<p>Is multivariable calc required/recommended by med schools? Will it help me if I go learn it?</p>
<p>Some do some dont. I know that often the majors that go to premed take it anyway. Usually it isnt, check with your colleges pre-req for premed as theyre usually pretty well tailored</p>
<p>In general it is not needed. And you need to be looking at medical schools requirements not what your undergrad school says.</p>
<p>There are few medical schools that require more than a semester of calc. Many say a semester of "college math". That can mean college algebra or stats at some schools. Others specify a semester of calculus. There are others that say a year of college math (best served by calc and stats), and very, very few (maybe less than 5) that require 2 semesters of calc. I have found absolutely no need for ANY calculus in medical school and it's not a requirement for the MCAT. If you do not have to take for your major, and your school offers algebra based physics, then there is no need for you to take more than a semester of calc, and I'd recommend against it if it might hurt your GPA.</p>
<p>Obviously, if your major requires it, or there are no solid mathematically based physics classes that use only algebra, it's pretty much required.</p>
<p>you don't need multivariable calculus, but you do need some form of math for at least one semester of math (calc or stats) if you want to maximize the number of schools you can apply to.</p>
<p>Thank you for your responses!</p>
<p>I wouldn't be taking Calculus at all, though, in college. I'm taking Calc BC now, and I'm doing fine. Most colleges accept a 5 on the BC exam for 2 semesters of calc, but what about medical schools? </p>
<p>I might take a semester of Statistics.</p>
<p>the majority of medical schools do not accept AP credit. There are a few that do, but it's unlikely you are only going to apply to those schools.</p>
<p>My general recommendation to students it to take a semester of stats, and a semester of calc.</p>
<p>The semester of calc can be anything - assuming you do in fact get a 5, it'd be expected that you could place into calc III. There's no problem in doing that. It fulfills the requirement just the same as taking Calc I.</p>
<p>Now, where it gets tricky is if you really want to take a new course. You likely could drop down and take calc II or even calc I again for an easy grade. Basically the calc courses are interchangeable at that point for you (if you do indeed get a 5 on the AP).</p>
<p>Oh thank goodness you only need one semester of calc. This does mean that I don't need calc II right? What about physics that require calc? Does it matter to med schools if I take algebra physics or calculus physics? I hear they can't tell which classes are hard. If so, should I just take the easier physics and take stats rather than calc II? I just transferred to from a CC to the university of maryland college park this spring and I need to get used to the university enviornment before I overload myself.</p>
<p>If you have a solid math-based, non-calc option, that should be fine (no "concepts" courses though). </p>
<p>The only thing you have to look out for is if your major requires you to take calc-based physics. Then obviously, you'll have to take the math necessary to take the physics class.</p>
<p>see M02's post #5.</p>
<p>(The overall thread is not directly relevant. His post is.)</p>
<p>Some schools ask that you take THROUGH calc II, however long it takes you to do that. Some kids will take a year, others just a semester, others can jump into Calc III directly, etc.</p>
<p>Besides, I'm a personal advocate -- not for medical school purposes -- of all students taking up through multivariable (calc III). It just provides such a series of useful ways of thinking about the relationships between various things -- how they change, how they move, what affects them, etc. Multivariable is a key underlying component to statistics and economics. It may not be officially required -- in fact, it probably isn't -- as a prerequisite, but it's still a good thing for people to learn and understand.</p>
<p>When I talk to people as people (not as med school applicants), I advise them to take three semesters of calc (I, II, III) and two of statistics (intro, econometrics).</p>
<p>See my post in rec for math course thread. Ditto the above post! Remember, if you want to go to medical school you should be reaching, not looking for the easy way out. Go for the toughest courses you can handle, looks good on the record, and, more importantly, better prepares you for the rigors ahead.</p>
<p>why the hell would a medical student need calc 3, I cant even see a need why you would need calc 1 or 2.</p>
<p>Calculus= useless.</p>
<p>very useless for a medical student.</p>
<p>I don't know how I could possibly have made any clearer that I was not discussing this specifically in the context of medical school. "Not for medical school purposes." Calculus as a whole is the underpinning of really thinking about cause-and-effect, a crucial skill for anybody. You can always learn to approximate it without the proper mathematical tools -- and to do a pretty good job while you're at it -- but it doesn't give you the same visualization and intuition.</p>
<p>Personally, I would be more hesitant to demonstrate such strong disdain for quantitatively assessing how variables can change.</p>
<p>In any case, it's a moot point. Certainly the above posters are correct that Calc III will never matter to medical schools and that it will not directly be a component of your medical education.</p>
<p>
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Calculus= useless.
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</p>
<p>Basic differential and integral calculus are extremely useful in a variety of applications. Understanding linear data is actually made easier with a basic calculus education.</p>
<p>Can a brother make a statement here without getting instantly refuted?</p>
<p>I dunno that my post was exactly "instant." ;)</p>
<p>See, the joke here is that I'm refuting him again, and...oh screw it.)</p>
<p>can a brother get the final word?</p>