Beginner, Completely Uninformed

[YaBoyAR]

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So, I am 23 and have been out of any form of education since i was 18. Went to Florida State University for 1 year, had no clue what I wanted to study so I dropped out. Now, I feel as if I have found my calling in medicine. My current goal is to become some sort of Surgeon.

I am looking for schools in the Atlanta area, as this is where I live, I'm not even looking into medical school yet, as I only have about 24 credits of Regular College under my belt.

My question is this, I've read before that when choosing to get your bachelors, it's not very important what major you choose, but that you at least take the few required courses to gain entrance to Medical School. However, I am interested in Biology and was considering that as my major.

Will truelly any B.A. or B.S. do? Assuming gpa, and test scores are adequate?😕

 

[sgtbrushes]

http://www.studentdoctor.net/wiki/index.php/The_Journey_to_Medical_School_--_Before_Applying

Read number "1.3) What are the prerequisites for medical school?", about 1/5 of the way down this page. Any Bachelor's degree, from liberal studies to nuclear physics, is fine.

 

[YaBoyAR]

thanks a lot, that article was very informative and answered several of my questions!

 

[maxwell0]

So, I am 23 and have been out of any form of education since i was 18. Went to Florida State University for 1 year, had no clue what I wanted to study so I dropped out. Now, I feel as if I have found my calling in medicine. My current goal is to become some sort of Surgeon.

I am looking for schools in the Atlanta area, as this is where I live, I'm not even looking into medical school yet, as I only have about 24 credits of Regular College under my belt.

My question is this, I've read before that when choosing to get your bachelors, it's not very important what major you choose, but that you at least take the few required courses to gain entrance to Medical School. However, I am interested in Biology and was considering that as my major.

Will truelly any B.A. or B.S. do? Assuming gpa, and test scores are adequate?😕

True, any major can get you into medical school, as long as you meet the pre-requisites. However, adcoms will look more favorably at someone with a degree in one of the difficult sciences than someone with a degree in say, nutrition, or another cake major like that, assuming all other factors are equal or close. I think you are smart in choosing biology.

 

[njbmd]

True, any major can get you into medical school, as long as you meet the pre-requisites. However, adcoms will look more favorably at someone with a degree in one of the difficult sciences than someone with a degree in say, nutrition, or another cake major like that, assuming all other factors are equal or close. I think you are smart in choosing biology.

This is not necessarily true as the MCAT becomes a factor. Non-science major with good uGPA but poor MCAT does not equal acceptance. If the OP chooses a non-science major or a non-physical science major, the MCAT has to be on a comparable level with the physical science majors. The converse is also true in that a poor uGPA in physical science + high MCAT does not equal acceptance. Whatever the OP chooses as a major, he/she needs to do well in the academics and have a strong MCAT. It makes sense to major in something that you love but you need a good understanding of the sciences and problem-solving to do well on the MCAT. It the OP does not love Biology, then just majoring in Biology isn't going to make much of a difference if the performance is not there.

 

[maxwell0]

This is not necessarily true as the MCAT becomes a factor. Non-science major with good uGPA but poor MCAT does not equal acceptance. If the OP chooses a non-science major or a non-physical science major, the MCAT has to be on a comparable level with the physical science majors. The converse is also true in that a poor uGPA in physical science + high MCAT does not equal acceptance. Whatever the OP chooses as a major, he/she needs to do well in the academics and have a strong MCAT. It makes sense to major in something that you love but you need a good understanding of the sciences and problem-solving to do well on the MCAT. It the OP does not love Biology, then just majoring in Biology isn't going to make much of a difference if the performance is not there.

Yes, that is why I said "all other factors being equal or close." This includes the MCAT. I will never be able to believe that someone with a degree in nutrition worked as hard as I did to get my degree in chemistry. They are not the same.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

True, any major can get you into medical school, as long as you meet the pre-requisites. However, adcoms will look more favorably at someone with a degree in one of the difficult sciences than someone with a degree in say, nutrition, or another cake major like that, assuming all other factors are equal or close. I think you are smart in choosing biology.

Watch out for statements like this because it won't always be true. The premed process is weird, and everyone thinks what he or she has heard is the most correct. Just do well in whatever you do, and revel in it. Don't be scared. If you want it then it'll happen. Happy studying.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

what i have heard is get a major in anything besides science because you will be so stuffed full of it. And the curve will be gone rather quickly. no experience on this issue though.

 

[Econ2MD]

So, I am 23 and have been out of any form of education since i was 18. Went to Florida State University for 1 year, had no clue what I wanted to study so I dropped out. Now, I feel as if I have found my calling in medicine. My current goal is to become some sort of Surgeon.

I am looking for schools in the Atlanta area, as this is where I live, I'm not even looking into medical school yet, as I only have about 24 credits of Regular College under my belt.

My question is this, I've read before that when choosing to get your bachelors, it's not very important what major you choose, but that you at least take the few required courses to gain entrance to Medical School. However, I am interested in Biology and was considering that as my major.

Will truelly any B.A. or B.S. do? Assuming gpa, and test scores are adequate?😕

Find a major you enjoy and do well in it. Fit in the necessary prereq's along the way. You're going to have way more trouble getting into med school with a 3.0 in biochemistry than a 4.0 in anything else (music, underwater basket weaving, etc.), all else equal.

You will find it much easier to excel and get the grades in a field you find interesting and are good at. If that's chemistry, great...if it's music, great also. You'll be doing many general ed courses your first two years, plenty of time to decide on a major. You have a great advantage now in that you're focused and determined, which is very different from typical first year undergrads.