Exercise Science or Psychology?

[NP545]

I am completely stuck on which major to use and this is eating my mind. The advisors at my college aren't helping so I'm hoping some of your feedback will. I have no idea whether to take Exercise Science- Kinesiology or Psychology as a major.
Here's a bit about each:

Exercise Science- Kinesiology
9 more major relevant classes required during Junior/Senior Year
Some of those classes include Anatomy (with cadavers), Exercise Physiology, Systems Physiology


Psychology
8 classes required for major, but also need to minor in something like Biology which is another 3 extra classes
Some classes include Cognition, Infant Child Development, Conditioning, Advanced Topics, and the remaining are electives

Regardless of which major, I will take Biochem to help prepare for the 2015 MCAT (unless you recommend I learn this on my own- I already learned about Michealis Menton, Inhibition/Enzyme Competition, Lineweaver-Burke in my Chem class)
The Psychology major option is probably the higher GPA route and "lesser" stress (maybe not with the Biology minor). However, the Exercise Science route will probably result in a GPA ~ .15 - .25 less than the Psychology option but I would be learning more practical stuff about being a doctor (EKG tests, anatomy, hands-on experience).
I have equal interest in both and am not sure which route to go.
Any thoughts or suggestions on what major to pursue of these two?

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[coffeesnob]

There will be a plenty of time for you to learn EKG, anatomy and physiology in medical school. So do whatever you really want to do. Your major doesn't really matter (and you know this).

But if you start the first year of medical school with background knowledge in anatomy and physiology, it will give you a leg up in certain courses/blocks for sure. Though it's likely to be a minor advantage, it is still an advantage. Many med students don't even know tibia and fibula when they start, and they catch up just fine.

If I could go back to undergrad, I would have chosen an anatomy/physiology-heavy major. It would have made my anatomy block less stressful.

 

[NP545]

I'm not really sure which to choose though. Would you say that the brief exposure to the anatomy portion would be worth the loss of about .5 GPA points in undergrad and maybe a couple more hours studying?

 

[coffeesnob]

I'm not really sure which to choose though. Would you say that the brief exposure to the anatomy portion would be worth the loss of about .5 GPA points in undergrad and maybe a couple more hours studying?

Here is what I think: 0.5 difference in GPA doesn't really matter if you have above 3.6. If you really want to learn things they teach you in exercise science, only you know if the additional hours of studying is worthwhile.

Is the anatomy course for exercise science major at your school pretty in-depth? If they are going to teach just a few bones, a few muscles and surface anatomy, then I would say that wouldn't really help in med school.

 

[NP545]

Here is what I think: 0.5 difference in GPA doesn't really matter if you have above 3.6. If you really want to learn things they teach you in exercise science, only you know if the additional hours of studying is worthwhile.

Is the anatomy course for exercise science major at your school pretty in-depth? If they are going to teach just a few bones, a few muscles and surface anatomy, then I would say that wouldn't really help in med school.

It's somewhat in-depth, more than basics but not med school level...
Decision is whether to take exercise/anatomy related classes vs dozen psych classes + Genetics, Cell Bio, and another Upper level bio class... ?
If you were me you said you'd choose the Anatomy option if you could do it over, right?

 

[NP545]

Here's a tentative college schedule outline of both routes... if any one else wants to help me choose...?

 

[coffeesnob]

Here's a tentative college schedule outline of both routes... if any one else wants to help me choose...?

The exercise science route doesn't look that much more difficult than psych. If you are not passionate about a particular one, I would do exercise science if your primary motive is to get exposed to medical knowledge. Genetics, cell bio and upper level bio class wouldn't help you much in med school. I mean if you are just finishing up your freshman year, you still can change your mind later.

 

[NP545]

I need to make up my mind soon because registration will depend on my declaration of major which I do next semester. Thanks for your input as well.

 

[dcc23]

I considered these options before I started school but decided to go with Psychology. I have explained this in med school interviews to positive remarks by pointing out that although I knew I wanted to go to medical school from the beginning, I wanted to use these 4 years to learn something medical school wouldn't eventually teach me. I planned to learn about the human body in med school, so in undergrad I used that time to learn about why people behave and relate to the world the way they do. I think this will be very valuable as a doctor and in the end I was really glad I chose psych.

As others have said, pick the major that is most interesting to you. You will have a better GPA studying something you enjoy learning. There's plenty of time to learn anatomy later.

 

[NP545]

I considered these options before I started school but decided to go with Psychology. I have explained this in med school interviews to positive remarks by pointing out that although I knew I wanted to go to medical school from the beginning, I wanted to use these 4 years to learn something medical school wouldn't eventually teach me. I planned to learn about the human body in med school, so in undergrad I used that time to learn about why people behave and relate to the world the way they do. I think this will be very valuable as a doctor and in the end I was really glad I chose psych.

