Double major

[KLeo1003]

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Hi,
So, I’m a high school senior looking into undergrad plans. I’m sitting in a good place as far as GPA and ACT goes and I’ll have 11 AP classes by the end of this year. I’m going back and fourth between a normal course of study or a double major, something like neuroscience and music/ other arts. I understand that I can’t use AP credit in place of college credit, but if I use it as base to go on to more advanced classes, I could complete both majors without too much difficulty (I think). My alternative is to do a single major and just get a lot of humanities courses in. Are there any big dos and don’ts on double majors, or is it more of making sure not to screw up your GPA under any circumstances. Anyway, if anyone has any helpful suggestions, I would be most appreciative.

 

[TheRealMD]

Here's a program everyone can understand!

if (picking_double_major_to_impress_adcoms)
{
fail_at_med_school_apps();
}
else
{
have_a_blast();
}

return 0;

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I agree, pick the easiest major that you enjoy, and work on keeping as high a gpa as possible.

 

[geneticclone]

What? Ap's do count for college credit. They just dont count as gpa.

 

[geneticclone]

Especially at the UC's

 

[hildtom]

What? Ap's do count for college credit. They just dont count as gpa.

the OP is talking about fulfilling the academic requirements of med schools.. most med schools do not accept AP credits for those.

 

[pakbabydoll]

the OP is talking about fulfilling the academic requirements of med schools.. most med schools do not accept AP credits for those.

I talked to a few people and they said med schools don't accept English AP credits but some times are fine with Math and Science. Thats the reason I am taking comp. I passes AP lit and AP language with 4 but my adviser told me to take comp anyway.

 

[hildtom]

I talked to a few people and they said med schools don't accept English AP credits but some times are fine with Math and Science. Thats the reason I am taking comp. I passes AP lit and AP language with 4 but my adviser told me to take comp anyway.

hmm, that's interesting.. I have some ap credits myself, and it'd be nice to actually get something for them. Which schools are fine with math and science? Thanks for your info.

 

[xpinchx]

Don't do it unless you have a really strong passion to do so for some reason. It won't increase your chances to get into med school and it'll most likely hinder your chances unless you can manage a good GPA while taking that large of a course load every semester for 4 years.

 

[pakbabydoll]

I know FSU does, and I am 85% sure USF accepts them too.

 

[curlywurly]

A double major probably isn't worth it if you can't keep your grades up. That said, you'll probably "change majors" about once a week during your freshman year . Don't worry about it too much right now, just work on getting your pre-reqs done and the rest will fall into place.

 

[Blade28]

IIRC, my AP credits counted towards college credit (quarter hours) only - didn't count for med school.

 

[foreverLaur]

I did post secondary. Instead of taking high school classes and then passing an exam, I took my classes at a real university. They count towards college and high school. I did it for two full years and ended up with an associates degree when I graduated college. Med schools will accept these because they're from a real college with a college transcript.

Most med schools won't accept AP credit to meet prerequisite courses - I've asked a large number.

 

[Abilene85]

It is most important to keep your grades up. Period.


If you feel you can take on a double major and do well, and you are passionate about both subjects, then go ahead and do it. There are + and -, though. I started school as a bio/music major but dropped to a music minor at the beginning of my junior year. I was taking 18-20 credits a semester, and if I had continued probably would have been enrolled in 22. It wasn't all that bad most of the time. Music was a good break from science, and science from music. (Music was a GREAT break from the pre-med pack mentality.) I developed some closer relationships with professors through my music because I wasn't just another pre-med face in the crowd. Then the bad waves would come, like a chem test the day after an orchestra concert. And depending on the jury schedule, exam weeks could be hell - trying to study for cumulative finals while practicing and rehearsing with an accompanist.

By double majoring, you get a moderate-depth experience. By this I mean that you would essentially fulfill the minimum requirements to earn the degree. You can't do research, take major electives that you find interesting, take graduate level courses, play in the symphony orchestra, play in a quartet, try out Baroque orchestra, play in the pit for the musical...Well, you can try to do all these things, but I guarantee you won't have the time to put out a quality performance in everything. Do you want to get a B/C in o-chem or disappoint your private teacher by going to lessons unprepared?

Double majoring leaves less time for electives and extracurriculars. If you have interests in world history, economics, advanced math, linguistics, you will have to get a book and read about it because you won't have space in your schedule to take an elective purely for fun. You might wish you had more free time to do physician shadowing or get involved with a club. I'm not saying you can't do these things, but meaningful involvement requires a pretty big time commitment. If you double, learn to use your summers for some awesome resume building experiences – that can make up for a lack of time during the year.

If you start college double majoring, it is likely that you will pick one or the other at some point. I decided that I wanted to do research, anywhere from 12-20 hours a week. I was really sad about dropping to a music minor, but I wouldn't have been able to finish both majors, feel good about my research, and graduate in four years. (At my school, though, you can still participate in many music groups without being a major, so I was able to drop the major and remain active in that way.)

I don't mean to sound negative about double majoring. I absolutely adored my two years as a double, and I absolutely adored my two years as only a bio major, when I took grad level courses and higher level electives and did research. It just depends on what you would prefer. Don't be afraid to start out as a double or single major and then switch to the other.


But most important, keep your GPA up. And have fun as an undergraduate. Don't work yourself into the ground...that's what med school is for.

 

[Jolie South]

my English AP credits count, but then again I'm not applying to super competitive schools.

 

[Jolie South]

Just wanted to say that a music major is a huge commitment with ensembles, performances, private lessons, and the like. I would think hard about signing on to a double major with music as one of them.

That being said take some ensemble classes. They're fun. I did marching band, volleyball band, and basketball band. It will be good to get away from the pre-med gunners a few times a week.

 

[KLeo1003]

Thanks for the advice, I really like the idea of single major and then adding in ensembles/research/volunteering whenever possible. Even in high school, its nice to look to music as a break from those who fight over class rankings and just chill, and I imagine college will be the same way... unfortunately.

 

[xpinchx]

Thanks for the advice, I really like the idea of single major and then adding in ensembles/research/volunteering whenever possible. Even in high school, its nice to look to music as a break from those who fight over class rankings and just chill, and I imagine college will be the same way... unfortunately.

Just major in what you want, don't think you have to have a science major. You're fine just as long as you get your medical school pre-reqs finished and with good GPAs. I know a guy who did EDP for this application cycle and got in with a trombone performance major (no joke!) So just do what you want for these 4 years and enjoy it.