I recently got admitted into UCSD for the major of general biology. I was wondering whether I should change my major to human biology or not. Would this be any better for my medical school application? Thanks in advance!
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Major Choice
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Major in what you believe you'll enjoy better. Major choice plays no role on your application.
However you some could say that a humanities major would put you in a better position for acceptance. Regardless major in what you want and what you believe will get you the highest gpa.
However you some could say that a humanities major would put you in a better position for acceptance. Regardless major in what you want and what you believe will get you the highest gpa.
the better question you should be asking is if I don't get into medical school, then what can i do with the degree that i am graduating with... do not major in bio because you think that is the default major to getting into medical school or that it will be the major that you will get the highest gpa...
The most important thing for success is whether or not you like what you are doing. If not, then it will be much harder to do well. I have personal experience with that.
I started my first two years off as a psychology major, and while some classes were interesting, I easily got bored and my grades went down because I wasn't motivated to study. I was surprised because I chose that major thinking I could get through college with better grades than a science major. Boy was I wrong. I ended up changing my major to molecular biology because I always found that field interesting, but I was just afraid it would be too hard. I am actually doing much better in this major simply because I am more interested and therefore more motivated to study and work hard, despite the fact the material is harder.
What you major in does not play a role at all, its your grades, MCAT score, and extra activities. If human biology sounds more interesting to you, then change your major to that. Don't do it just because you think it will look better. When you enjoy what you are studying the academic part of college is fun too!
I started my first two years off as a psychology major, and while some classes were interesting, I easily got bored and my grades went down because I wasn't motivated to study. I was surprised because I chose that major thinking I could get through college with better grades than a science major. Boy was I wrong. I ended up changing my major to molecular biology because I always found that field interesting, but I was just afraid it would be too hard. I am actually doing much better in this major simply because I am more interested and therefore more motivated to study and work hard, despite the fact the material is harder.
What you major in does not play a role at all, its your grades, MCAT score, and extra activities. If human biology sounds more interesting to you, then change your major to that. Don't do it just because you think it will look better. When you enjoy what you are studying the academic part of college is fun too!
Thank you very much for the input! Yes I completely agree with the fact that one must like what they are doing. However, human biology and general biology are the slightest bit different. Only thing is that the general biology major covers a slightly larger scope of classes. I just need to make sure with the university that I will be allowed to take the courses that are offered to human biology majors (i.e physiology), while being a general biology major.
Hey,
Make sure Human Biology is the major you want to switch into, The biological sciences department at SD is highly impacted and you only get ONE intradepartmental switch, so if you find out that maybe....neurobiology and physiology is more appealing to you later on, you'll be out of luck; Go tritons!🙂
Make sure Human Biology is the major you want to switch into, The biological sciences department at SD is highly impacted and you only get ONE intradepartmental switch, so if you find out that maybe....neurobiology and physiology is more appealing to you later on, you'll be out of luck; Go tritons!🙂
Your welcome! General Biology may cover a wider range of topics, but will you be interested in all of them? You will be covering plants and have to take some classes about plants, Animals, enviornmental ecosystems and perhaps marine biology and an introductory course in molecular biology. While they all interesting (well, except for plants lol) having this major may keep you from taking more medical oriented courses such as physiology.
If I were in your shoes, I would chose the Human biology as this would interest me more. You may get to take classes in human genetics, neurobiology, neuroanatomy, Histology, etc. while missing out on them with the regular bio major. Molecular biology is really interesting too. If you are into learning about disease mechanisms, genetics, mutations in DNA, metabolism, genetic engineering, or anything dealing with the central dogma, then molecular biology might be good to consider as well. At my college you have your primary major and then you chose whether or not you are pre-professional. Since I am molecular biology pre-professional I can take the anatomy and medical oriented courses as well as the molecular biology courses. Its the best of both worlds. I would see if your school has something similar, then it might not matter as much whether you are regular biology or human biology.
Major in what you enjoy, but also remember that a major that fills more of your pre-med requirements leaves you with more room to take interesting electives.
Thanks! Do you know if General Biology majors at UCSD are allowed to take all the classes needed for med school? For example, physiology?
ADCOM; "Hey guys! Look! There is someone here who majored in bio, human bio no less!"
Sarcasm ending now. I'm not trying to be an a**, but seriously, having any kind of bio major is not going to set you apart, nor will it hinder you. It is what it is; your major. As long as it interests you and you think you can do well go for it, but please don't do it because you think it will help you get in.
Sarcasm ending now. I'm not trying to be an a**, but seriously, having any kind of bio major is not going to set you apart, nor will it hinder you. It is what it is; your major. As long as it interests you and you think you can do well go for it, but please don't do it because you think it will help you get in.
The questions is not over whether i want to major in bio or not. Either way I am in the Biology department. I just wanted to know if the differentiation between general bio and human bio would make a difference, and if I can still take any upper div classes that I need for med school with general biology
I understood the question. No, it doesn't matter, is what I was trying say... Also, you really don't need upper division bio credits. Sure, most people have some, and it won't hurt, but I am getting the impression that you think physiology is a pre-req, which it is not.
I was a general bio major, but I recently switched to microbiology just because I enjoy it more and I feel like the knowledge is actually building on itself. With general biology, I was taking structure and function of plants one semester and the next human physiology.
It just didn't work for me. Plus I hated statistics and microbiology majors get out of taking it 😎
Maybe I'm alone in this but I feel that general biology is too broad, and you do a lot better in something more focused. IMO human would be better, but if you enjoy a broad education to a focused one, by all means go for general biology.
It just didn't work for me. Plus I hated statistics and microbiology majors get out of taking it 😎
Maybe I'm alone in this but I feel that general biology is too broad, and you do a lot better in something more focused. IMO human would be better, but if you enjoy a broad education to a focused one, by all means go for general biology.
