Major Indecision!

[saucy]

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How did you choose your major? What factors did you weigh?

What are your majors?

So I'm in my sophomore year and I'm considering switching from being a Biology major to an English or Women's Studies major. Is this a horrible decision?

~saucy

P.S. If there is already a thread on this topic could someone please direct me to it. I'm a new poster here. It'd be greatly appreciated!

 

[gujuDoc]

Adcoms don't care what you major in. They like to see diversity so going into a nonbiology major such as women's studies or english literature is fine. Just do well in both your major and the prereq courses and do well on the MCAT. Oh and get good clinical and nonclinical personal experiences that help you to grow and show your enthusiasm for medicine.

That's all.

 

[drmota]

i thought the title of this thread was "major indigestion" when i first saw it. my answer: tums
-mota

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Adcoms don't care what you major in. They like to see diversity so going into a nonbiology major such as women's studies or english literature is fine. Just do well in both your major and the prereq courses and do well on the MCAT. Oh and get good clinical and nonclinical personal experiences that help you to grow and show your enthusiasm for medicine.

That's all.

Yup. Doesn't really matter what you major in, just take classes that are challenging and interest you. If I could do it over again I would have double-majored in a language of some sort (spanish) because it will be usefull in the future and ris elatively unique.

 

[gujuDoc]

If you'd like some adcom input, there are 3 posters who can comment......

adcomm, LizzyM, and REL.

If any of you 3 are reading this, then please feel free to put your insight.

 

[riceman04]

Initially I started out as a bio major (before I was premed) because always tried to brainwash me and say that it is best to be a science major b/c you will have job options (kinda weird that he never pushed me to pursue medicine...in fact he and my sister think I am crazy/stupid for wanting to pursue medicine). Yeah...so I began to see past his b/s during second semester.

I ended up becoming a psyc major b/c I love the content of that subject. It turned out to be a benefit too b/c I could still take science classes that I wanted to take.

 

[saucy]

Thanks for the advice! I am concerned about how a B.A. in Women's Studies will "look" to the conservative admissions staff wondering about my sexual orientation or the validity of the subject matter of the course. If this is not the case I'm going to pursue what I feel is interesting.

~saucy

 

[saucy]

Initially I started out as a bio major (before I was premed) because always tried to brainwash me and say that it is best to be a science major b/c you will have job options (kinda weird that he never pushed me to pursue medicine...in fact he and my sister think I am crazy/stupid for wanting to pursue medicine). Yeah...so I began to see past his b/s during second semester.

I ended up becoming a psyc major b/c I love the content of that subject. It turned out to be a benefit too b/c I could still take science classes that I wanted to take.

My older brother told me to major in Biology or a science because I will have more job options too. 🙁 My other brother pointed out to me that it's grades that matter a great deal and if you're not happy (and your grades are suffering too) you should do something about it.

As a Biology major, I feel as though I need some sort of creative outlet to balance my pre-med requirements with.

Although I LOVE Biology, switching my major is me doing something about it!



~saucy

 

[deuist]

How did you choose your major? What factors did you weigh?

I majored in physics and religion because they were interesting. My factors were (1) interest (2) things that I would enjoy (3) uniqueness and (4) getting away from pre-meds.

 

[saucy]

If you'd like some adcom input, there are 3 posters who can comment......

adcomm, LizzyM, and REL.

If any of you 3 are reading this, then please feel free to put your insight.

*BUMP*

I would love some more insight!

~saucy

 

[njbmd]

If you'd like some adcom input, there are 3 posters who can comment......

adcomm, LizzyM, and REL.

If any of you 3 are reading this, then please feel free to put your insight.

Hi there,
You can add me for number four! It doesn't matter what you major in as long as you do well in all of your coursework and do well in the MCAT.

njbmd 🙂

 

[Daichi Katase]

"Major Indecision"...

Dude, I love puns!

 

[Daichi Katase]

oh yeah...do something you like and stuff and what they said above.

