Anyone got any advice?

[Saluki]

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I'm looking at changing my major, but I'm not sure. Currently, I'm majoring in ME studies and Biochemistry. However, I've been having problems because the class times for required courses seem to overlap, and I really don't like the labs. However, one of the profs really likes me and has basically guaranteed my spot in his really good research group, and the science research would look good on my application. On the other hand, I'm on a ME scholarship, so I can't drop that, and History would overlap and be a lot easier to write a thesis in... So, I'm thinking of switching to ME/History. Anyone got any advice?
P.S. ME=Middle East Studies

 

[booradley]

How about getting a biochem minor with a ME major? Is there a reason you have to double major?

 

[TroutBum]

Are you sure you want to go to med school? If so, will you have a strong application without the research? If so, then go ahead and switch. Even if the answer was otherwise, I would always tell somebody to do what interests them most in college, and don't do anything just for the sake of your med school application. You'll have innumerable opportunities to do things to strenghten a med school app after college, if need be. But lots of things you get a chance to do as an undergrad are just once-in-a lifetime opportunities. Don't kick yourself for skipping out on learning something fascinating just to put something on your med school app that could have found its way on there later anyways. Just my two cents, at any rate.

 

[Saluki]

I have to have a double major. At my university ME isn't actually a department, it's just a subunit of History so they require you to have a double major in one of the other departments in Arts and Sciences....

 

[Saluki]

Originally posted by TroutBum
Are you sure you want to go to med school? If so, will you have a strong application without the research? If so, then go ahead and switch. Even if the answer was otherwise, I would always tell somebody to do what interests them most in college, and don't do anything just for the sake of your med school application. You'll have innumerable opportunities to do things to strenghten a med school app after college, if need be. But lots of things you get a chance to do as an undergrad are just once-in-a lifetime opportunities. Don't kick yourself for skipping out on learning something fascinating just to put something on your med school app that could have found its way on there later anyways. Just my two cents, at any rate.

I'm sure I want to go into med school, but I'm not big on the research side of things... I'm planning on doing primary care.... Chem lab seems to be endless series of setting up glass ware, pouring chemicals, taking apart glassware, etc.

 

[Saluki]

Anyone else with a liberal arts major have similar thoughts? Did anyone out there do science research with a liberal arts major? Do you think it matters?

 

[Saluki]

Bump....

 

[Bostonienses]

Hey mashce,
You can certainly major in a liberal arts field, and as long as you have all your pre-med requirements fulfilled, it should not decrease your chances of being accepted into medical school, provided that you have a decent GPA, MCAT score, good LORs and all that jazz. Medical schools frequently say that your major should not affect your chances of acceptance (as long as you have the requirements).
HOWEVER, and this is my opinion, I've been noticing that medical schools really seem to put a lot of emphasis on basic research. In my opinion, if another applicant had the exact same major as you, from the same school, with the same GPA and MCAT score and same LORs, but that applicant has research experience, he/she will probably have a greater chance of getting in. If you really hate research, I would tailor your personal statement to emphasize the fact that you are really just interested in the caretaking aspect of medicine (back it up by showing that you volunteered, etc).
Good luck.

 

[nameless]

does it have to be basic science research and benchwork though? i would think that any type of research even remotely associated with the health sciences would be good enough, especially if he/she is planning on primary care.

 

[SistaKaren]

Originally posted by mashce
Anyone else with a liberal arts major have similar thoughts? Did anyone out there do science research with a liberal arts major? Do you think it matters?

I did about five years of science (orthopaedics) research with a philosophy major and a social and economic justice minor.

I think it's fine. The only time I felt like I ran into problems is when I'm researching for a paper that I'm co-authoring...sometimes the jargon is a bit over my head 🙂 Otherwise, it's fine. Although everyone's shocked when I say my major and tell them where I work!

However, if your interest is in primary care and you don't like that sort of research then don't do it. Med schools are much more interested in what you're doing that you yourself are interested in. I like my research, but my passion is with public health research...which I did this summer. I've been asked about that at all of my interviews (probably because I mentioned it in my personal statement) but not so much about the other research.

But as nameless says...any type of research is fine. Just love what you do!