Hi, I'm sorry this is such a long post but thank you to anyone who can push through and read it so that they may give me advice.
I'm currently a student at Syracuse University currently finishing up 2nd semester of freshman year. I am an Environmental Engineering student on the pre-med track and with possible math & chemistry minors. With my required engineering and pre-med courses I can obtain a chemistry minor without taking any extra classes. And I figured I could also get a math minor since it only requires two extra classes.
I came in with nearly 30 credits which include Spanish, American Gov't & Politics, Writing, Music Theory and selected topics in Environmental Science.
I pretty much made a layout of the classes I need to take for my next three years but I'm really worried. I have a friend in the pre-med program with me as well but the difference is that she isn't in engineering. She managed to get a 4.0 last semester but I took engineering courses which are harder than the regular courses that most pre-med students take so I ended up with a measly 3.28. I honestly don't know if this is what I should be doing, I mean I love what I'm studying but will it be too much work so that I won't be able to concentrate and do well in my pre-med requisites?
I have always dreamed of going to medical school so obtaining this engineering degree is sort of more like 'just for fun' for me. I know only I know what I can handle, which is generally a lot of work but it ends with maybe a B+/A- result. I really want to do well in my pre-med courses but I hear that engineering is a good major to go with even though it may be difficult and add to the hard work in pre-med.
I really am a hard worker, so I am my biggest critic. I'm not necessarily a perfectionist but I always want to do really well so I generally don't like B's...or even A-'s for that matter. Certain subjects don't come easy to me as my classmates (for example math) so I have to work extra hard to keep up. I can do fine in humanities and social sciences (I am a musician after all and for some reason they come more naturally) but I have to work really hard in the math & sciences courses (which I actually enjoy learning as much or maybe a little more). The difference between me and them is that I don't necessarily work (more like can't work) just to try and learn the minimum to do well in classes. I work and study so that I actually KNOW what I'm studying and so that I may keep it with me for hopefully my life. This probably inhibits me from doing just what's asked of me and probably hurts my grades because I spend so much time going over things that won't be on the test.
Another issue I have is that engineering is a 4-year program and so every year has atleast three-four classes that I MUST take. Then my being in pre-med takes up ANY space that my 30 transferred credits might have cleared. Actually, I'm currently looking at taking 17-19 credits every single semester. I have no room for classes I may want to take that aren't required! I mean aren't you supposed to enjoy the aspect of college of being able to take classes that you are interested in or maybe have no idea what they're about? My school only allows you to take up to 19 units without paying extra. If I wish to take more I'd have to apply to the honors program, but it comes with a consequence because they require you to take other classes (that are unnecessary for my major) for them too!
Also, an idea I've been playing around with. Should I try and transfer to a bigger name school? I'm from Los Angeles so I really don't know how "prestigious" Syracuse University is besides their athletics. The reason I wonder is because the only students I hear about that are accepted into med schools from here are those accepted to SUNY Upstate. Which I would definitely be grateful for, but as much as I love Syracuse…I don't think I would really want to spend a total of 8-10 years here.
As for my transferred credit how do I go about my English requisites for pre-med? Do I have to take English courses, or do medical schools accepted my AP credit. If so, do I have to take the classes I received credit for or am I allowed to take the higher writing courses offered by my school? I wasn't sure if they meant "take the first 2 English courses" or "take any two English courses." Don't medical schools also require you to take humanities courses? Well I mean more like advise, right?
I don't know if this may help but me and my engineering and pre-med advisor figured out when to take the pre-med requisites. Feel free to suggest any changes.
