Confused about major...Chemistry OR Public Health OR ...???

[Tartheheel]

Hi all! I am currently chemistry major, and am doing really well in all my classes. However, I have lately been interested in switching to a somewhat less rigorous major like a BS in Public Health (at UNC Chapel Hill) that would provide me some skills and knowledge that would actually become help me later on when I become a physician (such as public health/health policy and administration etc.) For example, some of the courses include health care financial management, health care consulting, law and ethics in health administration, medical journalism, health care in the US: Policy and administrative issues, issues in health care, competition regulation and insurance etc.

Would a BS in Public Health in Health Policy and Administration be a valuable major for premed, considering that I will have minored in bio/chem. or business, will have taken a number of other science courses to sufficiently prepare for med school, and will have two years of research experience in a lab? Do you think this would be more beneficial compared to a more rigorous BS in Chemistry or Biochemistry? Is it common for premeds with a professional degree to be admitted to med school??

On the other hand, how would a BS in Public Health be valuable if I decide not to go to medical school…? Would it be more useful than a major in Biology? (the only reason I ask is that I’ve heard from so many sources that there’re just tooo many bio majors in the job market, and it helps to have another degree…)

I would really appreciate your comments…

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[CindyLou]

i was always told to do what i liked. take all the premed classes and you should be fine.

with a back ground in public health you might be able to get into a joint MD/MPH program.

 

[Easy E]

Ask yourself which subject you prefer studying. You would be able to get an MD/MPH degree regardless of major. If public health is a little less rigorous and would allow you to have a better GPA and more EC's than by I means go for it. Just make sure you take plenty of hard core classes. I majored in psychology but took many upper level science courses.

 

[drizzt3117]

Do you like chemistry? If you're doing really well and like it, why switch? Chemistry is a fine major for pre-med. I don't think you'll have huge benefits by going PH.

 

[foreverLaur]

biochem
molecular/cellular biology
anatomy
physiology
microbiology

^--i've heard from KAPLAN, friends that are med students, and other people around this site to try to take those as an undergrad - they also help on the MCAT.

 

[ScienceJunkie]

i was always told to do what i liked. take all the premed classes and you should be fine.

exactly. just do what you like. no one gives a hoot what your major is (serious). the only thing they care about is your gpa, and even then only med adcoms care.

 

[Polynikes]

I'm a public health major. However, I have many course substitutions in upper level sciences.

For example, I've got Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Biochem, and I'm in Immunology now...

As a public health major, I've taken a lot of the Health Policy and Law, epidemiology, etc...

Health Policy and Law is invaluable IMO...

Just do what you want to do. If you like public health, than take it. If you like chem, take chem...