Changing Majors? & What's Next?

[aquafina1]

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I am a second-year student, and I will have to declare my major by the end of the spring semester.At first, I thought I wanted to do biology, but I ended up hating it mainly because the professors in my school made it horrible (I find the subject interesting). I then got really interested in chemistry. As of now, I am a biochem major. However, I am considering my changing my major. First, the major will most likely kill my GPA. (my overall GPA is 3.7, but I got a 3.49 this semester)Second, if i end up not going to med school, I don't want to do research as a career.

I am thinking about majoring in English. I always enjoyed writing. However, there isn't much to do with english either. Also, I haven't taken many english classes, so there is the possibility that I will end up not enjoying english as well.

Please help. I'm stuck. If I decide to stray away from the sciences, I will have to change my schedule for the spring, so I need to make a decision asap. In a worst case scenario, I will end up taking calc3 and the section of orgo lab which is for chem majors (these are notoriously difficult in my school) if i decide to stick with the sciences.

Also, I have been in a RA Program at a hospital during last summer and this fall. I will continue this spring. I also have been working as a cashier about 24 hrs a week during the spring and will continue in the fall.

I am planning to reduce my hours at work this spring. What ECs/ volunteering should I focus on? I know that I should do what I enjoy. However, there are crucial ECs such as research and shadowing applicants should have. Which EC should I get started on now before it's too late?

Please help!!!!

 

[ribbondino]

You need to worry about your grades and getting your school stuff straight before ECs. If you struggle with sciences you may want to consider a tutor or another career.

No one on here can tell you what to change your major to. You really need to decide for yourself and think about it for a good long time, because you don't want to end up hating whatever you do in the future.

Doing research will help your application, as well as volunteering, whether it be clinical or non clinical. I would personally recommend volunteering in a hospice, as you will have plenty of patient access and hospitals tend to stick their volunteers into spots doing paperwork and etc.
Please don't worry about your ECs until you have gotten your school work and things straightened out. Grades are always first priority!!!

Don't worry toooo much about shadowing, most people get 30~50 hours or so, and some get even less. Doing research always looks really good, but then again if you don't find it interesting you may not do very well in it. Do what you like! Volunteering in your soup kitchen will be more beneficial to you if that is what you enjoy, rather than working at the gift shop in a hospital. As long as you have something that shows that you are altruistic and something else that shows you have had observation in clinical settings (even better if you get to work with the patient), they don't have to go together.

I hope I made sense, haha.

 

[Vikes33]

I am a second-year student, and I will have to declare my major by the end of the spring semester.At first, I thought I wanted to do biology, but I ended up hating it mainly because the professors in my school made it horrible (I find the subject interesting). I then got really interested in chemistry. As of now, I am a biochem major. However, I am considering my changing my major. First, the major will most likely kill my GPA. (my overall GPA is 3.7, but I got a 3.49 this semester)Second, if i end up not going to med school, I don't want to do research as a career.

I am thinking about majoring in English. I always enjoyed writing. However, there isn't much to do with english either. Also, I haven't taken many english classes, so there is the possibility that I will end up not enjoying english as well.

Please help. I'm stuck. If I decide to stray away from the sciences, I will have to change my schedule for the spring, so I need to make a decision asap. In a worst case scenario, I will end up taking calc3 and the section of orgo lab which is for chem majors (these are notoriously difficult in my school) if i decide to stick with the sciences.

Also, I have been in a RA Program at a hospital during last summer and this fall. I will continue this spring. I also have been working as a cashier about 24 hrs a week during the spring and will continue in the fall.

I am planning to reduce my hours at work this spring. What ECs/ volunteering should I focus on? I know that I should do what I enjoy. However, there are crucial ECs such as research and shadowing applicants should have. Which EC should I get started on now before it's too late?

Please help!!!!

Wow you have a lot of things going on here. My first question for you would be, are you sure you want to go to medical school? Because if you are, you can major in anything that you want, so you should pick something you love so that if you decide ultimately not to go into medicine, you have a solid foundation you could pursue. You will have to take a lot of those same classes for pre reqs anyway, so maybe continue taking the classes that are pre requisites and then throw in an English class or two to see which one you like better. Since you are only in your second year, you still have some time to decide what is best for you! And this way, you would have a better idea of what to declare at the end of the semester.

