Biology vs. Chemistry

[kovalchuk]

Anyone make the switch from a Biology major to a Chemistry major?

I'm a sophmore and now that I'm past the Bio weeder courses the classes are deadly dull. It's not that I'm in love with Chemistry, but I feel it's more interesting, looks better to med schools, and definitely more marketable lest I don't get into med school.

Also, I'm really embarassed telling people I'm a Biology major. I don't like studying one of the "soft" sciences, or being lumped in with the pre-med dreamers (I know, I know I'm one, but I'll actually make it ).

Anyway, anybody make this switch? I looked at the course requirements and it's actually very do-able at this point for me. The only problem is that I took Gen Chem I and II at another school. But I could probably get that waived.

Any advice would be great!

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[Rafa]

Why not major in both?

 

[riceman04]

Anyone make the switch from a Biology major to a Chemistry major?

I'm a sophmore and now that I'm past the Bio weeder courses the classes are deadly dull. It's not that I'm in love with Chemistry, but I feel it's more interesting, looks better to med schools, and definitely more marketable lest I don't get into med school.

Also, I'm really embarassed telling people I'm a Biology major. I don't like studying one of the "soft" sciences, or being lumped in with the pre-med dreamers (I know, I know I'm one, but I'll actually make it ).

Anyway, anybody make this switch? I looked at the course requirements and it's actually very do-able at this point for me. The only problem is that I took Gen Chem I and II at another school. But I could probably get that waived.

Any advice would be great!

I really dont think it matters what you decide to pick as your major! If you are so worried about what med schools you think about your major then you are one of those "pre-med dreamers."

Do what you want to do...or just find a median and become a bioc major.

 

[friedzukini]

Anyone make the switch from a Biology major to a Chemistry major?

I'm a sophmore and now that I'm past the Bio weeder courses the classes are deadly dull. It's not that I'm in love with Chemistry, but I feel it's more interesting, looks better to med schools, and definitely more marketable lest I don't get into med school.

Also, I'm really embarassed telling people I'm a Biology major. I don't like studying one of the "soft" sciences, or being lumped in with the pre-med dreamers (I know, I know I'm one, but I'll actually make it ).

Anyway, anybody make this switch? I looked at the course requirements and it's actually very do-able at this point for me. The only problem is that I took Gen Chem I and II at another school. But I could probably get that waived.

Any advice would be great!

Don't follow the norm necessarily, if you are opting to persue medicine, they are right when they say" major in the descipline that you absolutely enjoy

 

[kovalchuk]

Why not major in both?

At this point two majors would be difficult. If I got a B.S. in Chemistry, I wouldn't take a B.S. in Biology if they payed me.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Don't follow the norm necessarily, if you are opting to persue medicine, they are right when they say" major in the descipline that you absolutely enjoy

Major in Chemistry. Major in History. Major is Spanish, Film, Business...just make sure you enjoy it and that it shows

 

[tacrum43]

Also, I'm really embarassed telling people I'm a Biology major. I don't like studying one of the "soft" sciences, or being lumped in with the pre-med dreamers (I know, I know I'm one, but I'll actually make it ).

Any advice would be great!

1. Biology is not an easy major, so I don't know what you're talking about with that. And you seem kind of pretentious with the "but I'll actually make it" part.

2. Don't go over to the dark side.

 

[kovalchuk]

1. Biology is not an easy major, so I don't know what you're talking about with that. And you seem kind of pretentious with the "but I'll actually make it" part.

2. Don't go over to the dark side.

I know it isn't easy. But the hardest classes are at the beginning, really, to function as the weed.

Not being pretentious, that's why i had a *meanie* after it.

 

[DHG]

Major in Biochemistry. Best of both worlds.

 

[tacrum43]

I know it isn't easy. But the hardest classes are at the beginning, really, to function as the weed.

Are you sure? It certainly didn't work that way at my school (although I was microbio). I mean, you're covering more in-depth material, and the people who make it to the upper division classes are all pretty smart, so your competition is tougher.

 

[75969]

Are you sure? It certainly didn't work that way at my school (although I was microbio). I mean, you're covering more in-depth material, and the people who make it to the upper division classes are all pretty smart, so your competition is tougher.

I started as bio only, then felt like you do (or more so like I wasnt able to progress in the major, due to soooo many premeds doing biomedical sciences- and hence taking similar courses that I needed to take upperlevel, more in depth courses). I chose to look into a chem major, at first I enjoyed the chem, then started to dislike it (math-intensive chem, not fun and kind of boring)... Now, I am a double major (BA chem--considering biochem, and BS biology); the courses seem to complement each other well...especially the molecular biology courses with chem. I am glad I stuck with it! 🙂

Perhaps you could consider a similar option, or take a few chem courses for a minor...


**At my college too, the biology courses are MUCH more difficult as you get into upper level (4000+ level)...it is def. not a 'soft science'.

 

[Gavanshir]

Why don't you major in Biochem?

 

[chintu]

It doesn't seem like you like that much chemistry over biology. I think its true that earlier bio classes tend to be tougher because they are required for premed and there's more competition. Not everyone in upper level bio is premed and from what i've heard they don't get much more harder than genetics, cell/molecular bio, etc. That's just what i heard. I majored in chem and can tell you that unless you really like your basic courses you will have a hard time doing well in upper level courses, they get highly analytical and mathematical with physical chem, upper level anal. chem, etc; not to mention the labs are not as much fun either. I really loved chem all the way, but all i can say is that not all my premed buddies who chose it liked it like they did gen chem and orgo. If you like chem, math and physics then i think you'll be like chem major.

