3rd year undergrad in a confused situation, need advice!

[HerbalMedicine]

---

Members do not see this ad.

At the moment, I'm a third year chemical engineer major with solid intentions of going to medical school. My cGPA is 3.55. I'm afraid this will hurt my chances of med school acceptance, so I want to switch to a chemistry major and pull my GPA as much as I can in my last 2-3 years of college. However, I do only have ~ 15 more classes to finish my degree in chemical engineering, but I do not want this to have a toll on my GPA. Would med schools be lenient of looking at my GPA? considering that chemical engineering especially is one of, if not the hardest engineer major. If yes, then I'd consider staying as a chemical engineering and trying to pull off the best GPA i can, though I can be confident that it will not be as high as if I switched majors completely.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Check around your school and see what people say about the classes you'll be taking till you graduate, if they have good distributions I would just stick it out. If they don't, I would probably still stick it out unless you've got a stronger affinity for chemistry.

 

[Quaero]

How are your MCAT and extracurricular activities? Do you enjoy cheme?

 

[HerbalMedicine]

How are your MCAT and extracurricular activities? Do you enjoy cheme?

I have not yet taken my MCATs, as I haven't taken a lot of the classes that will help me prepare for them. My knowledge of MCATs however, is that the more time you put into it, the more you get out. This is the same with upper division science courses. I feel this is better for me as I have the potential to do well in science courses/MCATs because I just have to put in the time, which I am very willing to. Engineering classes are more about critical thinking and being able to solve a problem, so it's possible to do well without much studying, as well as do poorly with much studying. I feel like I can get by with chem e, but just not end up with stellar grades.

My extra curricular involve 2 quarters of hospital experience that I did a year ago, which I plan to pick up on now that I know I'm premed for sure (I was going back and forth between engineering/premed). 1 Lab that I started last spring and continued throughout the summer and am still currently involved in, another lab that I started this quarter. I'm also in a pre-medical fraternity, in the process of obtaining a leadership certificate, I tutor for general and organic chemistry at my university, am a mentor for AIChE (american institute for chemical engineers), a member of tau beta pi, which is an engineering honors society, have been relay for life team captain, and also in another international honor society (golden key).

I really want to work in an environment where there's a lot of human interaction because I really like talking and caring to/for people. I couldn't see myself locked in a room and sitting in front of a computer all day with equipment/machinery around me and observing graphs/data/trends. However, if med school didn't work out, I don't know what else I would do with a chemistry background that involves human interaction. I was thinking of becoming a professor, but that focuses more on research than teaching.

 

[Quaero]

I have not yet taken my MCATs, as I haven't taken a lot of the classes that will help me prepare for them. My knowledge of MCATs however, is that the more time you put into it, the more you get out. This is the same with upper division science courses. I feel this is better for me as I have the potential to do well in science courses/MCATs because I just have to put in the time, which I am very willing to. Engineering classes are more about critical thinking and being able to solve a problem, so it's possible to do well without much studying, as well as do poorly with much studying. I feel like I can get by with chem e, but just not end up with stellar grades.

My extra curricular involve 2 quarters of hospital experience that I did a year ago, which I plan to pick up on now that I know I'm premed for sure (I was going back and forth between engineering/premed). 1 Lab that I started last spring and continued throughout the summer and am still currently involved in, another lab that I started this quarter. I'm also in a pre-medical fraternity, in the process of obtaining a leadership certificate, I tutor for general and organic chemistry at my university, am a mentor for AIChE (american institute for chemical engineers), a member of tau beta pi, which is an engineering honors society, have been relay for life team captain, and also in another international honor society (golden key).

I really want to work in an environment where there's a lot of human interaction because I really like talking and caring to/for people. I couldn't see myself locked in a room and sitting in front of a computer all day with equipment/machinery around me and observing graphs/data/trends. However, if med school didn't work out, I don't know what else I would do with a chemistry background that involves human interaction. I was thinking of becoming a professor, but that focuses more on research than teaching.

