This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^. The one that will be harder to maintain a competitive GPA will be the one that is harder for you, not me, or anyone else!!
Despite all ^^^^^^ that, if you are still looking for an easier major to get good GPA, look at the requirements for both majors at your school and talk with seniors who did those majors and decide.This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^. The one that will be harder to maintain a competitive GPA will be the one that is harder for you, not me, or anyone else!!
TBH, you are approaching this from the wrong direction. If you are really looking for the easiest path, with the easiest grades and the least amount of work (most overlap with prereqs) the answer is to pick something other than medicine, which is far from the easiest path.
As everyone else has advised, med schools really, really, really don't care what you major in. They actually love diversity, but, at the end of the day, a lot of people who are drawn to medicine are also drawn to bio, chem, biochem, etc., so you see more of that than music majors. You really need to start by figuring out what you love, rather than what will be the easiest to do well in. If you do this right, they will end up being the same thing. Good luck!!!
Again, if you're looking for an easier path, I humbly suggest computer science, business, law, consulting, etc.
Again, if you're looking for an easier path, I humbly suggest computer science, business, law, consulting, etc.
Sarcasm doesn't travel well over the Internet. I was being facetious. Nothing is easy if done well, least of all, of course, medicine. Investment banking at a large firm also involves tons of hard work to get there, and crazy hours. My point was really just to say that looking for the easy out is not a path to success, and medicine is probably not the best career for people who are looking for that.
Very, very true. It's also true that around 40% of applicants succeed every year, and the rest don't. We don't all have the same abilities, resources, support systems, etc. Life is very unfair in that respect.
My son has national level achievements in Biology and Chemistry during HS so he took related major even though his major is considered tougher than Neuroscience at his T20 school. So since OP is looking for easier major I am giving advise based on his requirements not based on how my son did
My point EXACTLY. I don't think it's a good look to provide advice you don't follow yourself.My son has national level achievements in Biology and Chemistry during HS so he took related major even though his major is considered tougher than Neuroscience at his T20 school. So since OP is looking for easier major I am giving advise based on his requirements not based on how my son did
Makes sense. Except not sure I agree with the last paragraph fully. But I see your point. And I'm sure your perspective will be built upon further when you matriculate and start getting to know some classmates.
Don't try to be critical of every post
I see nothing wrong in taking some what easier major if that helps OP or anyone else to get into medical school. I don't subscribe to plan Bs or plan C I have few N=1 examples of taking GPA hits by taking something you love (BME at tough schools like JHU) and end up at so called low tier schools after gap years. So as a parent I tried to give practical advise I can't help it, especially with you!Don't try to be critical of every post
But, don't get me wrong, my suggestion is NOT to take BME at JHU and hope for the best. It's to pick based on what you love AND ARE GOOD AT, rather than working back from what seniors say is easier. Precisely what your kid did. We can all do it, even if we do not have national level achievements in whatever. Your practical advice sucks because it advocates the easy path of least resistance, which doesn't result in an application like your kid has, and ultimately doesn't help anyone go anywhere in a process in which 60% are screened out.TBH, I agree with @EdgeTrimmer more on this. I'm having an easier time with med school then undergrad - and it's not because my undergrad major was necessarily harder or easier.I can't help it, especially with you!
Let's get serious, OP is not asking between Biology and basket weaving. Again, given that medical schools doesn't care about GPA if it helps OP to get good GPA by choosing one of those two majors I don't see an issue with it. In fact major my kid is doing the least resistance major (and chose not to double majors or double minors) and I advocated against going to JHU for BME. My kid's application is not driven by his major but more strength in multiple areas.I can't help it, especially with you!
That's ok. @knighdoc and I love to debate each other and I don't take anything -vely.
Very fair. But, please keep in mind, @EdgeTrimmer is a parent and also hasn't applied. The difference is, he'll never be applying (I think!
). You kid is GREAT, and what you're saying now is no different from what I'm saying -- pick the one you like more (like your kid), because that's the one you will do better in. Not the one that other people say is easier. This has nothing to do with not going out of your way to make things difficult by quadruple majoring.
Very fair. But, please keep in mind, @EdgeTrimmer is a parent and also hasn't applied. The difference is, he'll never be applying (I think!
I'm glad you're finding med school easier than UG, but what does that have to do with picking a UG major based on what you like and are good at rather than on what someone tells you will be easier to get a higher GPA in for a med school app? Don't you agree that the person doing that is likely to do everything based on how it looks on a med school app, and that is exactly the type of applicant screened out during the process?
My experience comes from interacting with physicians and medical school faculty for last 20 years, advising my own kid thru UG and medical school applications and also talking with kids who attend/attended top schools, not from SDN browsingVery fair. But, please keep in mind, @EdgeTrimmer is a parent and also hasn't applied. The difference is, he'll never be applying (I think!
let's say OP likes both Biology and Neuroscience (which has lot of Biology classes), what will you tell them?You kid is GREAT, and what you're saying now is no different from what I'm saying -- pick the one you like more (like your kid), because that's the one you will do better in. Not the one that other people say is easier. This has nothing to do with not going out of your way to make things difficult by quadruple majoring.