 

[happydays]

Chemistry. Why? Get your thinking in now before med school, which will be mostly memorization. If you majored in Bio, you'll be burned out for memorization later on (or on the other hand you could get really good at it, who knows). Plus, there are 5-10x more bio majors applying verses chem majors. You'll also stand out a little more.

 

[solitude]

I like both and decided to do both. At my school most of the pre-reqs overlap, particularly with a biochem concentration, so it's pretty easy. I don't recommend picking a major based on how good it will look to medical schools, but if that is your motivation then having both majors will be more impressive than one. Some people on here claim that adcoms don't care about double-majors, but I tend to disagree. With that said, I do not think it is proper to pick a major or majors based on how adcoms will feel about them. If it is a factor, it's not a very important one.

 

[toofache32]

Major in Biochemistry. Best of both worlds.

Medical school will teach you everything you need to know about doctorin'. I still don't understand why people want to major in the same thing twice...I majored in f'in classical guitar performance. "Major" in biochem when you get to med school.

 

[Kevorama822]

Why not major in English or Philosophy or another one of the humanities? Med Schools love people that are different from the typical pre-med student. You could do a major in the humanities and still have time to take all the requirements for med school. Don't go crazy worrying about the MCATs. If you plan it right, you'll learn everything you need to know without majoring in a science. Besides, Med School is for learning hard core stuff. Use your time as an undergrad to study stuff you'll never be able to again, like literature, music, philosophy, or another language. I'm not saying take it easy, I'm just saying that you should take the long view. You should go to school to get an education, not as a means to med school.

 

[Mr. Tee]

I still don't understand why people want to major in the same thing twice...

Maybe b/c it's their passion?

 

[toofache32]

Maybe b/c it's their passion?

Carbon-carbon bonding and van der waals forces?

Then why go into medicine?

 

[anon-y-mouse]

http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=biology&word2=chemistry

 

[nekrogg]

bio imo is best for mcats. i dont know how much chem majors get exposed to bio (im assuming not very much) but biology major definently prepares u a bit for mcats.

 

[Law2Doc]

Medical school will teach you everything you need to know about doctorin'. I still don't understand why people want to major in the same thing twice...I majored in f'in classical guitar performance. "Major" in biochem when you get to med school.

Totally agree with this. Your opportunity to major in something ELSE is now, in college. The days when med schools preferred certain majors over others has come and gone -- today, you probably get much more bang for your buck majoring in forestry (something unique) than you would in a hard science. You will get all the biochem related stuff you need and then some in med school. Will it be easier if you've had some of it before? A little bit (but not enough to get excited about, and you will surpass that level of knowledge within the first few weeks of any med school class). So your smartest move would be to not major in something you will have to learn again anyhow. Make yourself a more well rounded person and you will be better off in the long run.

 

[deuist]

bio imo is best for mcats. i dont know how much chem majors get exposed to bio (im assuming not very much) but biology major definently prepares u a bit for mcats.

Kaplan is the best for the MCAT. Bio is the best for bugs, plants, and a whole lot of extra stuff that you will never see again---on the MCAT or in medical school.

 

[deuist]

Go study something cool. You mentioned being bored in upper level bio classes. What else interests you?

 

[zero2hero]

Major in Biochemistry. Best of both worlds.

Amen to that. Biochemistry 4 Life!

 

[Rafa]

Kaplan is the best for the MCAT. Bio is the best for bugs, plants, and a whole lot of extra stuff that you will never see again---on the MCAT or in medical school.

That guide in your sig - did you write it? It's pretty neat.

 

[browniegirl86]

Kaplan is the best for the MCAT. Bio is the best for bugs, plants, and a whole lot of extra stuff that you will never see again---on the MCAT or in medical school.

Word up to Kaplan. But my upper-division bios (I was a micro major) were helpful on the MCAT and will be valuable in med school as well (human infectious disease, immunology, host-pathogen interactions, tumor biology, vertebrate physiology/neurology, etc.)

Of course, majors vary between schools. Plus I really like micro and infectious diseases, so I loved my major. I think that's really the most important thing. Love your major = enjoy class = do well = high GPA.

 

[DrBowtie]

http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=biology&word2=chemistry

HA...Physics beats Chem, Bio and Math.
I knew I was the most hardcore out of the BCPM.

 

[novawildcat]

Math>physics>chemistry>biology

Biology is for people that couldn't do chemistry.
Chemistry is for peple that couldn't physics.
Physics if for people that couldn't do mathematics.
Mathematics is for people that couldn't deal with reality.

 

[Law2Doc]

Math>physics>chemistry>biology

Biology is for people that couldn't do chemistry.
Chemistry is for peple that couldn't physics.
Physics if for people that couldn't do mathematics.
Mathematics is for people that couldn't deal with reality.

Reality is for people that couldn't deal with fantasy.
Fantasy is for people that couldn't deal with biology.
And the endless cycle continues...

 

[deuist]

That guide in your sig - did you write it? It's pretty neat.

Yes

 

[Rafa]

Break the cyle. Major in Biochemiphysi-mathematical engineering.