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Can you still try for being a doctor even if you are bad at math?

Even when I was young, I wasn't really confident in math nor even good at it. Where I am curious if I can still run towards my dream which is becoming a neurosurgeon even if I am bad at math. #math #medicine #college

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Yasemin’s Answer

Hi Harry! Of course you can! I was not good at math either and still struggle but I kept studying and getting help from my teachers. I was even able to complete the math on the MCAT without a calculator. I believe that no one is perfect when pursuing the medical field, it's definitely hard and requires discipline and everyone has something they will struggle with but it doesn't mean you should give up on your dream of being a physician if you really want to! In the U.S. you take some classes such as basic math, calculus and bio stats that are required for medical school, but there's great tutoring services on campus that you can definitely use as well. Don't give up!

Best of luck!
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Richard’s Answer

You will need to get good grades in college in order to apply for medical school. At the medical school I attended, the average GPA is reported to be 3.85, so even one or two B's can hurt your chances of acceptance.


For many undergraduate degrees calculus and statistics are required.

That said, there isn't much math in the daily life of a physician.
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Abhinav’s Answer

Hi Harry, you can definitely become a physician without being "good" at math. Most pre-medicine programs only require you to complete about a year of math including calculus 1 and 2. Statistics is also required for some medical schools. Physics also involves math which you will have to complete a year of. With great study techniques and utilizing your college's peer tutors you can definitely succeed in these courses! Once you are done with these subjects you will no longer have to worry about math. But math is definitely applicable towards physiology, you may begin to take a liking after being exposed to the practical applications of math. The MCAT math is also very simple and you should be able to complete it without the need for a calculator. Hope this helps and I hope you continue to aspire towards becoming a physician!
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Simi’s Answer

Hi Harry, How are you. Medicine for me is a field of Godly work and all it needs is compassion and need to understand the suffering of others and a determination to get the person out of the suffering. Neurosciences are very interesting to study and be a master of. You will be amazed on how beautiful the human body is and what slight malfunction can ruin a person's daily well being. Some basic maths should help you in making some quick calculations during your practice but for the complicated ones there is always a calculator isn't it. Done give up your dream for your fear of maths. Go ahead and live your aspiration.

Simi recommends the following next steps:

Basic Maths and Suggested vedic maths
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Shannon’s Answer

don't define yourself as 'bad at math'. if you think you are bad at it, you probably will be bad at it. maybe you just need a tutor who can match your learning style better than teachers you've had before.
this isn't about math, imho, it's about confidence. once your tutor shows you that you can be good at math, your confidence will grow. you'll need the confidence more than you'll need math skills. you should go into school every day with the attitude of 'bring it on!' and crush it. or at least try to stomp on it as hard as you can. you can't do everything perfectly but you can strive to do your best, and continually raise the level of what your best is.
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Jason’s Answer

Hi Harry,

No worry about math if you want to study med in future.

It doesn't require a math-brain to study in this career, cause almost all the formulae is set.

Best of Luck!
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Ivy’s Answer

Hi Harry,

Hope you are doing well. You don't have to be a good in math to pursue medicine. The most important thing that you have to think about is how much dedication are you willing to give when you pursue that career. Being a doctor does not require being good in math but would require commitment.
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Simeon’s Answer

If you have a hard time with math, just focus on getting tutoring and additional help set up from the beginning of the semester as well as reach out to your teachers. Don't wait for your grades to get bad before taking action. Thankfully, if you are able to get through the math courses in school, math in a professional setting won't have you using math in the same way, so it won't be a problem. Once you pass the courses in your education, that's the hardest you'll ever have to think about math ever again. You can do this!
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Mary’s Answer

Hi Harry!

Absolutely you can! I have friends in medical school who struggled with math, no one expects you to be perfect. It is definitely major dependent but I was a biology major and the highest level of math I needed to take was calculus for which I also struggled, but sought out tutoring and YouTube videos for help and was ultimately successful.

Keep pushing for med school if that is your dream regardless if you are not the best at math!

Best of luck!

Mary
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Jennifer’s Answer

Math courses are only a small fraction of the schooling required to become a physician and should not interfere with your decision to pursue med school. Depending on your program, the number of math-based courses required will vary. If you do struggle with math, I would suggest planning your semesters to ensure you have the time to dedicate to your math-based courses (Calculus, Statistics, Physics). Your college or university should provide tutoring resources (usually free of cost) to assist you with these classes, as well. It is important that you dedicate time to these courses, as the grades received factor into your acceptance into med school. However, with determination and dedication, there is no reason math should stop you from becoming a physician.
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Igal’s Answer

In the United States, at least, students who are going into the medical profession usually get an undergraduate degree, often in some kind of science (neurobiology, chemistry, etc.). Most universities require that you pass classes demonstrating a basic university-level knowledge of mathematics to get the degree.

Now, the minimum math requirement for these types of pre-med majors usually aren't higher math, probably only getting to the pre-calculus level. You'd have to check with the specific university and the department that offers the major you're interested in.

One thing to know is that universities often have tutors and other types of services that are geared toward helping you pass the math requirements. So don't despair! If you're interested in being a surgeon, the math requirements are doable.

Igal recommends the following next steps:

Check, for example, what UC Davis College of Biological Sciences has to say on this: https://www.ucdavis.edu/admissions/transfer/major-requirements-college-biological-sciences/
Thank you comment icon Sometimes Math can be hard because not all teachers have the possibility to ensure that everyone understood, but with a good tutor you can improve a lot, it's not as hard when explained with patience and at your own pace. Certainly Math shouldn't be a stopper for becoming a Doctor or a Dentist. Carlos Corominas
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