Major help!

[jasmeets93]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am applying to most of the UC's. And want to go into medicine. So, I want to select biology or bio chem or physiology or something as a major. But I know that it is impacted. So, it will be harder to get into.
So, my friend suggested that I apply as undeclared and then switch into bio. Is this a bad idea? Will I easily be able to switch into bio, or physiology or is it hard?

If not undeclared, then whats a better option? Like bio, or physiology, or kinesiology. or what? Some colleges dont have kinesiology, so what else should I do. And I know that I choose an intended and an alt. major. Should I then select bio as int. major and some easy major, like i dont know, east asian studies or something as alt major?

Need some help!
thanks in advance

 

[gettheleadout]

I am applying to most of the UC's. And want to go into medicine. So, I want to select biology or bio chem or physiology or something as a major. But I know that it is impacted. So, it will be harder to get into.
So, my friend suggested that I apply as undeclared and then switch into bio. Is this a bad idea? Will I easily be able to switch into bio, or physiology or is it hard?

If not undeclared, then whats a better option? Like bio, or physiology, or kinesiology. or what? Some colleges dont have kinesiology, so what else should I do. And I know that I choose an intended and an alt. major. Should I then select bio as int. major and some easy major, like i dont know, east asian studies or something as alt major?

Need some help!
thanks in advance

What?

You don't need a sciences major to get into med school, pick a major you genuinely like. Also, East Asian studies is easy? 😕

 

[jasmeets93]

Well, I knw you dnt have to be science major for medical school. but i heard it is good to be, and around 65% ish are. So, i dnt know. what other major should i select? What major are you? Is your major hard?

And is east asian studies hard?

 

[Potatoman1800]

Well, I knw you dnt have to be science major for medical school. but i heard it is good to be, and around 65% ish are. So, i dnt know. what other major should i select? What major are you? Is your major hard?

And is east asian studies hard?

It's not "good" to be a bio major just for the sake of med school. That 65% figure is likely due to the fact that many of the kids that end up in med school happened to be in science-related majors - not necessarily because the admissions people wanted the ubiquitous bio major to fill up their classes.

Usually, the pre reqs for med school cover at least a portion of the bio or chem major in many schools - so pursuing a science degree is simply convenient as far as fulfilling the required classes are concerned.

Major in what interests you. Not b/c your high school counselor says so. Plus, impacted majors suck - way too many people with profs trying to fail half of the class each quarter so that less and less survive at the end. Once you do enroll, I know that some UCs don't require you to declare a real major until the end of your second yr or beginning of your 3rd yr.

There is a crap-ton of info all around SDN where people talk about their diverse majors and their path to an acceptance. Looking back now, I would have liked to be an art history or English major while applying (but I always liked bio 😉).

Good luck on those UC apps.

 

[wristbandMD]

Well, I knw you dnt have to be science major for medical school. but i heard it is good to be, and around 65% ish are. So, i dnt know. what other major should i select? What major are you? Is your major hard?

And is east asian studies hard?

It's a common myth that it is better to major in a science. I'd say that this belief is held for a number of reasons. In the past it was a general rule that you majored in a science in order to go to med school. This is no longer the norm. Many medical school prefer to have a broad range of students, meaning they encourage students to major in any subject that they are interested in. Being well rounded is much more important than majoring in a science. Many people also think that you need a science major to properly prepare for the MCAT. The prerequisites will suffice, though. n fact, a science major generally drains your GPA.

I would suggest going in as undeclared. You should take one or two (no more!) prerequisites your freshman year and one to three non-science course. Explore oyur options and declare your major after you have taken courses that sound interesting.

Gettheleadout was being sarcastic about East Asian Studies. He was in no way saying that you should major in East Asian Studies. He was simply mentioning that there are other options than science and that most of the non-science majors are considered 'easier' than science majors. (This varies from major to major, person to person, and school to school.)

 

[Isoprop]

If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably be a physics major.

 

[gettheleadout]

Gettheleadout was being sarcastic about East Asian Studies. He was in no way saying that you should major in East Asian Studies. He was simply mentioning that there are other options than science and that most of the non-science majors are considered 'easier' than science majors. (This varies from major to major, person to person, and school to school.)

OP, keep this in mind. I was trying to emphasize the variable nature of the 'easier' quality of non-science majors over the fact that they are considered easier at all.

 

[riseNshine]

Switching majors is fairly easy for freshman at UC's as long as you're switching to a major within the college. I know at the UC I attend, people just told their orientation counselor if they wanted to switch a major within the college of letters and science and that was it. I've also heard, and I am pretty sure, that your choice of major-if it's in the college of letters and science- does not matter. Of course, if you have terrible science grades/etc...it's going to be questionable...but, overall, I have heard it is not that relevant.

 

[deleted357625]

Well, I knw you dnt have to be science major for medical school. but i heard it is good to be, and around 65% ish are. So, i dnt know. what other major should i select? What major are you? Is your major hard?

And is east asian studies hard?

Major in psychology
Not easy or hard, so med school won't look at as an "easy" major.

Also, very interesting subject, and it might even help you in the long run when trying to understand patients etc.

I'm majoring psychology. Trust me.

 

[poshdoctor]

Major in psychology
Not easy or hard, so med school won't look at as an "easy" major.

Also, very interesting subject, and it might even help you in the long run when trying to understand patients etc.

I'm majoring psychology. Trust me.

I completely agree, I am at a UC and I am majoring in psychology. I took a intro to psychology class this summer and I fell in love with the subject.

Also, most psychology programs are very flexible so you can complete you pre-med requirements and still graduate in 4 years or less.

GOOD LUCK on those UC APPS!

 

[gettheleadout]

Major in psychology
Not easy or hard, so med school won't look at as an "easy" major.

Also, very interesting subject, and it might even help you in the long run when trying to understand patients etc.

I'm majoring psychology. Trust me.

While I agree that its an interesting field (I'm a psych major as well) psychology is not for everyone, as is true with every field. I recently spoke with a physics major who took general and abnormal and said it simply wasn't his aptitude. OP shouldn't get set on a major only because they think it'll look good.

 

[BeachBlondie]

Ok...

I was late in the game when I made the Big Decision to go into medical school. I, like you, wasn't necessarily aware that ANY major would suffice.

One night, my undergraduate university had a "Meet the Deans" conference. When it came time for questions, I raised my hand and told them that I was nearly done with my degree (Film, Television, and Media Production) and wasn't sure if I should scrap my 3.5 years of work and switch to bio.

One of the Deans from a certain UC school cut me off and exclaimed, "DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, change your major." She then went on to explain to me that unique majors are a talking point among admissions boards.

Bottom line? If you smoke your pre-requisites and do well on the MCAT, your major doesn't matter at all. In fact, one of my current TAs was a Music Performance major and during the heat of interviews was travelling twice per week to medical schools--he's pretty much calling the shots of where he wants to go.

Study something you enjoy because you'll have PLENTY of time to become intimate with sciences.

 

[hiphopcrates]

bottom line? If you smoke your pre-requisites and do well on the mcat, your major doesn't matter at all...

Study something you enjoy because you'll have plenty of time to become intimate with sciences.

+1