BACKGROUND The premedical student confronts a disparate set of required and recommended courses from the various medical schools to which the student might apply. CONCLUSIONS Students may feel compelled to take courses such as calculus even though most medical schools do not require it and even though it may not be related to either undergraduate academic plans or the core academic needs of the typical future physician. CONCLUSIONS Basic mathematical knowledge--a knowledge of algebra, statistics, and overall numeracy--are each more important for most future physicians than is the traditional calculus course.