<p>Most resources list Math 1A and 1B (or the 16 series) as fulfilling the math requirements for a premed.
I am currently taking Math 1A, but my intended major requires just Math 55. So at this point I am considering skipping Math 1B for Math 55, since I would rather not spend over a year in math.</p>
<p>I know if I skipped, I should have skipped 1A (I got 5 of Calc BC). But since that is no longer possible, is this a good idea?</p>
<p>Some concerns I have include:
1) Other pre-med required classes, like Physics, will be too hard without Math 1B.
2) Math 55 itself will build on Math 1B, and so will be difficult without that foundation.
3) And the quantitative portion of the MCAT will be impossible without 1B.</p>
<p>Are any of these justified? And can anyone who has taken Math 55, please mention how rigorous the course is.</p>
<p>premed math majors, you guys are kind of rare.</p>
<p>Med school just needs a year of calculus. Any two calculus courses will. You will need 53 anyways, so that can easily be your second semester of calculus</p>
<p>No quantitative portion on the MCAT. just biological science, physical science, and writing.</p>
<p>Physics 8B doesn’t require that much calculus at all. Basic integrals can get you through.</p>
<p>Math 55 is discrete I think? I don’t think that qualifies as calculus, but most med schools require 1 year of math - usually taken to mean 1 semester calculus and 1 semester statistics. Though SOME schools require 2 semesters of calculus.</p>
<p>Actually I’m not a math major, so I will not need 53, just 55.</p>
<p>Not to divert from my original questions, but an additional one I now have would be: is the pre-med requirement 2 years of math, or 2 years of calculus?
And if 2 years of calculus, can part of that have been done through AP credit?</p>
<p>It’s just 1 year of math for MOST schools; some specify 1 year of calculus, it really depends.</p>
<p>Some take AP credit if noted on transcript which for us it does. </p>
<p>Math requirement varies a lot around the schools, check with each school’s websites to see what they require. However, to cover most of the schools, I think 1 semester of calculus and 1 semester of statistics is sufficient.</p>
<p>As a math major and as someone who took physics 7A and H7B, math 55 and physics courses don’t need 1B (assuming you took the AP BC exam). You can just look up Taylor series and other things if you don’t remember, but I think Math 53 is the most you need for lower division physics. So to answer your questions:
no.
no. (having taken computer science courses might help a lot. Lots of trees.)
no. You are going to study MCAT your senior year no matter what. Everyone will review 1B and other subjects even if they know them inside out. Assuming you do 1B right now it’s highly doubtful 1B will be fresh in your head when you’re a senior.</p>
<p>Lower division math courses are overrated. You can learn all of them on your own with some time on the side. People tend to miss “Foundation” in math and other subjects as a result of taking courses and advancing to harder classes without filling in the gaps in their knowledge. Best remedy is to study them on your own.</p>