According to the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), only 20% of all medical schools in the US require calculus.
Medical schools require courses in natural sciences like biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics.
The math requirements for med schools vary, which is why you need to check the prerequisites before applying for admission.
A good number of med schools in the United States need a year of mathematics and you can choose calculus or statistics. Most students go for the latter.
I understand how calculus can be the worst nightmare of some students, however, many colleges require calculus as a prerequisite for physics courses.
Do medical schools care about calculus?
No, the majority of medical schools in the United States don’t care about calculus. Some schools require that applicants have basic mathematical knowledge which can also be gotten from statistics.
In 2022, most medical schools around the globe don’t require calculus. Most questions on MCAT are not even taken from calculus, rather they are drawn from statistics which most students find more useful.
Only take calculus I if your school requires it and there are no alternatives. You should go for statistics instead since it will be done in your first year in medical school (Biostatistics).
However, if you decide to go for calculus make sure you have nothing less than an A in the course. Unless you want to become a radiologist, medical doctors have nothing to do with calculus in their line of work.
Which medical schools require a full year of calculus?
- Harvard University
- University of California Irvine
- Dartmouth College
- Duke University
- Uninformed Services University of the Health Sciences
- Texas A&M University
- Swarthmore College
- Brown University
- Princeton University
- John Hopkins University
- Yeshiva University
Should I take calculus for med school?
Yes, you should take calculus for med school only if it’s compulsory.
Most medical schools with a math requirement are looking for some semesters of math, which can be calculus or statistics.
The majority of students go for statistics instead of calculus, only a few medical schools make calculus compulsory.
This may vary depending on your location, for example in Canada you don’t need calculus or statistics for medical school.
Why do I need calculus for medical school?
You need calculus for medical school because it will allow you to understand chemistry and physics better than if you didn’t study calculus.
Considering the fact that physics and chemistry play a large role in your MCAT, you may want to study calculus even though most students hate the course.
Most medical students believe doctors don’t need calculus, however, taking a semester of calculus can increase your chances of getting admitted into medical school.
It’s true that you won’t be needing the course in the future but just take it if your institution made it compulsory for applicants, calculus is fun and interesting.
Med Schools that don’t require calculus
- Stanford University
- Keck School of Medicine of USC
- Bryn Mawr College
There are definitely more med schools that don’t need calculus but these were the ones I found, you may leave a comment on any other school you know below.