Change major/ school vs. staying in a major I don't like

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alb3335

alb3335

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Hello all-

I posted a few weeks back on the "what are my chances" forum. I'm feeling really torn about what direction I need to be heading in...and while I can reason it out in my mind on both sides, I would really appreciate any constructive feedback from anyone with insight about my situation. I'm just going to be honest here- I have made some unwise decisions in the past acadmically, and I just want to make sure I'm on a good path from here on out to medical school. Heres what I did:
I started at my local community college and spent two years there (started as a business admin major because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do at that point in time). After a few years there, I transferred to my local university. I then realized I was only 6 classes away from getting my AA degree in general studies back at my community college (verses the 15 classes I would have to take if I did not have my AA or AS degree when transferring) so I went back to my local CC after a semester, and took all 6 classes I needed to graduate and got my AA degree. I then transferred back to the same university.
While there, I did some shadowing and volunteering,(which I am still currently doing) and make a (bad) choice to transfer out to an online program at USU studying communication disorders, while still taking my science courses locally. This program is not for me....in terms of difficulty it is fine, not too easy, and very challenging (in a good way). But I am only in the first semester of it and I feel like I am missing out on so much- clubs, pre-med advising, etc. Research opportunities....etc. Not to mention financially, I am getting much less student loan/ grants with this being an online school and I am struggling to keep my health insurance now because of that. I know I shouldn't have transferred out now, but there is nothing I can do to change it at this point. The material is suuuuper boring to me....I thought it would be a good idea at the time because I wanted the flexibility to work to support my family while I finished before applying to medical school. Now I am regretting my decision.

What I am concerned about is whether I should just try to stick with it-even though I am struggling financially and lack of pre-med opportunity wise- should I keep sticking with it? I know I've made some mistakes with all my transferring, but my GPA is still overall very high, I just don't want to look super indecisive. If I transferred back to my local university, I would probably major in clinical research, biology, or public sociology with a focus on health. Am I better off to stick with the online program just so I don't look crazy to adcoms in a few years, or should I transfer back to where I would have more resources and potentially enjoy the subject I am studying more?
Thank you for your advice!
 
Thank you for your reply. I definitely think I can explain my indecisiveness down the road in interviews, but I guess I'm afraid I've transferred and changed majors one too many times. Of course I WANT to go back to my local college, but just trying to weigh the pros and cons.
Would you have any advice as to which of the three majors I listed would be best to major in? I would prefer them in this order:
Sociology (health focus) >clinical research>biology

Thanks!
 
alb3335 said:
Would you have any advice as to which of the three majors I listed would be best to major in? I would prefer them in this order:
Sociology (health focus) >clinical research>biology

Thanks!
Click to expand...
We really have no preference. You should, though.
 
Thank you. Yes, I do have a preference. I am passionate about people, in particular those who are in rural or urban areas and don't have the same access to medical care that others may have. This is why I am most interested in public sociology. However, I'm not sure if I would have the same amount of access to research opportunities that I would if I majored in clinical research or biology. I'm fairly certain I would be interested in all three and preform well in all three. Again, thank you for your feedback.
 
alb3335 said:
Thank you. Yes, I do have a preference. I am passionate about people, in particular those who are in rural or urban areas and don't have the same access to medical care that others may have. This is why I am most interested in public sociology. However, I'm not sure if I would have the same amount of access to research opportunities that I would if I majored in clinical research or biology. I'm fairly certain I would be interested in all three and preform well in all three. Again, thank you for your feedback.
Click to expand...
It is more important that you care about your major since we have no preference.
You are more likely to be productive in research in your area of interest.
 
To reiterate what my learned colleague is saying, we don't care what your major or minor is, only that you do well in it.


gyngyn said:
It is more important that you care about your major since we have no preference.
You are more likely to be productive in research in your area of interest.
Click to expand...
 
I pursued completed unrelated majors in undergrad... Engineering to Biology to Pre-Law to Biochemistry to Philosophy. You should not be concerned with appearing indecisive. Undergrad is time to explore. I would recommend transferring back to the local university, picking a major you are interested in and get perfect grades.
 
That's exactly what I was feeling I should do. Did you get questioned about your various classes and changing majors so many times in interviews? In all honesty, most of my going back and forth has had much to do with finances. I'm 30 years old with a family so I have a lot on my plate. But I also don't want to make excuses for myself. I want to nail something down and just stick with it. I think my hubby is concerned with me doing sociology because he is worried inlay not get in medical school and then we would have student loans to payback with a sociology degree...not sure what is do with that, if not medical school! Lol
My response was "well, you studied psychology....." Haha
I think he is beginning to realize how serious I am though now, with all my volunteering.
 
