopefully this doesn't hurt me too much.....or should I go back and try calc 1 without taking any math classes in the past 5 years?!😱 Thoughts....?

I think a lot of schools require some sort of math, but I can't tell you the percentage. I was in your shoes as well, but some of those schools also said they would take stats as well, so I bit the bullet and am finishing it up right now. Not having calc will limit you for sure, so if you have your heart set on a school make sure you don't need it before you decided not to take it. Best of luck!!
Scott

 

[Mia305]

So this is in response to a thread that said some schools require Calculus I, which happens to be total news to me. I never took any calc, and from the couple schools I looked at, and from what a few people had told me, I was under the assumption that you didn't need any. Anybody got a ballpark estimate as to what % of schools actually require a semester? I know my state school doesn't, so that's good, but I'm kinda worried now that my choice of schools will be greatly diminished because of this "new" news. And I'll be applying broadly for sure, so hopefully this doesn't hurt me too much.....or should I go back and try calc 1 without taking any math classes in the past 5 years?!😱 Thoughts....?

If a school you are attending requires calc I, I don't think it would be a problem for you to take it. I am starting dental school in the fall, and the school requires 2 semesters of calculus. It has been 4 years since I got my credit for Calc I, but I am currently in a Calc II class this semester so that I can meet the requirement. It took me a little while to relearn some of the basics from Calc I, but it has not held me back and I am doing fine in the class. Just do the research to see what the requirements are for the schools your are interested in, and go from there.

 

[alanan84]

Can we get some dental student's opinion on this? My biology major only requires calc 1 and that is all I was planning on taking. I freaking hate calculus! Do you need it in Dental school?

 

[Mia305]

Whether or not it is required by your major, if a dental that you want to go to requires calc 2, then you will need to take it. Calc 2 wasn't required by my major, but I am taking it because the d-school I am attending requires it. If the d-schools you are interested in only requires calc 1, then the class you take for your major is all you need.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

Prereqs are not secret information. Every dental school lists them on their website. Check out the ones you're interested in.
A lot of people end up taking calculus anyways b/c their undergrad requires it for physics (which is more commonly a dental prereq).

 

[alanan84]

Prereqs are not secret information. Every dental school lists them on their website. Check out the ones you're interested in.
A lot of people end up taking calculus anyways b/c their undergrad requires it for physics (which is more commonly a dental prereq).

That depends on what physics you take. I didn't take the calculus based physics nor do the dental schools I'm looking at require it. In fact, I have yet to see a dental school that does. I've only looked at about 5 though.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

That depends on what physics you take. I didn't take the calculus based physics nor do the dental schools I'm looking at require it. In fact, I have yet to see a dental school that does. I've only looked at about 5 though.

Yes, it depends on the school you go to and the major you picked. Point I'm trying to make is that the dental prereqs are all published and anyone that's interested in applying should go to the various school websites to see them. These forums are great for getting certain info, but this place isn't always accurate or complete, so go directly to the source.

 

[alanan84]

Yes, it depends on the school you go to and the major you picked. Point I'm trying to make is that the dental prereqs are all published and anyone that's interested in applying should go to the various school websites to see them. These forums are great for getting certain info, but this place isn't always accurate or complete, so go directly to the source.

Yes, very true

 

[Matty44]

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[TempleDMDKrazd]

So I guess my next question is, can I just apply to any school I choose, even the ones that require calc, and then AFTER being accepted, take the class before matriculation? Does that make sense? and is it an option? Cause I thought people apply before all their prereqs are completed sometimes, right?

yes..., but remember to put the calc class as planned in progress courses on your AADSAS

 

[Matty44]

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[DentalDocHype]

The only dental school that requires it, to my knowlege, is Harvard. Make a list of the schools you want to apply to and look at their requirements...go from there. It makes no sense to me to take a whole semester or two of classes that less than 5% of schools require.
Dont freak, just go to the websites....its all there. You DO need some math, but thats true for almost any graduate program.

Hope this helps - good luck.

 

[litldime]

I applied to 14 d-schools last yr and none of them required calc. don't know if they updated their pre-reqs though...

 

[SanOnofre2002]

So I guess my next question is, can I just apply to any school I choose, even the ones that require calc, and then AFTER being accepted, take the class before matriculation? Does that make sense? and is it an option? Cause I thought people apply before all their prereqs are completed sometimes, right?

Matty, you can apply to any school without having completed the prereqs. If they accept you, you'll be required to finish the prereqs by the summer before matriculation. I would not recommend putting the calc in your planned course list, if you'd only be taking it for specific schools that may accept you. Reasoning is b/c it's best not to have to contact a school after acceptance to tell them you're dropping a class from your planned course list. That could potentially affect your acceptance (even if the schools doesn't require calc). I had already graduated by the time I applied so I didn't have anything in my planned coursework column, and I was still accepted by 3 schools for which I didn't have all the prereqs completed. In their acceptance letter it spelled out that I'd have to complete the prereqs for the acceptance to be maintained.
I think what you said about finishing prereqs b/f applying is generally true, but mostly for the core courses like Ochem, general bio, etc. That way they can evaluate you better. Prereqs like calc, microbio, etc are not always necessary for your evaluation.

 

[Matty44]

Thanks. I appreciate all you input guys.

 

[SHC1984]

UPenn require Calc 1 but not 2, but Harvard requires both 1 AND 2.