- Joined
- Aug 15, 2013
- Messages
- 18
- Reaction score
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Hey everyone,
I'm currently a business major and chemistry/history minor and will have taken all of the chemistry classes and one physics class required for medical school prior to starting my junior year next year. I haven't done much in the way of medicine-related extracurriculars, but I have done some history research with a professor and my non-medicine-related extracurriculars are good. My first question is which of these outside of the general 8 classes you recommend I take (I know that some are recommended by aamc, but I've heard some are useful for the MCAT from friends and siblings):
-molecular biology
-biochemistry (there are versions with and without lab, wondering if I need to take it with lab even though I don't need it for any of my degree programs)
-genetics
-physiology
-general psychology, given that I took the ap version in high school
My second question is if it's looked down upon to not have a science-related major. I love business and will definitely be keeping that as my major, and I would love to declare a double major in chemistry as I like it a lot but I currently have a good science gpa and I know some of the classes in the chemistry major are graded notoriously toughly, so I feel that keeping it at a minor is strategic.
My third question would be if a gap year is necessary. Given that I will only have taken a small portion of cell biology by the time MCAT studying comes along, and though I don't have a problem with self-studying the remainder of the material, I feel like a gap year might make sense. I would prefer not to have to take one, and have enough faith in my performance on standardized tests for the MCAT to not be the sole reason I take a gap year (though I'm sure the MCAT is an entirely different beast), but I am concerned about the extracurriculars. I'm connected to a hospital and won't have trouble getting some clinical volunteering & shadowing that I enjoy over the coming summer as a result, and would intend on doing science-related research for the entirety next summer if I am accepted to a program, but most of my friends on the pre-med track have every science class and some medicine-related ECs under their belt already and I might need time to catch up. Is there anything else you recommend I do so I can avoid having to take a gap year to brush up on those ECs? My parents recommended a mission trip to volunteer, but one of my relatives who works for a medical school said he doesn't like to see people going abroad just to volunteer, so I'm conflicted on that as well.
Thanks for any advice!
I'm currently a business major and chemistry/history minor and will have taken all of the chemistry classes and one physics class required for medical school prior to starting my junior year next year. I haven't done much in the way of medicine-related extracurriculars, but I have done some history research with a professor and my non-medicine-related extracurriculars are good. My first question is which of these outside of the general 8 classes you recommend I take (I know that some are recommended by aamc, but I've heard some are useful for the MCAT from friends and siblings):
-molecular biology
-biochemistry (there are versions with and without lab, wondering if I need to take it with lab even though I don't need it for any of my degree programs)
-genetics
-physiology
-general psychology, given that I took the ap version in high school
My second question is if it's looked down upon to not have a science-related major. I love business and will definitely be keeping that as my major, and I would love to declare a double major in chemistry as I like it a lot but I currently have a good science gpa and I know some of the classes in the chemistry major are graded notoriously toughly, so I feel that keeping it at a minor is strategic.
My third question would be if a gap year is necessary. Given that I will only have taken a small portion of cell biology by the time MCAT studying comes along, and though I don't have a problem with self-studying the remainder of the material, I feel like a gap year might make sense. I would prefer not to have to take one, and have enough faith in my performance on standardized tests for the MCAT to not be the sole reason I take a gap year (though I'm sure the MCAT is an entirely different beast), but I am concerned about the extracurriculars. I'm connected to a hospital and won't have trouble getting some clinical volunteering & shadowing that I enjoy over the coming summer as a result, and would intend on doing science-related research for the entirety next summer if I am accepted to a program, but most of my friends on the pre-med track have every science class and some medicine-related ECs under their belt already and I might need time to catch up. Is there anything else you recommend I do so I can avoid having to take a gap year to brush up on those ECs? My parents recommended a mission trip to volunteer, but one of my relatives who works for a medical school said he doesn't like to see people going abroad just to volunteer, so I'm conflicted on that as well.
Thanks for any advice!