Courses Do I need Physics and Calculus in HS for uni?

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To prepare for a career as a family physician, high school students do not need to take Physics 30 or Calculus/Math 31. Instead, focusing on foundational math courses such as Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Trigonometry is essential. These subjects will prepare students for the necessary college-level courses, which include a three-semester sequence of Calculus with Analytic Geometry and possibly a course in Statistics. While high school physics is not mandatory, taking a non-calculus physics course can be beneficial. For medical school, particularly in the USA, students must take the MCAT, which requires knowledge of precalculus-based physics but does not specifically require calculus. It's advisable to seek out universities with strong pre-med programs and to prepare adequately for the MCAT to enhance admission chances.
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I am very clueless when it comes to prepping for university and things like that, and as a grade 11 going into grade 12 soon, I unfortunately have to figure it out one day or another. So, I have a few quick questions, would I need Physics 30 or Calculus/Math 31 in order to become a family physician? What universities courses would I take in order to become a family physician? Any med school recommendations? Any help dealing with this will help. Thank you!
 
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ccaatt said:
I am very clueless when it comes to prepping for university and things like that, and as a grade 11 going into grade 12 soon, I unfortunately have to figure it out one day or another. So, I have a few quick questions, would I need Physics 30 or Calculus/Math 31 in order to become a family physician? What universities courses would I take in order to become a family physician? Any med school recommendations? Any help dealing with this will help. Thank you!
Family physician, any kind of physician or Medical Doctor, or any, ANY of the natural sciences or engineering (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, all kinds of Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, ...) will require at a very minimum at university, Introductory and Intermediate Algebra, Geometry (with proofs), Trigonometry, "College Algebra" or Precalculus, three-semester sequence of Calculus With Analytic Geometry, and often one or two more courses usually Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, or a combination course of both,... and more if you want or can handle or need more.

The absolute minimum:
One semester Trigonometry,
Three semester sequence of Calculus with Analytic Geometry.
You do those IN COLLEGE or the university.

A course in Statistics may also be necessary.
 
Your title question: Do you need Calculus in high school, if you want to be a... physician?

NO. Try hard to study Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Trigonometry/Mathematical Analysis, while in high school.
WHY?
You must become good at most of those, especially Algebra so you can be qualified to study Trigonometry and Calculus.
 
I agree. You don't need to take physics or calculus in high school for your career path. You'll definitely be taking them as an undergraduate. If you can take these topics in high school, it would probably a great help in your performance in those topics when you take them university. You probably should try to get a non-calculus physics course in HS if possible for the below reason.

I don't know anything about med school. But if you're doing it in the USA, you need to take the MCAT if I'm not mistaken. Looking at the topic list, you definitely need to learn precalculus based physics well as that's covered. Calculus is not listed in the expected math knowledge to solve the science exam sections.

https://www.mcat-prep.com/mcat-topics-list/
 
Hey, I am Andreas from Germany. I am currently 35 years old and I want to relearn math and physics. This is not one of these regular questions when it comes to this matter. So... I am very realistic about it. I know that there are severe contraints when it comes to selfstudy compared to a regular school and/or university (structure, peers, teachers, learning groups, tests, access to papers and so on) . I will never get a job in this field and I will never be taken serious by "real"...
Yesterday, 9/5/2025, when I was surfing, I found an article The Schwarzschild solution contains three problems, which can be easily solved - Journal of King Saud University - Science ABUNDANCE ESTIMATION IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT https://jksus.org/the-schwarzschild-solution-contains-three-problems-which-can-be-easily-solved/ that has the derivation of a line element as a corrected version of the Schwarzschild solution to Einstein’s field equation. This article's date received is 2022-11-15...

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