Does anyone recommend MIMG major at UCLA?

[petefuse]

I just finished my third year as a bio major, but decided to change to MIMG after taking the microbiology class (MIMG 101). It was the most interesting science class i took in UCLA. But I talked to many people and most of them say that it's not really worth it to do MIMG, because there is a good chance of lowering my GPA. My current GPA is above 3.9 and I got an A+ in microbio class. my question is this; is it really doable to get (A)s in MIMG classes. because ultimately what i want to do is get into a good medical school and I don't want to ruin my chances because of a bad decision.

One more question, do med schools really care what your major is or do they only look at your GPA?

Sorry if its long, but your answers could really help me make a good decision. Thank you in advance

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[BoredMD]

I just finished my third year as a bio major, but decided to change to MIMG after taking the microbiology class (MIMG 101). It was the most interesting science class i took in UCLA. But I talked to many people and most of them say that it's not really worth it to do MIMG, because there is a good chance of lowering my GPA. My current GPA is above 3.9 and I got an A+ in microbio class. my question is this; is it really doable to get (A)s in MIMG classes. because ultimately what i want to do is get into a good medical school and I don't want to ruin my chances because of a bad decision.

One more question, do med schools really care what your major is or do they only look at your GPA?

Sorry if its long, but your answers could really help me make a good decision. Thank you in advance

MIMG is hard, but then again, so are all the other science majors at UCLA. I think if you really enjoy the classes then you'll do well in them. I was a Phy. Sci. major at UCLA and I had heard all sorts of horror stories about the classes and major, but because I loved the material I did really well.

 

[Lukkie]

MIMG is good if you want to learn a lot but med schools dont really care about that. it probably will hurt your GPA.

 

[paranoid_eyes]

i agree with the above poster. MIMG is laaaaame. It's all about neuroscience 😀

 

[BoredMD]

It's all about Phy. Sci. 😀

Fixed that for ya. 😛

 

[hb2998]

I did MIMG at UCLA. Its hard. Some great professors (Dr. Simpson, Dr. Ken Bradley) that will make you love the topic. Lots of great professors (Dr. Arnold Berk) that are world famous. A letter of rec from these guys/gals would be awesome. They have a wonderful program... but... you aren't going for a PhD, you want an MD. Its very research oriented, so expect to use almost nothing of what you learn. I would do Neuroscience or Physiology.

You are doing well in school. Pick what you want to do. I wouldn't do MIMG if I were you. It won't impress anybody when you say "MIMG is the hardest major at UCLA" ... no one cares!! I actually regret doing MIMG. I would do something that would allow me to start my medical education in undergrad (Physio/Neuro might offer this). With MIMG you learn things you WILL forget, or never use. I did really well in MIMG, but grades are not important to me, learning is. I didn't learn anything that really stuck.

You don't need help getting into medschool with your GPA (I had similar when I applied .... took a nose dive when I got in ;-), so take a chance. Double in Neuro and Physio ... so what if you drop down to 3.5? If you really want to learn about MIMG, do a 199 with one of the professors. Research techniques is mostly what the classes are setup to teach you anyway. You can learn that with a 199. Take a chance, cancel your lease, start living in Powell, and you'll be fine.

 

[Lukkie]

yeah definitely agreed on phy sci being what its all about. especially the first class, anatomy. it was so cool i even snuck some friends into the anatomy lab review to show them the cadavers (dont tell phelps!!!!)

 

[BoredMD]

yeah definitely agreed on phy sci being what its all about. especially the first class, anatomy. it was so cool i even snuck some friends into the anatomy lab review to show them the cadavers (dont tell phelps!!!!)

107 is an awesome class! I liked the 111 series too. 111L not so much, though.

 

[ar2388]

i would think phy. sci = physical sciences but there are no cadavers in physical sciences.. so what the hell is it? lol

 

[BoredMD]

i would think phy. sci = physical sciences but there are no cadavers in physical sciences.. so what the hell is it? lol

Phy. Sci. = Physiological Science!

 

[mrmilad]

If you wanna work really hard to get a good GPA then go for it, BUT it won't get you brownie points. I suggest PhyscoBio or EEBio.

 

[petefuse]

Thank you all for answering and sharing your experiences. To be honest I really didn't know that UCLA had a physiology major. Hopefully it's not late to change. Is Phi-sci more memorization based or is it experimental and comprehensive stuff?

And about MIMG, is the Microbiology class (MIMG 101) a good indicator of the level of difficulty of other classes? That class wasn't easy but it was doable and I really enjoyed it.

Once again, thank you all for your helpful replies.

 

[thzone1986]

Thank you all for answering and sharing your experiences. To be honest I really didn't know that UCLA had a physiology major. Hopefully it's not late to change. Is Phi-sci more memorization based or is it experimental and comprehensive stuff?

And about MIMG, is the Microbiology class (MIMG 101) a good indicator of the level of difficulty of other classes? That class wasn't easy but it was doable and I really enjoyed it.

Once again, thank you all for your helpful replies.

One of the main reasons I chose Phy-sci was the 153 elective you can take in the summer (between junior/senior years). You basically prepare the cadaver specimens for the intro 107 Fall class. It's an awesome experience if you dig physiology.

