First of I have to say thank you for everyone contributing their time to helping me!
I feel like JRWPREMED is in the exact situation as me!
I will be sure to take everything into advice when you say not to tell them it is your fallback.
That is mainly the reason I was considering engineering, the money and because its rigor would prepare me for med school. Knowing myself though I believe I would do better in a science like you, calculus doesn't come naturally to me 🙁
Are you planningon applying to med school JRWPREMED or anyone else that has posted?
It is my main goal to do go into medicine and I have drive. I just have to decide a major at my school. Chem? Biology? Anything else?
Do these courses involve alot of math?
Which do you think would have the best job oppurtunities IN CASE I dont make it to med/PA/DO school?
This is my future here so i'm just taking extra precation sorry about all of my questions!
Engineering was only my choice because I wanted a solid back-up in case I failed at getting accepted into medical school. I hated all of my classes once I got there.
I love that you mentioned that Calculus doesn't come naturally to you, because it didn't come so easily to me either. I had a 4.0 Math GPA in high school. When I got to college, I did horribly in math. I was in Aerospace Engineering, which is incredibly math intensive. I would have had to take Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, Numerical Methods, and various math intensive physics courses like Dynamics. Ugh. I quickly saw that if I stayed in engineering I would ruin my chances of going to medical school.
To answer your question on applying to medical school, I will not be applying this year. I have 4 more classes that I need and I'll take the MCAT. I'll probably apply to several medical schools next summer after I get my MCAT scores. I'm not sure what class I'll be... probably Class of 2018.
Now I'll try to explain a little bit about Biology and Chem majors....
A degree in Biology requires math, but that is really only for the Chem and Physics courses you are required to take. In my Biology degree, I have to take Chem, O-Chem, and Physics, but maybe the Bio degree at ISU is different. You really won't need Calculus unless you take Calculus based Physics. Some medical schools require two semesters of Calculus, some require one semester Calc and statistics, while others require none. The degree prospects for Biology are good, but not great. That is why I am putting my concentration in Biochemistry. Biochem has a lot of relation to medicine, so I know that if I don't get into medical school I can always fall back on medical research.
A Chem degree is a bit harder than Biology. Most chemistry majors make you take Calc I, II, and Multivariable Calculus. The only reason you are required to take Calculus is because of Physical Chemistry. I don't know much about it because I don't have to take it, but I've heard it is difficult and math intensive. The rest of the Chem degree is basically General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Analytic Chemistry, and their respective labs. My school specifically requires Calculus based physics for a Chem degree. That is another one of those Physical Chemistry things.
The best job opportunity is definitely going to be in Engineering, but it is so hard to hold a 3.0 GPA in it. I spent one semester in Engineering and came out with a 2.34. I switched to Biology and brought my GPA up to a 3.4. Your next best bet is going to be Chemistry, especially if your degree is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Biology is one of those degrees that you really don't want to stop at a Bachelors. If you do major in Biology and don't get into medical school, I suggest going to graduate school for at least a Masters. You can also apply to medical school for five years as you make your application better over the years. After 5 years, you have to retake the MCAT.... Then you can apply again. If you know medicine is your thing, never give up. Every time you want to procrastinate, every time you want to go out and party the night before a test, remember what it takes to get into medical school. Remember your dream. I will admit that even that did not help me in engineering. The workload was so high that I just couldn't do it.
I would like to hit a little bit on something you said in your last message. It was about the rigor of engineering. I'd just like to let you know that the only pre-med prereqs that are in an engineering major are one semester of chem and Calc-based physics. The rest of the courses would have to be taken as electives. It is almost impossible to finish an engineering degree early. Most students even have to take a 5th year regardless. If you add the pre-med stuff to the degree, it is definitely going to be another year before you graduate. You have to fit a year of Biology, a year of Organic Chemistry, and another semester of Chem. The best bet would be to do your best to finish the engineering degree is 4 years and do what is called a Post-Bacc for the pre-med prereqs.
Hope this helps! Feel free to ask me anymore questions.
meaning no med school.
