Advice on undergraduate studies

[Ryan_0111]

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Hi, I'm currently planning to enter college this following fall and am leaning towards a biology major on a premed track. I'm interested in a psychology minor and certification in Data Visualization and Analysis. I feel that the certification might help me in the future not only patients but in a career, and a portion of the required courses I would already be taking due to the bio major and psychology minor.

As I have no real experience in the current medical profession I am just wondering if you believe this option would be beneficial for me, perhaps helping with the new MCAT as I know the psychology portion is larger, or if my time and electives would be better suited just focusing on my biology major.

 

[DubbiDoctor]

Pursue the psych minor and certification if you enjoy it and/or have a genuine passion, not because you think it would make you more competitive for med school.

 

[lordolah]

Pursue the psych minor and certification if you enjoy it and/or have a genuine passion, not because you think it would make you more competitive for med school.

^This

I recommend you minor in something that genuinely interests you. I studied Japanese for example and it’s led me on quite a unique path to medicine. If anything med schools do like to see people with diverse interests. Also, you’re gonna be studying science for the rest of your life. Now is the time to explore!

 

[Ryan_0111]

Pursue the psych minor and certification if you enjoy it and/or have a genuine passion, not because you think it would make you more competitive for med school.

Sorry for not being clear, I do enjoy both subjects as psychology does interest me (but do not plan on becoming a psychiatrist), and the data visualization I also find interesting. As to pursuing the minor and certification my thought process was if my GPA does drop a little as a result of these extra classes, my MCAT might increase at the same time knowing that psychology has an increased role in the new test so it might be safer to pursue.
I am just wondering if you believe the extra workload would be beneficial during my undergraduate or would you would recommend to just concentrate on biology and my extracurricular's for the time being.

 

[AllBleedingStops]

As to pursuing the minor and certification my thought process was if my GPA does drop a little as a result of these extra classes, my MCAT might increase at the same time knowing that psychology has an increased role in the new test so it might be safer to pursue.

Take it from someone who was a biology major and completed a psych minor - the psych minor did not help me on the MCAT. And I got a 128 in that section.

I am just wondering if you believe the extra workload would be beneficial during my undergraduate or would you would recommend to just concentrate on biology and my extracurricular's for the time being.

Do it if you can handle it. If any of your grades start to suffer, put it on hold or drop it.