Undergraduate gross anatomy 👍

 

[Lukkie]

Thank you all for answering and sharing your experiences. To be honest I really didn't know that UCLA had a physiology major. Hopefully it's not late to change. Is Phi-sci more memorization based or is it experimental and comprehensive stuff?

And about MIMG, is the Microbiology class (MIMG 101) a good indicator of the level of difficulty of other classes? That class wasn't easy but it was doable and I really enjoyed it.

Once again, thank you all for your helpful replies.

no its not too late to change. hell most people (like me) didnt declare until spring quarter of sophomore year. if you're in doubt arrange a meeting with the PhySci counselor (Inna Gergel) and figure out a plan.

PhySci is mostly memorization although there are a few conceptual classes thrown in. 107 (systems anatomy) is almost pure memorization (learn the names of all the bones, muscles, origins and insertions etc). 111A, however, starts with neurosci which a lot of people hates since it was very experimental/conceptual.

 

[hb2998]

And about MIMG, is the Microbiology class (MIMG 101) a good indicator of the level of difficulty of other classes? That class wasn't easy but it was doable and I really enjoyed it.

No, MIMG 101 is very easy compared to the other classes (there are a lot of non MIMG major kids taking it, so the curve is makes it easy). There are a few easy classes in the major (101 is one of them, MIMG 132, MIMG C174, MIMG CM122<-- loved this one), but the majority of the classes are not comparable with 101. The hardest class in the major (and at UCLA??) is MIMG 185A. MIMG 168 was annoying... too much research emphasis by one of the professors (she's well known by some admission committees).

If you do decide to do MIMG, take Chem 153C! It will be very useful to medschool. Its interesting that you can take courses in biomedical engineering - tissue engineering classes.

 

[hb2998]

PhySci is mostly memorization although there are a few conceptual classes thrown in. 107 (systems anatomy) is almost pure memorization (learn the names of all the bones, muscles, origins and insertions etc). 111A, however, starts with neurosci which a lot of people hates since it was very experimental/conceptual.

I swear I thought you were talking about medschool, because thats exactly what med school is (minus the experimental, theoretical stuff).

The whole time I was in that stupid anatomy lab I was thinking, wow I wish this wasn't the first time I'd heard about this. I'm hoping to kill when I get around to doing Immunity and Infection, but I don't think I will.

Its simple to pick. You will never forget that the gastrucnemius exists, where it is, and what it does. With a gun to my head, I wouldn't be able to remember what gene confers virulence to Salmonella.

 

[funkydrmonkey]

I am currently an MIMG major at UCLA. The major is not that hard. I got an A in 185A, the hardest MIMG class, and an A+ in C168... gotta be the most awesome class. There are some classes that are hard, but all majors are equally hard. I think the reason MIMG majors have lower GPA's is because they think it is the hardest major and they do not try hard to get an A. You will be surprised how many 3.9+ MIMG majors there are at UCLA. Do something you like. If you liked 101, then you will enjoy the other classes also. I say go for it.

 

[Lukkie]

I swear I thought you were talking about medschool, because thats exactly what med school is (minus the experimental, theoretical stuff).

The whole time I was in that stupid anatomy lab I was thinking, wow I wish this wasn't the first time I'd heard about this. I'm hoping to kill when I get around to doing Immunity and Infection, but I don't think I will.

Its simple to pick. You will never forget that the gastrucnemius exists, where it is, and what it does. With a gun to my head, I wouldn't be able to remember what gene confers virulence to Salmonella.

i heard from several people that the major was designed with medical school in mind. the main difference is study it from a research based aspect (how did they discover the epithelium does this?) whereas med school would discuss in in a clinical aspect (his epithelial problem - how can we fix it?) and im sure there is just a ton more material in med school overall.

and the classes themselves were actually split up into blocks. each quarter was actually like 3 classes in one - the midterm only covered the previous 3-4 weeks of material, and the 'final' was just another midterm covering the last 3 weeks of class

from your experience, sounds like i'm gonna have a blast 👍

 

[funkydrmonkey]

I swear I thought you were talking about medschool, because thats exactly what med school is (minus the experimental, theoretical stuff).

The whole time I was in that stupid anatomy lab I was thinking, wow I wish this wasn't the first time I'd heard about this. I'm hoping to kill when I get around to doing Immunity and Infection, but I don't think I will.

Its simple to pick. You will never forget that the gastrucnemius exists, where it is, and what it does. With a gun to my head, I wouldn't be able to remember what gene confers virulence to Salmonella.

Its the SPI I and II genes of course... btw, I love pathogenesis, which is why I am an MIMG major...

Edit: there are also the mig genes, how could I forget those...

 

[drscooter]

MIMG is fun major if you want an early introduction to infectious dieases and how your body fights them off. I did an MIMG major with a NeuroSci minor, and liked MIMG more, and got an A- or better in all of the UD classes.

Just to clear the rumor,

MIMG has the same average GPA (3.2) as any of the Life Sciences majors

at UCLA, e.g. Phy Sci, NeuroSci, Bio. I was an Orientation Counselor for MIMG, and thus would know since I actually asked the Dept Counselor. So stop freaking out about the GPA.🙂

 

[CoolWhipp]

Seems like there all in medical school now but thanks drscooter!