Any philosophy majors?

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Ripley

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My original intention was to major in biology as it's my favorite subject. Yet now that I have taken 5 philosophy courses, I am really lovin this stuff too. <img border="0" alt="[Lovey]" title="" src="graemlins/lovey.gif" /> Which is better: double major? Or dual degrees? Bear in mind that I have a crappy past...maybe finishing one degree and closing the door on it and starting a fresh one wouldn't be such a bad idea? Even though I feel pretty old, I've decided to take myself off of the high-pressure timeline I set up for myself. A year won't make a huge difference in the long run.

Also: how are the upper level philosophy courses? Do they get really intense?

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I am a philosophy minor graduting in May. I would have been a philosophy/biology double major but I decided to finish up undergrad a year early and had to minor in phil instead of major...Anyhow, upper division phil classes, like any other class, will depend on the material specific to that class and especially the prof you get. Generally if you like philosophy and don't mind doing the necessary reading (which can be very difficult/technical and can take lots of time) you should be fine.
In the end, you have to do what you like - so if you feel like the double major is worth it to you and you would enjoy it then go for it. If you doubt it will be worth time time (i.e. if doing it would take an extra year) then maybe decide against it...Good luck. :)
 
I'm a minor in Philosophy, was a dual Bio/Philosophy for a year. I recommend if you are interested in philosophy, just minor in it. If you are really intersted in medicine, major in a life science. If you haven't read me saying this for, I'm doing some research at a med school w/ a prof that interviews for admissions. He says that the having a "well-rounded" major is not all pre-meds make it out to be. Having a solid sci. back ground is more important. If you really want to be a doc, a science, majoring in a non-science doesn't make a lot of scence. I could set-up a logic formula for you but I'm sure you see what I'm saying.

I'm taking my last philosophy class right now, 7 class was plenty. I loved all the lower level stuff, but now it isn't as fun. I'm finding them more work than it is worth. When I have to spend 3 hours reading a 10 page article, it gets pretty frustrating! Yes, I said only 10 pg! It is really difficult, intereting, but hard. :mad:

Unless you really love it and like it more than biology, I would urge you to just minor. Or dual it with Bio.

This isn't really an ethical situation, my specaltiy, but what will maximize your utility? <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />
 
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Philosophy major here. Upper division classes vary, but at UCLA there is such a wide range of offerings that you can pick the good ones.

I agree with the idea that you need a good, solid science background. I'm a minor in Neuroscience also, and what people say is true: upper division science courses really do get interesting.

Being a true philosophy major I can argue against the previous post a little bit and say that you're gonna have a lot of science in medical school, while you need a solid foundation, you don't need to really major in a science. Now is your only change to probe those deep questions in detail. :)
 
I disagree with those who say to major in a science -- if you don't want to be a science major, don't!!!! major in whatever you want to, just make sure to get enough medical experience and science classes so that you know what you are getting into and you know that you will enjoy and thrive in med school. there can be nothing worse in my mind than being one of those boring pre-med drones. most of the people who i know from my class who have applied and been accepted at the best medicals schools are not science majors, and they are much more interesting people and will ultimately be better doctors. we have better things to do with our time than taking classes that we don't want to be in. besides, who wants to be unhappy???? major in philosophy and enjoy your college years. remember, they are more than just another step on the way to medical school, and there is a reason that we don't go to medical school right out of high school.

those are my wise words for the night
 
Hey Chill-

I just finished the double physiology/philosophy degree. I was originally just a physiology major but really like philosophy so I added it on. I don't know what your situation is but I may have just been a philosophy major if my pre-med requirement GPA was higher. But since it was only I think 3.5 or 3.6 I did the physiology major also to show my ability in upper division science courses. So the bottom line is do both if you love it, do one if you like one over the other. But if your pre-med requirements are weak as I felt mine were then maybe bio major or just some upper division science classes will help.
Upper division philosophy courses also vary like POST said. I also did philo at UCLA and we have some awesome professors so most my classes were very very worthwhile. A word of caution though: Some schools seeem to really like that I was a philosophy major and specifically enlisted faculty interviewers with interest/degrees in philosophy. SO sometimes I felt like I was drilled a bit. Other schools just kind of said "oh thats nice" but no big reaction.

"The problem of free action arises because what one desires may not be what one values, and what one values may not be what one is finally moved to get." :wink:
 
I majored in philosophy as well. To echo others, med schools are most interested in demonstrated scientific ability. I think that can be achieved by doing well in the prereqs. and, perhaps, a few upper division courses. Just make sure to knock-out your MCAT! Much of the material on MCAT passages will be unfamiliar even if you have a graduate degree in a science, so your ability to read, analyze, and glean information from the passages is critical for scoring well on the MCAT. I'm confident that a philosophy course will improve these skills. I mentioned elsewhere that a list of "most successful majors on standardized tests" (published 1998) reported that
math Majors took honors on the LSAT, GRE, and MCAT, while Philosophy majors took second place on all three. I'd like to see a more recent list...
<a href="http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/examineedata/char99.pdf" target="_blank">web page</a>

If you do get into med school those upper-level science courses would certainly come in handy, but you're probably better off taking the classes as an undergraduate that you think will provide you the best "wholistic" education...if you like the way philosophy causes you to think and understand the world about you persue it! Pick up an extra science class or two after you graduate, or buy and read some text books...that's what I'm doing.
 
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