Indecisive Behavior and Interviews

[edants]

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Hi,

Thanks for entering this thread (entering?). That alone proves that whoever you are out there, that you are a real OG. I'm not a frequenter of this forum, but felt that here I could get some good opinions. Let me be brief: I have changed my major many times-- most of them rash decisions with little thought put in. Here's a quick run down:

Industrial Engineering -> Finance -> Computer Engineering -> Electrical Engineering -> Computer Engineering -> Electrical Engineering -> Mechanical Engineering -> Finance -> Biology(premed intention)-> Computer Engineering -> Accounting -> Computer Science -> Biology(premed intention) -> Accounting -> Biology (pre med intention)

Currently, I am in my 5th year as an undergraduate. My cGPA is 3.70 and my sGPA is 3.50. I've earned A's in all the prereqs (except Physics- B+, A-) I just wanted to know how you all think admissions committees would view my situation. Any opinions welcome!

PS. I am not crazy, just haven't had a clue what to do with my life the last three years.

 

[bananafish94]

Under normal circumstances, I think that a little bit of indecision or healthy skepticism about your future indicates maturity and would be considered a good thing. This is pretty extreme, though, and I do feel that there could be some questions about your commitment to medicine. That being said, your grades are definitely fine and as long as you make the effort to demonstrate a commitment to going to medical school and do well on all of the other aspects of your application, you should be alright.

 

[Lawpy]

Industrial Engineering -> Finance -> Computer Engineering -> Electrical Engineering -> Computer Engineering -> Electrical Engineering -> Mechanical Engineering -> Finance -> Biology(premed intention)-> Computer Engineering -> Accounting -> Computer Science -> Biology(premed intention) -> Accounting -> Biology (pre med intention)

Not sure why you ended up majoring in biology. You could major in engineering, minor in finance and complete the prereqs. You can still apply and get into med school with an engineering/finance degree, and your plan B if medicine doesn't work out will be solid.

 

[aalamruad]

How would anyone know about all the major changes if you don't bring it up? Adcoms don't tend to scrutinize transcripts very much, so it'll probably just look like 2-3 major changes at most

 

[wizzed101]

For me, it's not alarming that you switched so often but that you switched back and forth to some majors.

 

[Dr. Rafiki]

How would anyone know about all the major changes if you don't bring it up? Adcoms don't tend to scrutinize transcripts very much, so it'll probably just look like 2-3 major changes at most

+1 I seriously doubt they will find out, unless your school really clearly labels a major change in between semesters.

 

[edants]

Not sure why you ended up majoring in biology. You could major in engineering, minor in finance and complete the prereqs. You can still apply and get into med school with an engineering/finance degree, and your plan B if medicine doesn't work out will be solid.

Part of my motivation for continually moving away from Engineering/Business is the practical nature of those two fields. Personally, I am much more inclined to study a type of science e.g. Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Economics. As evidence, I have really enjoyed my physics and chemistry classes which are more geared toward knowledge than my business and engineering classes where practical implication of the material is the primary purpose.

 

[Lawpy]

Part of my motivation for continually moving away from Engineering/Business is the practical nature of those two fields. Personally, I am much more inclined to study a type of science e.g. Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Economics. As evidence, I have really enjoyed my physics and chemistry classes which are more geared toward knowledge than my business and engineering classes where practical implication of the material is the primary purpose.

Ok that's perfectly understandable. But you may be asked about your Plan B outside of medicine, and i'm not sure whether biology may be a good choice.

As far as your switching majors is concerned, i don't see a problem. Your transcripts will likely only list the degrees you are graduating with (so only biology here), and you just took courses in other areas while you were figuring out what to do.

 

[edants]

For me, it's not alarming that you switched so often but that you switched back and forth to some majors.

I don't think switching back and forth is necessarily bad. The way I interpret it is that I was interested in a few specific fields and couldn't decide which of those few fields. Then again, I may just be telling myself that.

 

[edants]

Ok that's perfectly understandable. But you may be asked about your Plan B outside of medicine, and i'm not sure whether biology may be a good choice.

As far as your switching majors is concerned, i don't see a problem. Your transcripts will likely only list the degrees you are graduating with (so only biology here), and you just took courses in other areas while you were figuring out what to do.

Yeah, my parents are really concerned with Plan B type activities (pun) if I were to not stick with medicine. Teaching and research would both be viable alternatives to me.

 

[edants]

+1 I seriously doubt they will find out, unless your school really clearly labels a major change in between semesters.

My school labels major changes very well. In fact, I looked online at an unofficial transcript to find all of the major changes since I didn't know.

 

[gyngyn]

I've never seen a change in major noted in a transcript.

 

[edants]

I've never seen a change in major noted in a transcript

Do you usually look at unofficial or official transcripts from a UG or do you see some form of a transcript from AMCAS?

 

[gyngyn]

Do you usually look at unofficial or official transcripts from a UG or do you see some form of a transcript from AMCAS?

We use AMCAS for all processing of applications.

 

[prehealthadvisor55]

I've never seen a change in major noted in a transcript

Same. The most I've ever seen on an official is 1 per semester (whatever the major was at the end of the semester when grades post).

 

[Goro]

Ditto for AACOMAS apps.

I've never seen a change in major noted in a transcript.

 

[tantacles]

Your change of majors will not affect your application unless you personally mention them. No one particularly cares what you major in.