Very fair. But, please keep in mind, @EdgeTrimmer is a parent and also hasn't applied. The difference is, he'll never be applying (I think!
I'm glad you're finding med school easier than UG, but what does that have to do with picking a UG major based on what you like and are good at rather than on what someone tells you will be easier to get a higher GPA in for a med school app? Don't you agree that the person doing that is likely to do everything based on how it looks on a med school app, and that is exactly the type of applicant screened out during the process?
Fair enough, have at it
Okay, and mine comes from interacting with actual applicants, premed advisors, admissions directors at several schools, and, of course, SDN browsing. I'm not disputing your interest or good intentions, but I've learned the hard way to dismiss advice from people who tell me to do as they say, not as they do.My experience comes from interacting with physicians and medical school faculty for last 20 years, advising my own kid thru UG and medical school applications and also talking with kids who attend/attended top schools, not from SDN browsing
To take the one he has more interest in, because that's the one he'll do better in, regardless of mean GPAs. If everything is equal, he should flip a coin because it doesn't matter.
You haven't applied yet so how do we know you applied all you learnedOkay, and mine comes from interacting with actual applicants, premed advisors, admissions directors at several schools, and, of course, SDN browsing. I'm not disputing your interest or good intentions, but I've learned the hard way to dismiss advice from people who tell me to do as they say, not as they do.
Can you elaborate on second point.
But not everyone is smart and hard working as you
Some need advise from strangers on SDN or ratemyprofessor reviews to be comfortable. I also recommend kids checking that site but again you need to parse the info there properly.I haven't applied, but I'm not a 9th grader just busting chops here because I'm bored. I attend a UG, declared a major, attended countless premed advising sessions, taken the MCAT, spoken to tons of knowledgeable people, etc. I have neither applied to nor been accepted to med school yet, and, of course, do not have the perspective of a med student, but I have as much first hand knowledge of the premed experience as anyone, so I'm not totally clueless here, and have WAAAAY more first hand experience than any of my peer's parents!!!!!
Because I'm far enough along in the process (taken classes, finishing up a major, taken the MCAT, etc.) to know how this works with respect to picking classes and majors based on easy grading. I'm modelling the successful behavior of your son rather than the questionable advice of his dad!!!You haven't applied yet so how do we know you applied all you learned
Absolutely, that's why I check it out, and I did avoid two profs who had universally terrible reviews over a number of years. My point is that picking classes or majors based on easy grading is a fool's errand in an environment where 60% will be weeded out. You need to find something you're good at and then excel, not follow the easy path the majority follows. It pays to remember that the majority do not become MDs.But not everyone is smart and hard working as you
Funny you ask!!! Yes, and it's a big reason why I'm not a current applicant. I was scheduled for April, then June, and couldn't take it until August. It was fine, aside from the fact that I couldn't focus on apps while studying, and then felt like I didn't have sufficient time to apply beginning in late August. Plus, my ECs also suck, given no hours since March and no visibility into when they'll resume in person.
I really appreciate that. I'm not complaining, just explaining why I'm a wannabe again this year after annoying the community as a premed giving advice without an active application last year as well!
I do feel like I have something to offer, given how I've been obsessing on this, really since starting UG but especially since Spring 2019. Unfortunately, to a greater or lesser degree, some members don't agree, but @EdgeTrimmer and I have definitely formed a mutual admiration society.
I really appreciate that. I'm not complaining, just explaining why I'm a wannabe again this year after annoying the community as a premed giving advice without an active application last year as well!
As far as I can tell, I'd put you both on the same level of authority for giving advice
Right. My whole deal has been to say nobody should be attacking credibility here. Just let advice be what it is.
I thought you were joking -- did you really give up an acceptance? If so, why, and what's the plan going forward? If not, please explain the joke for those of us not sharp enough to follow along.
Oh. It's nothing like that. I chose not to pursue medical school awhile ago due to opportunity cost. I'm also pretty satisfied with my current RN job in the ICU. I do have an initial major in biochemistry & bioinformatics. The joke is that ICUs are being slammed with COVID patients to the point where RNs are being tripled or quadrupled and a lot of them require intubation with body weight > 400 pounds, BMI > 50, and Diabetes Type 2. Which isn't so bad... however the involvement required in turning patients, ACHS blood sugars, QH respiratory checks, and putting initial IVs to run stuff like remdesivir when most of the field sticks are no bueno takes a toll when you're doing it day in and day out. In a perfect world, RN to patient ratios should be 1:2. However, since when was the last time we lived in a perfect world.
Amen
Difference is my kid listens to what I say and then decides on his own, but you think you know everything and jump to criticism quicklyI'm modelling the successful behavior of your son rather than the questionable advice of his dad!!!