 

[Vista04]

my vote is also to study something that interests you during undergrad, especially if its not a hard science. if you're entering medicine, undergrad may be the last time to spend a good amount of time developing reading, writing, and analytical skills of a different sort.

also, it's not like you're turning your back on biology. you still have pre-med requirements that give you a good dose of bio and you'll study plenty of bio in the first two years of med school.

-philosophy major

 

[jbar]

The best way to figure it out it to take a bunch of intro classes freshman year, and then major in what you find interesting. I ended up being a psych major cuz:

1: I thought it was interesting.
2: Thought it was useful
3: The classes were full of cute girls, my upper level classes tended to have four to one ratios
4. The classes were easy.
5. Did I mention the girls?

jbar

 

[REL]

Hi there,
You can add me for number four! It doesn't matter what you major in as long as you do well in all of your coursework and do well in the MCAT.

njbmd 🙂

Agree. I would like to add that we would prefer to see that non-science majors should take 2-3 heavy semesters of rigorous coursework, preferably including an abundance of sciences/math courses with a good academic outcome to gauge your academic survivability in the MD curriculum. We try to have a very diverse class each year and, while there are no quotas or checklist items, different majors contributes to diversity of the class.

 

[gujuDoc]

Hi there,
You can add me for number four! It doesn't matter what you major in as long as you do well in all of your coursework and do well in the MCAT.

njbmd 🙂

Wow I knew you were a resident, but I never realized you were an adcom member somewhere.

Its good to know there are so many adcom people on here who will answer the questions directly.

 

[saucy]

Agree. I would like to add that we would prefer to see that non-science majors should take 2-3 heavy semesters of rigorous coursework, preferably including an abundance of sciences/math courses with a good academic outcome to gauge your academic survivability in the MD curriculum. We try to have a very diverse class each year and, while there are no quotas or checklist items, different majors contributes to diversity of the class.

I have Calc II, Orgo II, Physics I,and Physics II left. Should I "double up?" (science and a science or science and a math)

i.e.
Junior Year 1st semester: Physics I and Orgo II
Junior Year 2nd semester: Physics II and Calc II

I was planning to spread these four classes out over my remaining four semesters... Judging from your response I'm guessing that this wouldn't be the best thing to do.

Thanks in advance!

 

[hunter1077]

How did you choose your major? What factors did you weigh?

What are your majors?

So I'm in my sophomore year and I'm considering switching from being a Biology major to an English or Women's Studies major. Is this a horrible decision?

~saucy

P.S. If there is already a thread on this topic could someone please direct me to it. I'm a new poster here. It'd be greatly appreciated!

First, major in something that you love. If you are sure that you are medicine bound try choosing a major that you can actually make a decent living at just in case you are not accepted straight out of undergrad. Teaching biology sounds great but not much of an income. If you are truly interested in the medical field why not Medical Technology/Clinical Lab Science, Nursing, PT, or anything else that you can also use as clinical experience and get paid for it.
Good Luck

 

[ilovehedgehogs]

I have Calc II, Orgo II, Physics I,and Physics II left. Should I "double up?" (science and a science or science and a math)

i.e.
Junior Year 1st semester: Physics I and Orgo II
Junior Year 2nd semester: Physics II and Calc II

I was planning to spread these four classes out over my remaining four semesters... Judging from your response I'm guessing that this wouldn't be the best thing to do.

Thanks in advance!

I am an animal science major and a women's studies citation. I have never recieved anything but interest in the women's studies part from adcomms, and definately no "sexual orientation" issues. The women's studies classes are a great compliment to the sciences and the classes are just fun in general. Animal science b/c i wanted to be a vet senior year of high school, changed my mind freshman year of college, but b/c half of our courses were in the bio dept anyways and ansc was more intimate, i decided id stay there. If i could do it again id major in a) neurophys, b) biochem, c) cell bio and molecular genetics. But i would definately still get the wmst citation

 

[ilovehedgehogs]

sorry i forgot to say one thing, orgo and physics are not bad together, I think most of my friends took them at the same time

 

[femily]

engineering!!!

i LOVE my major because i'm a math nerd AND i got to get away from the freaky pre-meds. now i go to class with good ol' redneck boys...but hey...gotta love it. but like everyone's said...do something you like because you want to enjoy college, not hate it.

