How did you pick your major?

[blappe]

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I'm torn between biology, chemistry, and biochemistry because from the basic undergrad classes I've taken, I seem to enjoy them all pretty equally.. I don't want to waste time switching majors throughout the rest of my undergrad though so does anyone have advice on how they decided what to do or what I could do to make this decision easier?

I'm just a freshman so I apologize for the seemingly irrelevant question in the midst of all your stress, but if you'd like to help a person out feel free to input!

 

[Spinach Dip]

 

[WedgeDawg]

I assume they all have fairly similar courses through the intermediate level. Take the ones that apply to the most number of them and see which aspects you like best.

Do you like cells, organs, tissues, ecosystems, and how they interact and function? Do you like atoms, mathematics, quantum mechanics, inorganic chemical interactions? Do you like molecular interactions of organic and biochemical molecules, enzymes, protein pathways?

You have a lot of time to pick a major. Take some classes in each department (at the intermediate level) and see which interests you most.

 

[takeurmeds02]

I liked science and wanted to be a doctor. Took AP Chem in high school; hated it. Took AP Bio; loved it = Bio major in college for premed

 

[StudyLater]

Biochem is a good mix. Also looks more respectable/complicated/cool than just bio or chem.

But really, at the end of the day, just take this piece of advice from my homeboy here.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Biochem is a good mix. Also looks more respectable/complicated/cool than just bio or chem.

But really, at the end of the day, just take this piece of advice from my homeboy here.

The bolded is not a great way to pick your major (if that wasn't clear)

The more interested you are in something, the harder you'll work, and the better you'll do.

 

[amazing tekkers]

I chose my major because it covered all the bases with regards to med school prereqs/mcat prep (I hope).

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you choose. If I could do it over again, I would have done computer science for sure.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

I just straight up picked the one with the longest name... Jk but only kind of.

 

[deleted407021]

Psych was more interesting than biology and I figured it'd be good to bring some modest insight to the people I work with rather than lecture them on "flora of coastal Georgia".

Music is too demanding a major at my UG, public health wouldn't let me graduate on time, fuq pchem, and anthropology ... would have been super cool, actually. I could have just as well majored in that.

 

[Lucca]

Like you I liked basically every science. I'm a double major but I chose my science major because it allowed me to have a lot of choice in the classes I take. I could've gone down a more physics-like path and taken molecular machines, molecular engineering etc; I could've gone down a more biology path and taken immunology, systems biology; I chose to go a more chemical route and take synthetic/chemical biology, structural biology.

There were other ways to carve your own path in the other degrees (besides Chem which is a pretty straightforward degree with admittedly broad and important base knowledge) but I felt biochem let me take a variety of both qualitative and quantitative courses. Also I heard the professors were cool and the classes were typically fair and reasonable in terms of work and grading.

I chose my Philosophy major because YOLO and I think writing and thinking is fun and very important.

 

[StudyLater]

The bolded is not a great way to pick your major (if that wasn't clear)

Ironically those were my main reasons, though. Oh and the fact that for chem I would have had to do some more hardcore upper level chem classes that would have necessarily had horrible profs (unlike in our biochem dept where it's bearable).

Probably the number one reason is it just sounds good. Rolls off the tongue. And people respect you like, "Ohhhhh ok. Taking college seriously, huh?" Biochem as a major is like the Wu Tang Clan.

It ain't nuttin' to **** with.

Sorry but it goes nicely with the overall theme I previously established. This should display my literary skill so adcoms can see I am well versed in the arts, and not just a science robot.

The more interested you are in something, the harder you'll work, and the better you'll do.

Biochem is more interesting than anyyyything.

Nah nah but I mean it's cool. Metabolism and receptors n stuff.

 

[md-2020]

Biochem is more interesting than anyyyything.

Yah it's pretty great, and it's not too much math either, you won't even need to know how to count to 3 while calculating your GPA.

 

[BluMist]

personal foul, unnecessary roughness.

Yah it's pretty great, and it's not too much math either, you won't even need to know how to count to 3 while calculating your GPA.

 

[Strigon]

Do business school and come over to the dark side.

 

[Petrichor1]

applicability in the field of research and medicine. I think it was an alright choice but theory and research weren't as emphasized as were techniques..and the schedule was so compressed, I think there were many days in the week where I didn't sleep.

 

[StudyLater]

Yah it's pretty great, and it's not too much math either, you won't even need to know how to count to 3 while calculating your GPA.

But I'm learning! That counts for something, right?

Damn you, bottom line....