Do you have to take physics if you are majoring in biology?

Question

I am not good in physics. I don't understand the quantum mechanics. my knowledge in it is limited to Newton Einstein.

Also I thought that to get in to med school you could undergrad in anything you wanted ( science would of course help) but recently this guy at the college said that you "HAVE" to major in pre-med. is that true?

******Sorry I meant Newton, and Einstein

Answer 1

Unforunately the physics part is true. I just talked about this with my advisor this morning because I'm thinking about going to medical school but I'm not a biology or pre-med major. I'm also in the same boat, because I didn't understand physics at all during high school. And no, you don't have to major in pre-med (I just declared an anthropology major today, I'm only a freshman and I could major in literature if I wanted to and still go to med school), but you do have to take the core classes required for med school along with your major. At my school (Pitt) the requirements for an undergrad in preparation for medical school are: 8 credits in biology (2 classes, 2 labs), 16 in Chemistry (4 classes and 4 labs), 4 in mathematics(class and lab), 8 in physics (2 classes, 2 labs) and 6 in English (one writing and one literature). Oh, and I was looking to be a bio major and yes, physics was also required for that, at least at this school. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

You don't have to major in pre-med, in fact a lot of med schools now are looking for people who majored in anything other than pre-med. Of course you have to take all the pre-med courses, though, and that includes a 2 semester sequence of physics. You won't need quantum, just mechanics and electricity & magnetism (maybe optics and waves, too, depending on how the school structures their courses).

Most schools have pre-med advisors for anyone who is planning on going to med school, even if they are not majoring in pre-med, so once you get to the college of your choice you can ask them all the details. But don't stress too much about the physics. There will be lots of other students in your class who are in the same boat as you, and you can work together to figure it all out.

Answer 3

it depends on your college, but usually, yes. besides the MCAT asks you about EVERYTHING including physics. you don't necessarily have to be premed major, but it does help if you have a bio or engineering bachelors.