 

[saucy]

First, major in something that you love. If you are sure that you are medicine bound try choosing a major that you can actually make a decent living at just in case you are not accepted straight out of undergrad. Teaching biology sounds great but not much of an income. If you are truly interested in the medical field why not Medical Technology/Clinical Lab Science, Nursing, PT, or anything else that you can also use as clinical experience and get paid for it.
Good Luck

My college doesn't offer those majors. 😕

If I do major in women's studies I have NO idea what I would do after I graduate if I don't get into medical school. Anyone out there know? ilovehedgehogs?

I do know that I'm more motivated than ever b/c I want to do well in these courses!

~saucy

 

[hunter1077]

If you are really interested in those fields of study...then find a college that does offer and transfer!
I majored in Medical Technology got out of school making 45K. Decided to have a family and work for a few years and then go back to medical school. I was not rich but lived comfortably and used my 4 years of working as clinical experience (adcomm was thrilled with my experience).
My wife is a nurse. Nurses are in very short supply and salaries generally VERY good. She has seen a lot of medicine as a nurse as I have as a med tech.
Set goals and complete them on step at a time.

 

[Dorise04]

I am thinking about majoring in women studies also.

Some jobs you can get are human services positon, social work, in group home. etc. My counselor was telling me this the other day. 🙂 👍

My college doesn't offer those majors. 😕

If I do major in women's studies I have NO idea what I would do after I graduate if I don't get into medical school. Anyone out there know? ilovehedgehogs?

I do know that I'm more motivated than ever b/c I want to do well in these courses!

~saucy

 

[ilovehedgehogs]

My college doesn't offer those majors. 😕

If I do major in women's studies I have NO idea what I would do after I graduate if I don't get into medical school. Anyone out there know? ilovehedgehogs?

I do know that I'm more motivated than ever b/c I want to do well in these courses!

~saucy

My friends who are just WMST majors mostly go to grad school-most law school actually, but for those who dont, i think they get jobs at various non-profits. I love the dpmt, classes, teachers, etc, but to be honest, it is not a very versatile degree from what ive observed, in terms of what you can do with it right out of college. At the same time tho, degrees that do afford you a well paying job right out of school with no graduate work are few and far between...but it sounds like Dorise knows more than i do. In any case i highly recommend wmst as at least a citation or minor

 

[REL]

I have Calc II, Orgo II, Physics I,and Physics II left. Should I "double up?" (science and a science or science and a math)

i.e.
Junior Year 1st semester: Physics I and Orgo II
Junior Year 2nd semester: Physics II and Calc II

I was planning to spread these four classes out over my remaining four semesters... Judging from your response I'm guessing that this wouldn't be the best thing to do.

Thanks in advance!

I'm not sure that you can double any of those up because you need them in sequence, but with labs they count for a solid 8 credit hours of science per semester. Consider adding another helpful science in each semester, something which may give you some basic familiarity with med school basic sciences in the fall, then maybe biochem in the spring. That'll give you a solid 24 credit hour year in the sciences. You appear to be setting up for the April MCAT -- good time to take it to give you the entire "interview season" for selection. I strongly suggest taking the April MCAT if at all possible, of course if not ready, do August and do well.

 

[LucidSplash]

I majored in biochem/molecular bio and would have double majored in anthro if I had "found" it sooner. But it was my sophomore year and there just wasn't enough time left. I minored instead. 🙁 But definitely pursue what you are interested in.

