I’m in highschool and im kind of stressed out about math classes. I’m not the best at math, but I’m pretty decent, like i can pass an honors class. I was hoping to major in Biology and go on to Med School for OB/GYN, but mostly gynecology. I read in a lot of places Calculus is important, but in other places that only a few schools require it. If I need it, do you recommend taking it in highschool and college or just one semester or two in college? If it’s not important in highschool, i was planning on just taking physics/stats, but overall I want to know what math course i should focus on taking and when…
Medical schools vary in terms of math and statistics requirements. Pre-meds who want to cover the requirements for a wide range of medical schools may want to take in college math through second semester single variable calculus or higher, and statistics. Note that medical schools often do not accept AP credit for pre-med requirements, so pre-meds with AP credit typically have to either take more advanced courses (if skipping the beginning courses with AP credit) or retake their AP credit (if attempting to grade grub). Given that statistics is heavily used in medical research papers, it may be a good idea to take an in-depth calculus-based statistics course in college.
As a high school student, you do want to take math through precalculus (calculus preferred if you complete precalculus in 11th grade or earlier), and all three of biology, chemistry, and physics, in order to be prepared for the pre-med courses in college.
Note that pre-meds can major in any subject. Non-science majors take the pre-med courses in the general education or free elective space in their schedules. High school is way too early to be thinking about specific medical specialties.
Yes, my relatives majored in various fields and went to podiatry and medical schools. One majored in history, one majored in math and chemistry. You just need to take the pre-requisites that will be required to be admitted to medical school. Many suggest not having the toughest major, as your GPA is NOT adjusted due to taking a “tougher” vs “easier” major.
But choose a major you will not regret choosing if you do not go to medical school (either by choice or because you were not admitted – many pre-meds stop being pre-meds before applying to medical school, and only about half of those who apply are admitted to any MD medical schools).