I’m starting college in the spring, and I want to figure out what classes to take
I took AP Physics 1 and AP Psychology in 2020, and I got a four on both. I took AP Calculus AB, AP Statistics, AP Microeconomics, and AP Macroeconomics in 2021, and I got a five on all of them. I have great notes, so I know I can relearn anything I may have forgotten.
My school offers General Physics and Physics with Calculus. They only offer General Physics 1 and Physics with Calculus 1 in Fall Semester. Should I take General Physics 2 this coming semester, or should I wait and take Physics with Calculus 1 (and maybe 2 as well)? What makes sense from a Medical School applications and MCAT testing perspective?
Also, should I take another math? I have 2 maths from my APs. I can take Calculus 2 this semester. My school doesn’t offer Biostatistics or Epidemiology, is it worthwhile to take one or both over a winter or summer break at a different school?
Thanks!
Have you spoken to the premed advisor at your school?
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What is your intended major?
If you’re majoring in something like bio, you won’t need much math. My bio degree required calc 2, but many don’t. And general physics 2 would be fine for bio at most schools. You’ll need to find out your specific requirements. There’s no rush to take math and physics freshman year for most bio majors.
You can wait to decide on math classes in a later semester. Your advisor can tell you what people in your major typically do. And it’s important to find out what the med schools accept. Some will accept AP credits for prerequisites, and some won’t. The ideal classes for you will depend on all these things.
If your major is bio, general physics 2 will be fine. If you’re majoring in something like chem, you’ll want the calc-based physics. And you’d need more math for your major anyway, so maybe calc 2 next term would be good in that case. Again, check all of this with your school’s major requirements. Get a meeting with your advisor. And it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself now with the differing requirements for a variety of med schools.
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I was going to say the same.
Can I suggest that if you are serious about eventual med school, don’t rely on AP classes to help you be as prepared as you need to be. Here’s the crunch: AP classes are advanced for high school, but they really cannot replace the rigor of college level classes.
The med school you apply to won’t care about your AP classes. They will care about your grades in courses that you need to get into med school. Med school is very rigorous and very difficult. 5s and 4s on those tests honestly won’t be helpful down the road. I will give you two relevant examples using my kids (not premed.)
D majored in Psych, which was her intent at the outset of college. She got a 5 on the exam. She decided that it would be best for her to take the 100 level of the class in college because she wanted the best foundation. She was very glad she did. She ended up doing a masters in something similar to experimental psychology. In no way was the psych AP exam adequate for her eventual degrees.
S earned a BSc in Finance Economics. He took AP stats in high school. At the time, it seemed a great idea to use his AP stats score to get college credit for the class. He did so without another thought, until it he had to take a required stats class for his major. Well, three years had passed since he had taken AP stats. The college would not allow him to take the intro level because he already had credit for “intro level stats” due to his AP stats exam score. Sure, he had notes, but he was then a sophomore in college. The 200 level class was very difficult for someone trying to play catch up. His grade in that class suffered, frankly, but he scraped by with a C.
TL;DR: As a potential med school applicant, you don’t want C’s, if at all possible. Take the intro level classes and don’t assume that your AP classes are adequate prep for med school.
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What will you major in?
Ask students who have started already and took CalcAB in HS then Calc2 at your college: was calc AB adequate preparation for calc2 at that specific college (often, it isn’t and sometimes calc2 is a weed out course where premeds’ hopes of med school go and sink).
You may not need calc for your major but you’ll need it for the MCAT so you really need to think about taking the credit or not taking it and taking Calc1 as a sort of elective as a senior or next semester. Then again your HS notes may be enough for MCAT prep - but 7 years is a long time.
Definitely take Elementary statistics or equivalent - look at the Math or Applied Math or Statistics major and see whether they offer a solid stats class or applied stats as a 2nd level or instead of Elementary Stats.
Premeds usually take Algebra-based physics 1&2 as a junior so that problem isn’t immediate 
For that 1st semester, I would take Psychology (and not claim AP credit), Statistics (or equivalent), English/Composition, General Chem1, and whatever foreign language you’re placed into (check if your college has “FL” for health professions).
Will you be taking summer courses?
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I’m majoring in a “Biology Honors” degree. They don’t recommend I take calculus at all for my degree. Calculus, in particular, I’m not worried about forgetting for the MCAT; I feel like my notes are good enough for others to learn from, let alone for me to refresh myself.
My school only offers “statistics for social sciences” and “statistics for business,” but they said that they’d allow me to take another stats course elsewhere because neither of those will give me much more than AP Stats.
They also recommended I jump directly into Physics II this coming semester because I can’t start any other sciences until at least the summer.
General Requirements for my major are: Bio 1 and 2, Chem 1 and 2, Orgo 1 and 2, Physics 1 and 2, and two research projects. I also need to choose from a bunch of Biology electives (taking at least five), but that’s for future me to iron out with my advisor after I get the basic prereqs done to be allowed to take them.
Is this a community college?
Or try the old final exams for calculus 1 to check how well you know the content.
Regarding physics, that can be a tricky one if you have AP physics 1 credit. Repeat physics 1 for biology majors and premeds, and you have to mark repeat on the medical school application (looks like grade grubbing). Skip physics 1 and go to physics 2 for biology majors and premeds, and some medical schools will not like seeing AP credit instead of a college course, unless you take an additional more advanced physics course, but usually there are none unless you start with calculus based physics for physics majors instead of physics for biology majors and premeds.
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Have taken any sociology? If not, plan on adding either an intro Soc class or a sociology of healthcare class since psych/soc have their own whole section on the MCAT. Of the 2 stats classes offered by your school, stats for social sciences will be the most useful. Business stats emphasizes different methods and teaches different topics than are used in medicine. Social science stats will teach those methods used in medicine.
If you get the opportunity, take a biostatistics class. It’s very useful in med school where you will be taking advanced biostatistics coursework.
Calculus isn’t needed at most med schools. (There are about 5 that require 2 semesters or more of calc, so unless you plan on applying to those schools you don’t need additional math classes.)
I will also suggest that you not rely on your AP credits for med school admission since not all med schools accept AP credits for pre-reqs. Students who use AP credits for pre-reqs are expected to supplement those credits with additional number of upper level crefits in the same dept as their AP credit if they want to be considered as competitive applicants for med school.
Take algebra based physics at your college unless your major requires calculus based physics. (But a hint: physics is easier to understand if it’s calc based since calculus was invented to explain classical physics problems.)
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