As far as ECs go, there is a ton of different options. Both clinical and non clinical volunteering, having a job is always good. Research is typically a good idea. Whatever you decide, I would also try and find leadership opportunities. IMO, longevity of these experiences as well as finding meaningful things is crucial. You don't want to find something to do just because you HAVE to have ECs. Do something that you will love! It will make the time commitment completely worth it. Good luck!

 

[aquafina1]

Just to clarify, I am not bad in the sciences. I have gotten As, A-s, and a B+ in my science classes thus far. The problem is that I don't think I want to work in a lab with I decide not to go into medicine. Also, I know that I can major in anything. I do love writing but I don't know how I can benefit/find a career from majoring in English because well...its english lol....

Also, the RA program has gotten me a lot of patient contact. I interview several patients in the ER every shift.

I guess my biggest dilemma is choosing my classes for the next semester. I have already registered, but I registered for more difficult classes that may have become unnecessary for me to take. For example, there are two physics: one for chem/engin majors and one for liberal arts/bio majors. To take the chem/engin one, you need calc 3. If I decide to take calc 3 now, I don't have to worry about taking the harder physics (if i decide to do chem). however, if i decide not to take calc 3 but later decide to go back to chem, i have to put off physics and otehr sci courses for a semester until i take calc 3.


TT

 

[polymath45]

Is there any way you could possibly add an English class to your schedule? Before you decide to change majors, I would suggest taking a class in it first just in case. Don't do anything on a whim. And there are careers for people who major in English besides teaching. You just have to get creative in a job search.

As for ECs, do whatever you want. Try some non-clinical volunteering at a shelter, food bank, or anywhere you like. It shows that you want to be involved in the community, and you may find it to be a rewarding experience. You can even do something for fun like joining a tennis club, a gaming club, or whatever you want. Only you can decide. Best of luck!

 

[aquafina1]

I have a creative writing course this semester

 

[ribbondino]

I have a creative writing course this semester

Don't let creative writing decide for you- it's a fun course that doesn't really reflect what you'll be taking if you major in English. (My best friend is an English major, it's a lot of complex linguistics courses, literature courses, critical analysis, etc.)

Maybe add a literature analysis course or linguistics course onto that?

Whatever you do, just don't stress out over it. Relax and try to enjoy your undergrad!!!

 

[Josh7]

I am a second-year student, and I will have to declare my major by the end of the spring semester.At first, I thought I wanted to do biology, but I ended up hating it mainly because the professors in my school made it horrible (I find the subject interesting). I then got really interested in chemistry. As of now, I am a biochem major. However, I am considering my changing my major. First, the major will most likely kill my GPA. (my overall GPA is 3.7, but I got a 3.49 this semester)Second, if i end up not going to med school, I don't want to do research as a career.

I am thinking about majoring in English. I always enjoyed writing. However, there isn't much to do with english either. Also, I haven't taken many english classes, so there is the possibility that I will end up not enjoying english as well.

Please help. I'm stuck. If I decide to stray away from the sciences, I will have to change my schedule for the spring, so I need to make a decision asap. In a worst case scenario, I will end up taking calc3 and the section of orgo lab which is for chem majors (these are notoriously difficult in my school) if i decide to stick with the sciences.

Also, I have been in a RA Program at a hospital during last summer and this fall. I will continue this spring. I also have been working as a cashier about 24 hrs a week during the spring and will continue in the fall.

I am planning to reduce my hours at work this spring. What ECs/ volunteering should I focus on? I know that I should do what I enjoy. However, there are crucial ECs such as research and shadowing applicants should have. Which EC should I get started on now before it's too late?

Please help!!!!

Have you considered electrical engineering?

 

[487806]

Have you considered electrical engineering?

mechanical/aerospace engineering is much better

 

[aquafina1]

nah it's too easy 🙂

 

[911 Turbo]

Just pick the easiest major at your college. Srs.... I mean that's what you're headed towards isn't it?

 

[neekzg]

If I were you and absolutely hated all the science majors available, I would do English. That's only because if I weren't already set on pursuing my current major, I would've wanted to study English or something in the Humanities.

It doesn't seem like you want to put up with those "hard" courses as a Biochem, Chem, Bio or any science major, so maybe you can save yourself the trouble and just choose a different majors. Just continue taking your med school pre-reqs.

In the end.. we don't know the majors available at your school and we don't know your personality and interests so none of us can tell you what the best major for you will be. The only advice I can offer is don't major in the hard sciences because you think you have to and if you think you're going to miserable.