Major career/academic decisions, what do you think?

[Luthertaketwo]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm really struggling with the prospect of either getting a degree in biochemistry or one in nursing. In both cases, my main intention for the degree would be to go on to medical school, but in the case of the nursing degree I could later opt to go the CRNA route; I have no issues and feel that the work of a CRNA is comparable to that of an anesthesiologists(probably what I would go into as a MD/DO anyway.)

Nursing pros:
1. Backup plan for CRNA.
2. I get to have somewhat more of a life in my undergrad. No crazy 12-15 hours of lab a week.
3. I have room for a bit more well-rounded coursework.
4. Very employable right out of college making good money.
5. A good chunk of the nursing terminology/etc. will overlap with later clinical in medical school.

Nursing cons:
1.Chances for research are dismal.
2. Not a very strong core of upper level bio /bio chm classes. I'll be behind the curve a bit in the first 2 years.
3. I = male; there are biases everywhere it seems.
4. I really don't know if I'd truly like nursing school/nursing in general( I like science stuff).
5. Biases in admission to medical schools.

Biochemistry pros:
1. Good, solid coursework that will directly apply/overlap future medical school coursework.
2. Great/plenty of opportunities for research.
3. I know I'll like most of the coursework, unlike nursing which I'm unsure of.

Biochemistry cons:
1. Not a very "employable" degree, relatively speaking..
2. Heavy math reqs for the degree; math is my Achilles heel. Even though I have a 4.0 now, I think I'll get bent by higher level math courses.
3. Very focused course load and not as much opportunity to be well rounded in other disciplines.


When I talk as a biochemistry major(I'm a bio chem/molecular bio major right now,) everyone talks to me with great respect etc. Many professors have told me I'm one of the best students they have ever had(chemistry professor of 35 years told me I'm his second best student he's ever had, and he even pulled up the data on his computer to "prove it.")

When I talk about possibly going into nursing, however, it seems that I hear an audible intellectual groan. I don't know what I'm going to do, and I hate being undecided like this. I need to make some major decisions soon, and my school counselors seem fairly worthless, so any feedback is helpful/appreciated. Maybe I should post this on a nursing board too.

 

[39094]

I didn't face exactly the decision you did, but a similar one. I chose biochem, and I have never regretted it.

And don't worry about those upper division math classes, they stink but you can work through them. I dreaded having to take vector calc. and always assumed I'd end up with a C or a D. It was a lot of hard work, but I pulled off the A and was quite pleased with myself

Go with what you like, don't try to overthink the best way to get into med school.

Good luck!

 

[DD214_DOC]

Nursing pros:
1. Backup plan for CRNA.
2. I get to have somewhat more of a life in my undergrad. No crazy 12-15 hours of lab a week.


I think you need to ask some nursing students how long their clinicals are.

 

[Luthertaketwo]

Originally posted by getianshi
I didn't face exactly the decision you did, but a similar one. I chose biochem, and I have never regretted it.

And don't worry about those upper division math classes, they stink but you can work through them. I dreaded having to take vector calc. and always assumed I'd end up with a C or a D. It was a lot of hard work, but I pulled off the A and was quite pleased with myself

Go with what you like, don't try to overthink the best way to get into med school.

Good luck!

I'll have difficult enough coursework without haviing to struggle for A's/ AB's on a subject i know i will throw away as soon as I'm done with p-chem. What a waste of two years of courses. =/ Our math courses are generally every day classes, too, which makes scheduling them a B$#% and for two years I'll have to go to a class I absolutely hate. It is really a bitter pill, but thanks for you imput.

 

[Luthertaketwo]

Originally posted by JKDMed
Nursing pros:
1. Backup plan for CRNA.
2. I get to have somewhat more of a life in my undergrad. No crazy 12-15 hours of lab a week.


I think you need to ask some nursing students how long their clinicals are.

You are absolutely right. All I know about nursing is what the pre-reqs are. That's it. My campus doesn't even have a nursing program, and I would have to transfer somewhere else.

 

[Luthertaketwo]

Wow. So much feedback. And I was told this forum was rather cold.

 

[woolie]

Well, hold on there fella!

It's saturday afternoon and I don't know about anyone esle, but here where I am it's beautiful day out there. So maybe people aren't reading this site much ...

As for your question, you need to really think about these options and then go with your deepest gut feeling. Only you know what will be right for you. Don't be afraid to do something because it's hard, like the math courses. Just do it, and get it over with.

Men make awesome nurses, but you need to feel ok with that and be comfortable with your choice. Will it always bug you when people think you're the Dr when you're the nurse? Or people might give you a hard time about it - people being people. Do you feel up to making it clear that you are doing it because you really like it? Otherwise, just go straight for the biochem and get going to medschool.



And another thing, is that the evil Ernie on your avatar??? he's kind of a scary little guy ...