How to fit in pre-med stuff while doing two degrees?

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xnfs93hy

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I'm doing a dual degree program in Chemical Engineering and Computer Science. I have full loads (16+ credit hours per semester) until I graduate and class everyday. That's not counting time that I have to put in for internships and co-ops. The problem is, I don't have time to do anything else (research, community service, MCAT prep, etc) besides study for classes (which I will have everyday until I graduate). I desperately want to go to medical school. Should I wait until I graduate to do all of the extra things that I need to do in order to get an interview at a medical school? I will only have summers free.
 
If you're willing to make some sacrifices I'm regards to your personal life, you will be able to juggle all that at once. I'll be honest, you'll end some pretty thick skin to pull it off, but after a few months of struggle your time management skills will be amazing. I myself found it worth it because I'll be used to a really busy daily life schedule in medical school. That's one thing that taking time off school can't always teach you.

However, I would totally advise against studying for the MCAT during the school year. If you're not rushing to go to med school right out of college, taking a year off is completely normal. It's amazing how an extra year of life experiences can make a good application into a great application. At the end of the day, you'll be a practicing physician for 50 years more or less, so know this isn't a race and taking time off isn't a huge deal. I've read it on various message boards that not a single student that took time off regretted it (unless you did nothing productive). It's all about equilibrium and how much YOU think you can handle. Best advice I can give you is to use your calendar on your phone daily to plan stuff and hang an identical calendar on your desk so you can see what you're walking into every week or month. I don't want to give my life's story, but I'm actually in a similar degree situation as you as a commuter student managing various research/volunteering/part time job, and you would be surprised how much you can handle. It's all about thick skin and equilibrium! Hope that helps!
 
We don't care how many majors or degrees you have. If it is important to you to do these degrees, do them. Just realize that to have a strong application, you have to find a way to do it all well or let go of something.
 
If you're willing to make some sacrifices I'm regards to your personal life, you will be able to juggle all that at once. I'll be honest, you'll end some pretty thick skin to pull it off, but after a few months of struggle your time management skills will be amazing. I myself found it worth it because I'll be used to a really busy daily life schedule in medical school. That's one thing that taking time off school can't always teach you.

However, I would totally advise against studying for the MCAT during the school year. If you're not rushing to go to med school right out of college, taking a year off is completely normal. It's amazing how an extra year of life experiences can make a good application into a great application. At the end of the day, you'll be a practicing physician for 50 years more or less, so know this isn't a race and taking time off isn't a huge deal. I've read it on various message boards that not a single student that took time off regretted it (unless you did nothing productive). It's all about equilibrium and how much YOU think you can handle. Best advice I can give you is to use your calendar on your phone daily to plan stuff and hang an identical calendar on your desk so you can see what you're walking into every week or month. I don't want to give my life's story, but I'm actually in a similar degree situation as you as a commuter student managing various research/volunteering/part time job, and you would be surprised how much you can handle. It's all about thick skin and equilibrium! Hope that helps!

Taking MCAT after graduation translates into 2 years off, not 1. There's no reason to inflict so much stress on yourself if your goal is simply to go to medical school.
 
@allenlchs he said he is off on summers. That's not part of the school year. Sorry if what I said was misleading in that regard.
 
Nobody cares about dual degrees.... Just have one major like regular people. But if you really want a dual major, you are just going to work really hard to fit the pre-reqs and possible finish undergrad in 5-6 years...
 
No personal life. Suppose you take 18 credit hours. There are 168 hr in a week:

18 hours in class
18 hours study for classes
10 hours study for MCAT
20 hours for research... If you are really efficient, you can study while your labs are running or do hw etc.
49 hours sleep (recently they said 7 hours is best)
12 hours eating (that's more than 1 hour a day to eat)
That puts you at 127 hours.

In the remaining 41 hours...

Go volunteer
Do more studying if you struggle
Do more MCAT if needed
Spend time on SDN

I hope I did my math right, can't scroll up on my phone so I dont remember how much time I gave you for each section.

2 hours of personal time a week is mandatory - preferably with bubble baths
 
Start EC's as soon as you can, dial back your hours during the school year, and pick up more during the summer.

Easy as that.
 
No personal life. Suppose you take 18 credit hours. There are 168 hr in a week:

18 hours in class
18 hours study for classes
10 hours study for MCAT
20 hours for research... If you are really efficient, you can study while your labs are running or do hw etc.
49 hours sleep (recently they said 7 hours is best)
12 hours eating (that's more than 1 hour a day to eat)
That puts you at 127 hours.

In the remaining 41 hours...

Go volunteer
Do more studying if you struggle
Do more MCAT if needed
Spend time on SDN

I hope I did my math right, can't scroll up on my phone so I dont remember how much time I gave you for each section.

2 hours of personal time a week is mandatory - preferably with bubble baths


Only two hours a week?!
 
No personal life. Suppose you take 18 credit hours. There are 168 hr in a week:

18 hours in class
18 hours study for classes
10 hours study for MCAT
20 hours for research... If you are really efficient, you can study while your labs are running or do hw etc.
49 hours sleep (recently they said 7 hours is best)
12 hours eating (that's more than 1 hour a day to eat)
That puts you at 127 hours.

In the remaining 41 hours...

