llewis999

Hi I'm a pre-med student at Penn and I got a 5 on the Calc BC exam. I got placed into MATH 114, which is Calculus II---vectors, three-dimensional coordinate systems, partial derivatives, multiple integrals. You said a year of calculus is good. I'm decent at math and I'm wondering whether or not I should take MATH 240, which is Calculus III. Cause I'm in what for most people is the third semester of calculus, but it would be only my second semester. Would stopping at Calc II be equivalent to what you call "2 semesters" of math?

afan

You have effectively done the equivalent of 2 semesters with your calc AP. So I don't think you would be at a disadvantage as far as medical school admissions were concerned if you too no more math at all. BUT CHECK THIS WITH YOUR PREMED ADVISORS!!! Colleges differ. If they tell you that premeds are advised to take calc II, then you should do it.

If you need more calc for your major, then take whatever they suggest for placement. You really have little to gain by taking a higher level than the college suggests you are ready for. If you want to, or need to, take more math, then take calc III after you complete calc II. Your grades in calc III are likely to be better if you take calc II first. Since 240 is getting into stuff that only the more mathematically oriented majors require, you may find the pace and rigor to be considerably higher than the AP syllabus, which is aimed at a much broader audience. Starting with a higher level course, as your first encounter with math at the college level, might be risky.

By the way, if you are good at math, and like it, then you can keep taking courses, even if you have no need for them, and get predictable good grades.

RiceBoy

I simply placed out of calc I and I only took stats my freshman year and I dont intend to take a calc course again. Is it really a big deal? I looked around some med school sites and it really didn't seem to be a problem...

mmmcdowe

Something like 30 schools require a semester.

http://www.brynmawr.edu/healthpro/do...ement_2010.pdf

ZFanatic

I'm using my AP credit for Cal 1 and going into Cal 2 next semester.

With that, I'll have a year of calculus which will cover every math requirement at every med school (as far as I know, unless some require stats) and demonstrate that I'm strong enough in it to take calculus in college.

RiceBoy

hm..I've seen this list before, it seems like its been updated in the recent years.
However, I took a look at some schools that "require" calc and most of them say at the bottom of the page that AP credit can be used to satisfy the requirement.

EssEmSee

My brother took calculus at a community college while in highschool and used that on his apps (got into Harvard, UCSF, Stanford, Harvard etc). He says it's completely not necessary.

Princess'Dad

Look at my prior post of "best guide for ...applications". It has listed what all US schools require.

sunfish

I think only Harvard requires a year of Calculus, but it accepts AP credit.
UCLA and possibly a few more require one semester/quarter of statistics.

futuredoc2011

According to this year's MSAR most schools at least recommend if not outright require at least one semester of Calculus. It really just depends on which school you want to attend. I would advise you to go ahead and take it, or possibly pick up a copy of MSAR to see if your choice schools require or recommend it. If nothing else it will help you when you take the MCAT and in stats. Hope this helps.

mmmcdowe

There are three schools that require a year, all accept AP.

sunfish

^ which three?

mmmcdowe

Washu and Harvard are two of them, I forget the third but I think it is mentioned in the link I posted above.

sunfish

Washu allows 1 semester calculus and 1 semester of statistics. Two semesters of calculus is only required for Case Western MD/PhD program and not the MD program.
Harvard is the only school that requires 2 semesters of calculus.

Moonglow

Johns Hopkins requires one year (2 semesters) of calculus, OR, 1 semester calculus and 1 semester statistics.