Calculus in Medical Career?

<p>I wanted to be a doctor when I was younger, but I became disillusioned due to the fact that it's a rigorous career path. However, now that I'm older I have regained some faith due to a conversation I had with my physician.</p>

<p>I am a hispanic female and come from a low income family. I have been a straight A student for as long as I could remember. I'm currently a junior taking AP Calc, AP English Lang, and AP World History. I have continued to get all A's. I refrained from taking AP Biology and AP Chemistry only because the teachers are incoherent and their teaching methods aren't even the slightest proficient. I did not take the classes because I cannot risk damaging my GPA (by the end of this year my GPA will be 4.125 if all goes well) and not passing those particular Exams. I am the first in my family to go to college so I'm seeking merit scholarship or any scholarship I can get my hands on. However, I am taking AP physics next year to compensate the lack of science background</p>

<p>Over the past 2 years I have developed a high love for math. I excell in math with the utmost happiness, making me want to pursue some career path that involves it. I do not want to be a math teacher nor an engineer and I rather help save lives.</p>

<p>So my question is how much calculus is involved in medicine? This question is directed to any pre-med/medical student or even doctor out there. Is there any doctor profession that involves calculus in a regular bases?</p>

<p>It is not relevant how much someone uses calculus in a medical career. They may never have a need.</p>

<p>Here is what is relevant for you.</p>

<p>Any applicant to medical school needs to show one year of college math. This usually includes a requirement for at least one semester of Calculus at college level and one semester of statistics. </p>

<p>There are specific other requirements for medical school application - one year of biology, 2 years of chemistry, one year of physics, and one year of English. By the time you apply, you probably also need some psychology, socialogy and ethics.</p>

<p>Outside of all those requirements, medical schools do not care what you major in during undergraduate studies. Since you need a degree, you can choose majors strong in Math -Math, Physics, Engineering, or business to name a few. It helps in science GPA calculated for medicine if you take more math classes in college and do well in them.</p>

<p>Thank you for your input. It was elucidating. </p>

<p>Quite a disappointment, to be honest, that math isn’t entirely used on a regular basis. However, I heard that high math is used in biology, chemistry, and physics courses in pre-med/med courses. Is this true? Also, assuming that I pass AP Calculus AB and BC with a minimum of 4, would this satisfy the prerequisite of a year of math for medical school?</p>

<p>I know I have a long way to go but I want to gain as much knowledge today as possible so that I wont be as clueless tomorrow.</p>

<p>There is a high level of Math in Physics and a good bit of Math in Chemistry. However, most premeds will not attempt more math classes than the least needed to qualify for med school admissions since they don’t need it.</p>

<p>Med school application process expects you to do math in college. So completing it in high school won’t help you other than being able to do well in college in the required classes for math.</p>