Is calculus (or any math) necessary for med school?

afan
Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:28:22 +0000

I was a biochem major. One could not have made it very far at all without a year of calc. It was just assumed, and not only for P Chem and P biochem.

From a med school admissions requirement page



The Committee on Admissions considers the level of courses when evaluating academic performance and determining a candidates suitability for medicine. We require a strong preparation in the sciences and mathematics basic to medical school studies. Candidates should take courses that are comparable to courses taken by students majoring in these subjects…
Mathematics: one year of calculus. Advanced placement credits may satisfy this requirement (Calculus AB - 1 semester, Calculus BC - 2 semesters). A course in statistics does not meet this requirement.



Now I suppose it is possible that the occasional student is admitted without this background, but if you do not take real physics, which cannot be taught at the college level without calculus, and most applicants have read the instructions and done what they are told, how do you think your application will look?

and from a course catalog:



Physical Sciences 3. Electromagnetism, Waves, Imaging, and Information
This course is an introduction to light and sound waves, electromagnetism, and information.
Note: This course is part of an integrated introduction to the physical sciences intended for students who plan to pursue a concentration in the life sciences and/or satisfy pre-medical requirements in Physics. May not ordinarily be taken for credit in addition to Physics 1b, 11b, or 15b. This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the Core area requirement for Science A.
Prerequisite: Physical Sciences 2 (or Physics 1a or 11a), Mathematics 1b, or equivalent.



Math1b is second semester calculus. Note that, at this college, this physics course is advertised as suitable for premeds and life sciences majors, but it is not physics for physicists.

from a different university

The Department of Physics offers three introductory course sequences that help develop your knowledge of the physical world and your quantitative reasoning and logic skills. The first course in each sequence focuses on the behavior of mechanical objects and oscillations (often referred to simply as Classical Mechancis’). The second course in each sequence focuses on the electrical and magnetic properties of objects and devices and optics (often referred to simply asElectricity and Magnetism’). All course sequences are calculus based and have a required laboratory.
…

For the Biological Sciences: General Physics
The sequence primarily intended for students interested in the biological sciences consists of PHY 53L (Classical Mechanics’) and PHY 54L (Electricity and Magnetism’). All topics included in the MCAT exam are covered in this sequence.



Someone who is really bad at math, or just hates it, might reasonably fear that taking more than absolutely necessary could hurt the GPA, and lessen chances for admission. However, you will be competing with people who took a year of calc, at least, and the courses one would expect. Remember most people who apply to medical school are science majors, and usually required to take the math for that reason alone. Even bio majors usually need at least a year of calculus.

So… is it POSSIBLE to apply based on the minimum math and physics background? Yes. However, you will limit yourself to those places that do not require more. You will also be competing with students with stronger backgrounds and more rigorous course work.

And yes, if you are interested in a research career, you should certainly learn the language, which requires some math.