Freshman Year:
Fall – Calculus 1, Chem 1, Chem 1 Lab
Spring – Calculus 2, Chem 2, Chem 2 Lab, Physics 1, Physics 1 Lab
Sophomore Year:
Fall – Org-Chem 1, Org-Chem 1 Lab
Spring – Org-Chem 2, Org-Chem 2 Lab, Physics 2, Physics 2 Lab
Junior Year: (contingent, might take Bio courses at my university but during the post-spring semester session after sophomore year because I might take my two extra math classes junior year)
Fall – Bio 1, Bio 1 Lab
Spring – Bio 2, Bio 2 Lab, Physical Chemistry 1(required of my major)
Senior Year:
Fall – can't fit anything due to required Senior Engineering classes but I do take Environmental Chemistry Analysis and Applied Environmental Microbiology which are also required of my major. They aren't part of the Chemistry or Biology department, but they're a part of the Engineering department.
Spring – Structural and Physical Biochemistry, Genetics & Cell Biology I, Genetics & Cell Biology 2
Note: My math and physics courses are the engineering courses, not regular pre-med ones so they're a bit more challenging. :/
Also this summer I will be studying abroad and taking two Health Policy courses.
So I guess my list of questions consists of:
1. Should I follow through with engineering?
2. Should I possibly stay here 5 years? (money might be an issue)
3. What should I do since med schools prefer a diverse academic background and not only requirements?
4. Do I try and transfer to a bigger name school? Or is this school sufficient?
5. What do I do for English? Do I need another year or is AP credit enough.
6. Personally, what do you suggest I do with my issue of inherently overworking to understand a subject? (not something I can easily change, trust me I've tried)
7. Am I the only one having trouble with this? Haha, I honestly can't find someone who's done the same track as me so that they may give me advice so I guess that's mostly why I'm here.
In case of some reason medical school doesn't work out I could definitely be an Environmental Engineer. Having a Biomedical Engineering degree wouldn't make things easier for me because the classes that also happen to be pre-med for them are coincidentally the same for Environmental Engineers. Besides, I would not like to be a Biomedical engineer because it's not as interesting to me as Environmental Engineer. And I personally believe that people should not work as something they do not like if they can avoid it…
Like I said, thank you to anyone who stuck it through and read my sob story. I appreciate anyone that may be able to answer any of my questions or even give me a shred of advice. Opinions are gladly welcomed as well! 🙂
I'm currently a student at Syracuse University currently finishing up 2nd semester of freshman year. I am an Environmental Engineering student on the pre-med track and with possible math & chemistry minors. With my required engineering and pre-med courses I can obtain a chemistry minor without taking any extra classes. And I figured I could also get a math minor since it only requires two extra classes.
I came in with nearly 30 credits which include Spanish, American Gov't & Politics, Writing, Music Theory and selected topics in Environmental Science.
I pretty much made a layout of the classes I need to take for my next three years but I'm really worried. I have a friend in the pre-med program with me as well but the difference is that she isn't in engineering. She managed to get a 4.0 last semester but I took engineering courses which are harder than the regular courses that most pre-med students take so I ended up with a measly 3.28. I honestly don't know if this is what I should be doing, I mean I love what I'm studying but will it be too much work so that I won't be able to concentrate and do well in my pre-med requisites?
I have always dreamed of going to medical school so obtaining this engineering degree is sort of more like 'just for fun' for me. I know only I know what I can handle, which is generally a lot of work but it ends with maybe a B+/A- result. I really want to do well in my pre-med courses but I hear that engineering is a good major to go with even though it may be difficult and add to the hard work in pre-med.
I really am a hard worker, so I am my biggest critic. I'm not necessarily a perfectionist but I always want to do really well so I generally don't like B's...or even A-'s for that matter. Certain subjects don't come easy to me as my classmates (for example math) so I have to work extra hard to keep up. I can do fine in humanities and social sciences (I am a musician after all and for some reason they come more naturally) but I have to work really hard in the math & sciences courses (which I actually enjoy learning as much or maybe a little more). The difference between me and them is that I don't necessarily work (more like can't work) just to try and learn the minimum to do well in classes. I work and study so that I actually KNOW what I'm studying and so that I may keep it with me for hopefully my life. This probably inhibits me from doing just what's asked of me and probably hurts my grades because I spend so much time going over things that won't be on the test.