Thank you Cat- that def puts things in perspective! I really appreciate your feedback. I don't really have anyone here to talk to about it at the moment. I'm not going to hesitate anymore... I've spent too much time as it is with hesitating. Thank you so much.
 
alb3335 said:
I think my hubby is concerned with me doing sociology because he is worried inlay not get in medical school and then we would have student loans to payback with a sociology degree...not sure what is do with that, if not medical school!
Click to expand...
Other careers that branch off of Sociology: police officer, parole officer, clinical social worker after a masters (just like a clinical psychologist who counsels and treats without medication), HS guidance counselor after a masters, etc.
 
alb3335 said:
Thank you Cat- that def puts things in perspective! I really appreciate your feedback. I don't really have anyone here to talk to about it at the moment. I'm not going to hesitate anymore... I've spent too much time as it is with hesitating. Thank you so much.
Click to expand...
We are here as a resource for you and others without access to good premedical advising.
 
alb3335 said:
That's exactly what I was feeling I should do. Did you get questioned about your various classes and changing majors so many times in interviews? In all honesty, most of my going back and forth has had much to do with finances. I'm 30 years old with a family so I have a lot on my plate. But I also don't want to make excuses for myself. I want to nail something down and just stick with it. I think my hubby is concerned with me doing sociology because he is worried inlay not get in medical school and then we would have student loans to payback with a sociology degree...not sure what is do with that, if not medical school! Lol
My response was "well, you studied psychology....." Haha
I think he is beginning to realize how serious I am though now, with all my volunteering.
Click to expand...

I was asked why I made the decisions I did but never in a way that suggested they were looking at me as an indecisive person. I explained how every choice I made was in the framework of being prepared for medicine. End of discussion.
I really empathize with your dilemma, I spent a lot of time feeling insecure about pursuing different things and changing programs...I would sit in my car while driving to work and rehearse explaining my choices. If you looked at my activities section of the med school application you would think I had multiple personalities.

As for the liberal arts criticism, I majored in philosophy, which I would argue is even less practical than sociology. At one interview I asked my interviewer, "What challenges do you think I might face given by background in liberal arts?". Her response was, "None. I might even consider it an advantage because of the unique perspective you have. I actually majored in international studies myself". An admissions committee member told me that!!
These are the 4 things I would think about when considering sociology:
1. Focus it on healthcare issues. For example, I wrote a paper on hospital aesthetics that adcoms always wanted to hear about.
2. Consider future financial challenges in transition between undergrad and medical school. I have struggled to find lucrative employment in the 2 years I have been out of school. I had to use credit cards to pay for my application and interview travel.🙁
3. DO vs MD perspective. I applied MD but I have heard that DO programs have less enthusiasm for liberal arts.
4. Ace science classes. You have fewer opportunities to demonstrate your competency in science classes so make sure you take the opportunities seriously.
Feel free to PM with any other questions.
 
That's very good advice. I told my husband I can always find a basic entry level job if I need to work for a few years in between. Hopefully I won't have to do that, but it's better to assume I will I guess. I feel like it's more important to major in something I really enjoy learning about than something that is not as enjoyable but employable. My goal is to be a doctor...not get stuck in another career I don't love. If anything, I can see it motivating me to try harder and spend more time pursuing things that would help my application. The school I really want to go to is a state school who specifically picks students who want to pursue family medicine in my area (rural areas). I think sociology with a focus on medicine would be perfect for my passions, and also for setting me up for possibly going there in a few years (or really, any med school). I guess I just wanted to bounce my train of thought off of some folks with experience, as I have no one to talk to at this point. It is reassuring to me that I'm not the only one who has not followed a straight and simple path to med school. I volunteer with a guy who is 21and graduating this year in biology. He's made straight As all while working and volunteering. I'm happy for him, and I try not to let it cast doubt in my head, but nevertheless, sometimes it does! I will be 32 when I graduate with my undergrad! 🙂
 
alb3335 said:
Thank you. Yes, I do have a preference. I am passionate about people, in particular those who are in rural or urban areas and don't have the same access to medical care that others may have. This is why I am most interested in public sociology. However, I'm not sure if I would have the same amount of access to research opportunities that I would if I majored in clinical research or biology. I'm fairly certain I would be interested in all three and preform well in all three. Again, thank you for your feedback.
Click to expand...

Barf.
 
alb3335 said:
Barf???
Click to expand...

At majoring in sociology and the cliche "I love urban and rural underserved populations" response. Anyway, do what you like. I might barf at it, but to each their own.
 
Lol, well ok. It may sound cliche to you but that's because you don't know me. I basically want to help those who are where I have been, in terms of financially, socially, and geographically. I know what it's like and can relate. That's all! You're right, to each his own.

I considered social work a few years ago before doing shadowing and deciding medicine was more in line with my personality. So sue me😉
 
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