Go volunteer
Do more studying if you struggle
Do more MCAT if needed
Spend time on SDN

I hope I did my math right, can't scroll up on my phone so I dont remember how much time I gave you for each section.

2 hours of personal time a week is mandatory - preferably with bubble baths

you didn't account for time excreting waste.
 
1. Nobody cares about dual degrees other than parents.
2. The person with one easy major has an easier time getting A's and will get into med school more easily.
3. There is no set timeframe so if you don't have time to do the prereqs during college you can always do them in. Postbac.
4. What is the goal -- I think that matters most here. If it's to get into med school dump all the hard stuff and duality. If it's to be a science or computer guy, skip the med school crap.
 
I really see no reason to do those particular dual degrees if your end goal is medical school. Ditch one of them and do technically oriented biomedical research if that's your interest; there are plenty of opportunities.
 
Yeah, I am going to echo the same thing others are saying: why are you doing dual degrees? If medicine is your goal, then drop one of them and kill the one you're staying in.
 
I'm majoring in biochemistry and biology with minor in mathematics. I'll graduate in 4.5 years, I do research (10h) volunteer in 3 different places (16) I work part time (20) and tutor (volunteer at my school). Oh yeah, I joined 2clubs which takes 5-10hours.

The secret? DON T HAVE A LIFE and use every single minute doing something. The only thing I do to relax is watching scrubs when I wake up in the morning and eat my breakfast.

There is always time, don't sleep 10hours. 7is fine (there are nights, however, when I sleep 3hours). Most of people have the same schedule. At least that's what I noticed in SDN
 
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I'm majoring in biochemistry and biology with minor in mathematics. I'll graduate in 4.5 years, I do research (10h) volunteer in 3 different places (16) I work part time (20) and tutor (volunteer at my school). Oh yeah, I joined 2clubs which takes 5-10hours.

The secret? DON T HAVE A LIFE and use every single minute doing something. The only thing I do to relax is watching scrubs when I wake up in the morning and eat my breakfast.

There is always time, don't sleep 10hours. 7is fine (there are nights, however, when I sleep 3hours). Most of people have the same schedule. At least that's what I noticed in SDN

Your whole college story is an example of what students should try to avoid doing. Also from your posts it seems that you haven't taken OChem or Gen Chem?
 
I'm doing a dual degree program in Chemical Engineering and Computer Science. I have full loads (16+ credit hours per semester) until I graduate and class everyday. That's not counting time that I have to put in for internships and co-ops. The problem is, I don't have time to do anything else (research, community service, MCAT prep, etc) besides study for classes (which I will have everyday until I graduate). I desperately want to go to medical school. Should I wait until I graduate to do all of the extra things that I need to do in order to get an interview at a medical school? I will only have summers free.

The "price" of your dual-degree plan is two gap years -- the first to study for and take the MCAT, the second for the application season, with a full schedule of medical activities during both.

The "value" of your dual-degree plan is doing something that interests and challenges you now and offers a great back-up career option in the event you don't get into medical school.
 
I finished a dual biochemistry and mathematics degree. I did the math degree because I've always loved math and I didn't want to give it up. I had to make some sacrifices though and stayed an extra year in undergrad. My advice is to not do a dual major unless you're truly passionate about the subject
 
The "price" of your dual-degree plan is two gap years -- the first to study for and take the MCAT, the second for the application season, with a full schedule of medical activities during both.

The "value" of your dual-degree plan is doing something that interests and challenges you now and offers a great back-up career option in the event you don't get into medical school.

I plan to do biochem research after graduating with my Chemical Engineering degree. I'm looking at possibly pursuing an MD/PhD. I want to integrate computer science and chemical engineering in some way - like designing software that aids in chemistry. I think its a good mix. Also, I don't want to attend medical school right after undergrad. I want to get a job, work for a little bit, and maybe even get my own home. Then, by that time, I'd like to apply to medical school.
 
I plan to do biochem research after graduating with my Chemical Engineering degree. I'm looking at possibly pursuing an MD/PhD. I want to integrate computer science and chemical engineering in some way - like designing software that aids in chemistry. I think its a good mix. Also, I don't want to attend medical school right after undergrad. I want to get a job, work for a little bit, and maybe even get my own home. Then, by that time, I'd like to apply to medical school.

I did a dual degree, and though it worked out/let me pursue some things I really enjoyed, it certainly was not the easiest path to success.

As others have mentioned, think about what you ultimately want to accomplish. If the things you mention are really important to you, then go for it. If getting into medical school as simply and quickly as possible is your priority, then consider readjusting. Medical school will still be there if you continue to do well and still want it (Heck you might even have some time to see how some policy issues everyone is so worried about work out).
 
I plan to do biochem research after graduating with my Chemical Engineering degree. I'm looking at possibly pursuing an MD/PhD. I want to integrate computer science and chemical engineering in some way - like designing software that aids in chemistry. I think its a good mix. Also, I don't want to attend medical school right after undergrad. I want to get a job, work for a little bit, and maybe even get my own home. Then, by that time, I'd like to apply to medical school.

Sounds like it's the medical school bit that's the 'maybe' -- And if you wait until you're out and have established a career and life and have bought a house, then it's really a maybe.
 
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