I'm glad that your past medical experiences have convinced you that medicine is at least worth pursuing. It's good that you have a lot on your plate already. Keep it up. Have you talked to your academic adviser about your possible careers? I majored in chemistry myself and really think that you won't have too much human interaction.

Why not keep Chem E for a while and take MCAT? If you get about 35+ then you should be okay as long as you have decent GPAs, medical/research experience and really want to become a physician.

Have you figured out why you didn't do too well on some classes? Are there people who got As in those? How did they do it? Have you reached your potential or are you still trying to figure out how to improve?

 

[gravitywave]

i think you should hang on in chem e. you don't sound very enthusiastic about chem except for the prospect of easier grading, and if you can keep your grades at the level they are, a 3.6 is plenty to get into med school. many adcoms understand that chem e is a tough major and you will get a little credit for that.

 

[Kickback]

I'm a ChemE junior standing as well with a similar GPA. For the love of all things holy, stay in ChemE. You'll have fantastic job opportunities, whether in medicine or not. I've also heard anecdotal stories from faculty and graduated engineers in medical school that engineers tend to do better in clinical rotations than a typical pre-med. Just rock the MCAT, and keep up the GPA as much as possible.

I really want to work in an environment where there's a lot of human interaction because I really like talking and caring to/for people. I couldn't see myself locked in a room and sitting in front of a computer all day with equipment/machinery around me and observing graphs/data/trends. However, if med school didn't work out, I don't know what else I would do with a chemistry background that involves human interaction. I was thinking of becoming a professor, but that focuses more on research than teaching.

So you don't want to be a process engineer, you can work in plenty of other roles. Technical sales, or work your way into project management. There are plenty of companies that need people who have the technical smarts + interpersonal skills. Consulting is another excellent option.

Have you figured out why you didn't do too well on some classes? Are there people who got As in those? How did they do it? Have you reached your potential or are you still trying to figure out how to improve?

Quite honestly, having an engineering GPA > 3.5 is also dependent on luck, and which teachers you have. There are some classes that I've been in where even the typical curve-breaking students can only manage B's, due to the professor's outlandish expectations.

 

[HerbalMedicine]

I'm glad that your past medical experiences have convinced you that medicine is at least worth pursuing. It's good that you have a lot on your plate already. Keep it up. Have you talked to your academic adviser about your possible careers? I majored in chemistry myself and really think that you won't have too much human interaction.

Why not keep Chem E for a while and take MCAT? If you get about 35+ then you should be okay as long as you have decent GPAs, medical/research experience and really want to become a physician.

Have you figured out why you didn't do too well on some classes? Are there people who got As in those? How did they do it? Have you reached your potential or are you still trying to figure out how to improve?

I was thinking of chemistry because I have an interest for it, hence why I tutor general/organic chemistry for my university. Aside from that, yes I do want an easier time earning better grades, and really feel it will be much easier to do so without an engineering major. There weren't any classes that I did too horribly actually, My lowest grade is a B, but I got a few of them recently. I'm trying my best to earn better grades, but I just feel it will just get harder and harder from here and I'd be lucky to pull off a 3.5. I am however, trying to do better, but it just seems a bit difficult and maybe admissions board do consider engineer majors to have tougher courses, I feel they don't consider it enough for it to be worth the toll on the GPA.

 

[FSUseminoleEM1]

I have not yet taken my MCATs, as I haven't taken a lot of the classes that will help me prepare for them. My knowledge of MCATs however, is that the more time you put into it, the more you get out. This is the same with upper division science courses. I feel this is better for me as I have the potential to do well in science courses/MCATs because I just have to put in the time, which I am very willing to. Engineering classes are more about critical thinking and being able to solve a problem, so it's possible to do well without much studying, as well as do poorly with much studying. I feel like I can get by with chem e, but just not end up with stellar grades.

inb4 "MCATs" flame

But seriously, it's not like a litter of 8 exams, it's just one: MCAT.

