Another question about majors...

[gibson777]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey everyone, for one of the schools I applied to (Cal Poly SLO) I am going to change my major, before I chose Electrical Engineering for really no reason but now I want to change either to BioChem or Physics, but once/if I am accepted it is extremely difficult to change if I do decide to go there. I know at the UCs you are able to change your major easily but I am trying to weigh the options for SLO.

In general, I am wondering what I should put down and in general if non-science majors like Philosophy with the pre-reqs adequate for the MCAT or if going into BioChem or Phsyics will give you a deeper understanding and help you out with the MCAT. I enjoy all subjects but struggled with AP physics the first semester due to the teacher but the second semester we had a student teacher and I was able to get an A easily. I am also looking at something that could possibly be a fallback if somehow the med path doesn't work out.

Anyone care to help me out? Thanks! 😎

 

[AntiHouseMD]

Honestly, the most important thing that you need to decide is whether you would actually enjoy your major. If you picked something that you hated, you won't be motivated to do the work for any other reason besides that you have to. It won't help you in the long run, and it may actually hurt your grades.

Given everything I have read on here, picking a science major doesn't necessarily help you more on the MCAT anymore, although you may learn more of the advanced science topics. Whether or not you actually enjoy the subject matters more.

Good luck.

 

[Madison Miller]

I agree. Do something you enjoy. These days choosing a science major won't make or break you. My only advice is that you choose a major that requires you to do hands-on work in a laboratory or elsewhere. That will prepare you for what is expected in med school. Good luck!

 

[AntiHouseMD]

I agree. Do something you enjoy. These days choosing a science major won't make or break you. My only advice is that you choose a major that requires you to do hands-on work in a laboratory or elsewhere. That will prepare you for what is expected in med school. Good luck!

I think it may help to have a major with lab work, but not necessary. You'll probably do lab work with your pre-reqs anyway, so picking a science major doesn't make or break you. Of course, if you majored in science, you will have more practice with lab, which definitely helps. However, if you don't enjoy science, you won't be hit that hard by picking a non-science major.

 

[gibson777]

Well, I honestly have no clue haha. I don't think I should do physics, although I was able to do well on some topics, I've got friends who are physics people and I guess I can tell that I just have never been able to think in the physics mindset completely so this could come back to bite me.

I guess I have a while to decide on a major. There are things I like here and there but can't really gauge how much I'd enjoy the upper level topics.

 

[AntiHouseMD]

Well, I honestly have no clue haha. I don't think I should do physics, although I was able to do well on some topics, I've got friends who are physics people and I guess I can tell that I just have never been able to think in the physics mindset completely so this could come back to bite me.

I guess I have a while to decide on a major. There are things I like here and there but can't really gauge how much I'd enjoy the upper level topics.

Don't forget, too, that most people end up changing their major at least once while in college. You usually have until the end of sophomore year to finalize a choice. Although it may be good to have a general idea what you want to major in (science, humanities, etc.), you don't need to pick something really specific right now. Just see what you like better in high school, go with that, and change accordingly in college if you need to.

 

[I'm No Superman]

First (real) college class starts tomorrow (or today since its 1:30)!

 

[gibson777]

Don't forget, too, that most people end up changing their major at least once while in college. You usually have until the end of sophomore year to finalize a choice. Although it may be good to have a general idea what you want to major in (science, humanities, etc.), you don't need to pick something really specific right now. Just see what you like better in high school, go with that, and change accordingly in college if you need to.

Yeah, that is definitely something I see happening with me. But like I said if I do go to Cal Poly SLO (I probably won't) I'm stuck. I figure two years is probably going to be adequate time for me to really think about definitely pursuing medicine, because at this point it is pretty daunting, just the fact is that things like a low MCAT, low GPA or low boards in the future etc could put me somewhere I don't want to be. Anyways, I'll worry about that later haha. Now I just have to wait for acceptances, hopefully I'll get into some of the UCs I applied to and I guess I'll just enjoy the rest of my senior year 👍


Gamma Knife, are you starting tomorrow? 😕

 

[I'm No Superman]

Whoops, meant to post this in class of thread. 😳

Yeah I'm taking bio 1 at our local college because I already took every science class that our high school had.

 

[NavidsonRecords]

Biochemistry is fun 🙂. Although I'm a bit bias, because I love biochemistry.

 

[gibson777]

Yeah, I'm thinking BioChem or Economics/Business of some sort. I will admit I don't hear much about people getting business degrees then going to Med School.

 

[Cephal0pod]

Yeah, I'm thinking BioChem or Economics/Business of some sort. I will admit I don't hear much about people getting business degrees then going to Med School.

I know a guy who is an economics major and pre-med 🙂 He's a junior this year I believe, and seems to enjoy it. You're right though, I don't think it's all that common. I would imagine taking some business courses in undergrad would be helpful later if one decided to open their own practice though.

And biochem is definitely pretty sweet stuff! I thought about majoring in it for a while too. 👍

 

[gibson777]

I couldn't decide what the hell to do so I left it as EE. If imdoget accepted, it may give me a good alternative.

 

[I'm No Superman]

I'm thinking physics, I liked the class (hated the teacher) and Michigan has this great study abroad opportunity at CERN for physics majors. It's also a good fallback major.