As others have said, pick the major that is most interesting to you. You will have a better GPA studying something you enjoy learning. There's plenty of time to learn anatomy later.

Thanks for your feedback. Did you minor in anything? Were you "stress free"? Did you get into MD schools? And finally, no regrets?

 

[dcc23]

Thanks for your feedback. Did you minor in anything? Were you "stress free"? Did you get into MD schools? And finally, no regrets?

I picked up a minor in chemistry through completing the pre-med requirements. I would say my stress level was pretty low, and I found time to work two jobs, play on a club sports team, and stay involved in an autism research lab for 3 years. So far I've been accepted to 1 MD school and am on the waitlist at 4 others after 7 interviews. I had a 32 MCAT and 3.7 GPA.

I had no regrets about majoring in psychology, but I also worked really hard to be at the top of my department class. I received an award for best senior honors thesis and had almost a 4.0 in my major classes. I personally think psych is a great option for pre-med because you learn very practical information about navigating life and people, and also don't have to stress about undertaking a very difficult major while maintaining a high GPA.

 

[NP545]

I picked up a minor in chemistry through completing the pre-med requirements. I would say my stress level was pretty low, and I found time to work two jobs, play on a club sports team, and stay involved in an autism research lab for 3 years. So far I've been accepted to 1 MD school and am on the waitlist at 4 others after 7 interviews. I had a 32 MCAT and 3.7 GPA.

I had no regrets about majoring in psychology, but I also worked really hard to be at the top of my department class. I received an award for best senior honors thesis and had almost a 4.0 in my major classes. I personally think psych is a great option for pre-med because you learn very practical information about navigating life and people, and also don't have to stress about undertaking a very difficult major while maintaining a high GPA.

Your situation is kind of similar to mine, I was considering a Chem minor over Bio because its only a couple classes away. How many MD's did you apply to, and do you know why you were waitlisted (weak major, relatively average MCAT, bad performance in a class, etc)?
My grades are similar to yours but do you think you would have gotten into the 1 with slightly weaker ECs?

 

[dcc23]

Your situation is kind of similar to mine, I was considering a Chem minor over Bio because its only a couple classes away. How many MD's did you apply to, and do you know why you were waitlisted (weak major, relatively average MCAT, bad performance in a class, etc)?
My grades are similar to yours but do you think you would have gotten into the 1 with slightly weaker ECs?

Honestly, med school admissions by and large are a crap shoot. The main thing is to do everything you can to eliminate whatever aspects of your application adcoms could hold against you. I can't answer exactly why I was waitlisted at those schools, but I know there's tons of qualified applicants and it really comes down to how committee's subjectively feel about you.

Bottom line: do well on the MCAT, make good grades, and stay busy doing things you're passionate about. Those are what matter for medical school. You can do these things regardless of your major.

 

[phunky]

I would personally do exercise science. I am passionate about physical activity on both a personal and intellectual level. Exercise is also a really hot topic of research in pretty much every field right now, and the NIH is spending a lot of money looking for ways to get people more physically active.

 

[NP545]

So you're saying that regardless of major, what you do outside of school and your impression to adcoms define your chances?

 

[dcc23]

So you're saying that regardless of major, what you do outside of school and your impression to adcoms define your chances?

In addition to MCAT and GPA, that's pretty much it other than recommendation letters.

 

[NP545]

In addition to MCAT and GPA, that's pretty much it other than recommendation letters.

The the psychology major impact your MCAT performance and would a more science related one helped you perform better? Or did you study enough and either major would have given you about the same score?

 

[pbrocks15]

Exercise science!!

I wish my college had that as a major. Like you mentoned I am very into physical activity and sports and I think this would give me a deeper understanding of what I do for fun.

I also think that the courses you listed in exercise science will allow you to see a lot of words that you will later see in medical school.

 

[ZSVDK_HNORC]

I'm an Exercise Science/Sports Medicine major and I love it. Its definitely no cake walk though, anatomy, physiology, ochem 1+2, genetics, biochem, kinesiology, exercise physiology, neuroanatomy, physics, biomechanics, and it goes on and on.
I enjoy it because knocks out a all the premed pre reqs and there are also some really interesting sports/exercise specific classes if you're into that (psychology of sports, Neurology of sports, weight training, etc.)

 

[simple1987]

I'm late to the game on this one, but wanted to chime in.... I just graduated with a degree in Exercise Science and I really enjoyed my major. I initially wanted to go into PT, so Exercise Science was right up my alley. Like others mentioned, it's definitely not what I'd call an "easy" major. Anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, etc. were all classes that tended to give many students problems. My other friends (who are also heading off to med school in a few months) seemed to look down on my major as if it were way easier than a Biology major (I'd agree in some areas though).

I think the majority of classes will allow you to become very familiar with the body and can only help you later on when you see that material again in medical school.