 

[Stumpyman]

inb4 "MCATs" flame

But seriously, it's not like a litter of 8 exams, it's just one: MCAT.

👍


I don't know why, I just can't stand making it plural.

 

[PMPMD]

At the moment, I'm a third year chemical engineer major with solid intentions of going to medical school. My cGPA is 3.55. I'm afraid this will hurt my chances of med school acceptance, so I want to switch to a chemistry major and pull my GPA as much as I can in my last 2-3 years of college. However, I do only have ~ 15 more classes to finish my degree in chemical engineering, but I do not want this to have a toll on my GPA. Would med schools be lenient of looking at my GPA? considering that chemical engineering especially is one of, if not the hardest engineer major. If yes, then I'd consider staying as a chemical engineering and trying to pull off the best GPA i can, though I can be confident that it will not be as high as if I switched majors completely.

Former engineering major so I feel your pain. I was BME, but ChemE was considered by most to be the hardest major at my school (Vandy). I would stay in ChemE. If you switch to chemistry, you will be lumped in with all the other chem majors, and will have a somewhat lower GPA, even if you pull it up. 3.55 is not a deal breaker for med school, esp state schools. Yes, there are cutoffs, but you should be ok at the majority of schools. Try to pull it up with some easy electives. Talk to seniors and find out which profs give better grades. Transport was the hardest class I took in my life. It made med school look like kindergarden. But my buddies who took it with another prof had an easy time. Rock the MCAT. Whether or not you get "credit" for your major, and how much, is highly variable.

 

[HerbalMedicine]

Former engineering major so I feel your pain. I was BME, but ChemE was considered by most to be the hardest major at my school (Vandy). I would stay in ChemE. If you switch to chemistry, you will be lumped in with all the other chem majors, and will have a somewhat lower GPA, even if you pull it up. 3.55 is not a deal breaker for med school, esp state schools. Yes, there are cutoffs, but you should be ok at the majority of schools. Try to pull it up with some easy electives. Talk to seniors and find out which profs give better grades. Transport was the hardest class I took in my life. It made med school look like kindergarden. But my buddies who took it with another prof had an easy time. Rock the MCAT. Whether or not you get "credit" for your major, and how much, is highly variable.

If I switch to chemistry, I will be confident that I can bring up my GPA to a 3.7 with enough dedication/motivation. Would that still be considered on the lower end? I feel a 3.7 non-engineer GPA would still look better than a 3.55 engineer GPA, even though the 3.7 would be much easier to obtain. And in terms of pulling it up with easy electives, is it true that it's a bad idea to take easy lower div GE courses? One of my advisors said "upper division students" shouldn't take lower division courses, and med schools will know you're doing it on purpose to fluff up your GPA.

also, does anyone know if engineering classes count into your science GPA?

 

[PMPMD]

If I switch to chemistry, I will be confident that I can bring up my GPA to a 3.7 with enough dedication/motivation. Would that still be considered on the lower end? I feel a 3.7 non-engineer GPA would still look better than a 3.55 engineer GPA, even though the 3.7 would be much easier to obtain. And in terms of pulling it up with easy electives, is it true that it's a bad idea to take easy lower div GE courses? One of my advisors said "upper division students" shouldn't take lower division courses, and med schools will know you're doing it on purpose to fluff up your GPA.

i got the impression from your posts that you weren't 100% set on medicine as a career. Chem E is more marketable than chemistry.

also, does anyone know if engineering classes count into your science GPA?

Most do.

 

[HerbalMedicine]

i got the impression from your posts that you weren't 100% set on medicine as a career. Chem E is more marketable than chemistry.



Most do.

I'm 100% set on medicine. If I got an acceptance to med school vs chemE job offer, I'd take the med school acceptance.
And if most engineering classes count as science GPA, then I'd end up with a very low science GPA...