I’ll be attending the University of Maryland next year and I plan on being pre med. My major (public health science) requires one semester of calculus but I have the option of taking elementary calculus (for non-science majors) or regular calculus. Would medical schools care which one I take? I’ve heard that elementary calculus at UMD is much easier than regular calculus which is playing into my decision.
@cammiekohl are you talking about MATH220? Should be ok to take rather than “real calculus” ;)) This may limit which physics course you can take. I assume you’ve already read this link:
http://www.prehealth.umd.edu/coursework
Best of luck. You are going to a great school.
Did you take AP calc in high school?
What prereq does physics for majors require?
@plumazul thank you!
@mom2collegekids I’m taking calculus AB this year so I’m taking the test next month but I’m planning for the possibility that I don’t get a 4/5
I’m not sure which of the physics courses are for majors but UMD has a list of physics courses that are acceptable for pre med and only 1 or 2 require calculus at all
For future readers (since plumazul clearly answered it for UMD): unless your undergraduate says “calc for non science majors” is satisfactory for medical schools, I would err on taking “calc for science majors.” If it’s “calc for math majors” vs. “calc for non-math majors” then “calc for non-math majors” is probably fine. Generally speaking, whether or not you are a science major, med schools want you to be taking the foundational courses that science majors are taking.