 

[LucidSplash]

I have Calc II, Orgo II, Physics I,and Physics II left. Should I "double up?" (science and a science or science and a math)

i.e.
Junior Year 1st semester: Physics I and Orgo II
Junior Year 2nd semester: Physics II and Calc II

I was planning to spread these four classes out over my remaining four semesters... Judging from your response I'm guessing that this wouldn't be the best thing to do.

Thanks in advance!

I know REL said you couldn't do this but it might depend on the college/university you go to. I was doubled up at my small liberal arts school every semester but one - but we didn't have credit hours and lab classes counted the same as any other class and the usual class load was 4 a semester (a few took 3 while studying for the MCAT if they had AP credits and some took 5 at other times). This schedule you have looks doable to me, but it might depend on where you are. But if you spread the rest of your prereqs out over your last 2 years, you'll need to take a year off after graduation. That sets you up taking the April MCAT your senior year and applying during the year off. My senior spring was crazy with my thesis work though, so I probably would not want to take the MCAT then (if it were me at my school).

 

[saucy]

I'm not sure that you can double any of those up because you need them in sequence, but with labs they count for a solid 8 credit hours of science per semester. Consider adding another helpful science in each semester, something which may give you some basic familiarity with med school basic sciences in the fall, then maybe biochem in the spring. That'll give you a solid 24 credit hour year in the sciences. You appear to be setting up for the April MCAT -- good time to take it to give you the entire "interview season" for selection. I strongly suggest taking the April MCAT if at all possible, of course if not ready, do August and do well.

I can take my courses out of sequence. I'm taking Orgo I now and I took Calc I already.

Are you suggesting that I take something like Histology I with Orgo II and Physics I? 😱 The max. courseload is 3 labs or 4 classes (of which 2, 1, or none are labs).

Thanks again everyone!

~saucy

 

[saucy]

I know REL said you couldn't do this but it might depend on the college/university you go to. I was doubled up at my small liberal arts school every semester but one - but we didn't have credit hours and lab classes counted the same as any other class and the usual class load was 4 a semester (a few took 3 while studying for the MCAT if they had AP credits and some took 5 at other times). This schedule you have looks doable to me, but it might depend on where you are. But if you spread the rest of your prereqs out over your last 2 years, you'll need to take a year off after graduation. That sets you up taking the April MCAT your senior year and applying during the year off. My senior spring was crazy with my thesis work though, so I probably would not want to take the MCAT then (if it were me at my school).

uuugh...decisions, decisions...such is life 😳

 

[saucy]

Consider adding another helpful science in each semester, something which may give you some basic familiarity with med school basic sciences in the fall, then maybe biochem in the spring.

btw, what other helpful courses do you suggest?

~saucy

 

[docjolly]

saucy,

choosing a major can be a daunting challenge, especially as you begin to get closer and closer to the year of your expected graduation...while an undergrad, I went from being a biology major to an african american studies major to finally a history major (and this was all in the course of my sophomore year 😱 )

one of the best ways that you can decide what to major in is sit and think about what major topics interest you most, and what classes that you are currently taking (or any aspect of these courses) piques your curiosity. i'm not certain what your schedule will be like at the beginning of your junior year, but perhaps you can take a few courses in the areas that you might be interested in...i did this for history, and by the time i had completed my junior year, i finally decided to become a history major. can you imagine what my spring semester of my junior year, and my entire senior year, must have been like? it was horrendous....

I would definitely advise you to keep your options open and explore your interests, but keep in mind how much time you will have to complete the requirements for your major.. 🙂

 

[ilovehedgehogs]

btw, what other helpful courses do you suggest?

~saucy

I really liked neurophysiology, but then again some people hated it, i thought it was really cool. Mammalian physiology is really good prep for mcat bio, and i liked physiology of mammalian reproduction. Ive taken a few more physiologies since the first time i took the mcat and they really seem to be helping a lot with bio sections of practice exams in this round. For that matter, I think the fact that Ive finished all my prereqs really helped a huge amount...but of course i HAD to take the mcat as a junior...oh well

 

[saucy]

bump! 🙂