Another issue I have is that engineering is a 4-year program and so every year has atleast three-four classes that I MUST take. Then my being in pre-med takes up ANY space that my 30 transferred credits might have cleared. Actually, I'm currently looking at taking 17-19 credits every single semester. I have no room for classes I may want to take that aren't required! I mean aren't you supposed to enjoy the aspect of college of being able to take classes that you are interested in or maybe have no idea what they're about? My school only allows you to take up to 19 units without paying extra. If I wish to take more I'd have to apply to the honors program, but it comes with a consequence because they require you to take other classes (that are unnecessary for my major) for them too!
Also, an idea I've been playing around with. Should I try and transfer to a bigger name school? I'm from Los Angeles so I really don't know how "prestigious" Syracuse University is besides their athletics. The reason I wonder is because the only students I hear about that are accepted into med schools from here are those accepted to SUNY Upstate. Which I would definitely be grateful for, but as much as I love Syracuse…I don't think I would really want to spend a total of 8-10 years here.
As for my transferred credit how do I go about my English requisites for pre-med? Do I have to take English courses, or do medical schools accepted my AP credit. If so, do I have to take the classes I received credit for or am I allowed to take the higher writing courses offered by my school? I wasn't sure if they meant "take the first 2 English courses" or "take any two English courses." Don't medical schools also require you to take humanities courses? Well I mean more like advise, right?
I don't know if this may help but me and my engineering and pre-med advisor figured out when to take the pre-med requisites. Feel free to suggest any changes.
Freshman Year:
Fall – Calculus 1, Chem 1, Chem 1 Lab
Spring – Calculus 2, Chem 2, Chem 2 Lab, Physics 1, Physics 1 Lab
Sophomore Year:
Fall – Org-Chem 1, Org-Chem 1 Lab
Spring – Org-Chem 2, Org-Chem 2 Lab, Physics 2, Physics 2 Lab
Junior Year: (contingent, might take Bio courses at my university but during the post-spring semester session after sophomore year because I might take my two extra math classes junior year)
Fall – Bio 1, Bio 1 Lab
Spring – Bio 2, Bio 2 Lab, Physical Chemistry 1(required of my major)
Senior Year:
Fall – can't fit anything due to required Senior Engineering classes but I do take Environmental Chemistry Analysis and Applied Environmental Microbiology which are also required of my major. They aren't part of the Chemistry or Biology department, but they're a part of the Engineering department.
Spring – Structural and Physical Biochemistry, Genetics & Cell Biology I, Genetics & Cell Biology 2
Note: My math and physics courses are the engineering courses, not regular pre-med ones so they're a bit more challenging. :/
Also this summer I will be studying abroad and taking two Health Policy courses.
So I guess my list of questions consists of:
1. Should I follow through with engineering?
2. Should I possibly stay here 5 years? (money might be an issue)
3. What should I do since med schools prefer a diverse academic background and not only requirements?
4. Do I try and transfer to a bigger name school? Or is this school sufficient?
5. What do I do for English? Do I need another year or is AP credit enough.
6. Personally, what do you suggest I do with my issue of inherently overworking to understand a subject? (not something I can easily change, trust me I've tried)
7. Am I the only one having trouble with this? Haha, I honestly can't find someone who's done the same track as me so that they may give me advice so I guess that's mostly why I'm here.
In case of some reason medical school doesn't work out I could definitely be an Environmental Engineer. Having a Biomedical Engineering degree wouldn't make things easier for me because the classes that also happen to be pre-med for them are coincidentally the same for Environmental Engineers. Besides, I would not like to be a Biomedical engineer because it's not as interesting to me as Environmental Engineer. And I personally believe that people should not work as something they do not like if they can avoid it…
Like I said, thank you to anyone who stuck it through and read my sob story. I appreciate anyone that may be able to answer any of my questions or even give me a shred of advice. Opinions are gladly welcomed as well! 🙂