Economics and Microbiology Double Major or Single Major

[ducam]

I've thought about this quite a bit and I wanted some advice. I can do a double major and get out in five years which is fine cause it works out well with other things in my life, or I could do a microbiology major and be out in four or an econ major and be out in four, I love both of them a lot and I know i'm going to be fine for the MCAT but i'm undecided because of the "fall back factor" of micro is nonexistent while econ can help me with getting a good job if med school isn't they way. I'm just curious about what people think i should do.

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[doc05]

Originally posted by ducam
I've thought about this quite a bit and I wanted some advice. I can do a double major and get out in five years which is fine cause it works out well with other things in my life, or I could do a microbiology major and be out in four or an econ major and be out in four, I love both of them a lot and I know i'm going to be fine for the MCAT but i'm undecided because of the "fall back factor" of micro is nonexistent while econ can help me with getting a good job if med school isn't they way. I'm just curious about what people think i should do.

I think you should learn how to make a decision on your own. Hawkeye didn't need help from strangers.

 

[Buster Douglas]

Major in Economics and Minor in Microbiology

 

[BerkeleyPremed]

To the OP (Ducam): Whatever you do, just don't listen to Doc05. Whenever that guy decides to post something, there's a 99% chance that the post contains something that's pretty worthless/meaningless to the person he's responding to. That would seem like an intense double major to me. You could have courses like cell biology, plant biology, etc in the same semester along with courses in econometrics, transitional economies, etc.

 

[PrincetonRocks]

Personally, you sound like a strong person. I definitely would go for it. I had a friend, Carolyn, who tripled majored at Yale undergrad (now at Vanderbuilt Med). She had so many interests and that's the only way she could fulfill them all. I think grades are important, and a double major might put your GPA at a compromise. In the end, medical schools are looking for someone who has challenged himself. Don't do a double major to make your application better. Do it because you want to! Do it because you have passion about these 2 fields. That's the important thing!

 

[Nutmeg]

I say "double major if it feels good"!!! If you do choose a single major w/ a minor, I'd agree that Econ is the major to take. A quick look on admission statistics, coupled with the generally contempt that even premeds have for premeds (see Anka's thread for details), suggests to me that biology is not a very good choice of majors (unless you plan on double majoring).
Many will advise against the double major, but if you really like a challenge, it can't be beat--besides, with all the intense focusing of Med school, it good to take advantage of your opportunities as an undergrad to develop breadth.

As far as Doc05's advice, it's kind of a catch 22--how can you take advice that tells you not to take advice? It's like the following:

*the sentence between the asterisks is false*

Is the sentence true or false?

 

[vixenell]

To the OP, you seem to answer your own question. You like both economics and microbiology. If you have the money to pay for a fifth year, and can come up with a pretty good 'excuse' for why you're not graduating in four years, then go for the double major. Going into medicine, this may be your last chance to go for economics.