Minor

[AnaZolo]

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Hi All,

I'm currently a junior at a state university in New Jersey. I'm planning to apply to DO schools for Fall 2013 entry.

I am thinking of picking up a minor. Since I finished a year of "University" (Calc-based) Physics and Calc II, and aced all of these classes, I initially thought of taking 3 more Physics classes + Calc III for a Physics minor. However, on top of 4 more 300-400 level Bio classes, Analytical and Descriptive Inorganic Chem, it will definitely be a challenge but completely worth it, in my opinion.

However, since I'm a fluent Russian speaker, I thought of maybe picking up either a Russian minor or Russian Area Studies minor (which is basically a Russian minor + a few Russian history/politics classes).

How important is a minor? If it's an asset to an application, will DO schools look for vigor, or something unique? Although the Physics minor would be challenging and would show my determination, a Russian/Russian Area Studies minor would be more interesting and probably more of a conversation starter.

Any advice? Thanks in advance!

(side note: Since I'm currently doing neuroscience research in my school, I thought of picking up a cognitive science minor but realized that it was just many additional psychology classes. I don't have a psychology background and I wouldn't have time to finish all of them and still graduate in 4 years.)

 

[IDFsoldierboy]

Hi All,

I'm currently a junior at a state university in New Jersey. I'm planning to apply to DO schools for Fall 2013 entry.

I am thinking of picking up a minor. Since I finished a year of "University" (Calc-based) Physics and Calc II, and aced all of these classes, I initially thought of taking 3 more Physics classes + Calc III for a Physics minor. However, on top of 4 more 300-400 level Bio classes, Analytical and Descriptive Inorganic Chem, it will definitely be a challenge but completely worth it, in my opinion.

However, since I'm a fluent Russian speaker, I thought of maybe picking up either a Russian minor or Russian Area Studies minor (which is basically a Russian minor + a few Russian history/politics classes).

How important is a minor? If it's an asset to an application, will DO schools look for vigor, or something unique? Although the Physics minor would be challenging and would show my determination, a Russian/Russian Area Studies minor would be more interesting and probably more of a conversation starter.

Any advice? Thanks in advance!

(side note: Since I'm currently doing neuroscience research in my school, I thought of picking up a cognitive science minor but realized that it was just many additional psychology classes. I don't have a psychology background and I wouldn't have time to finish all of them and still graduate in 4 years.)

i would only do it if your certain you can do well in the classes...especially with physics minor because all those classes will go under your science gpa so if you dont perform well itll kill your sci gpa...if you perform well itll be a nice supplement to your resume personally between russian and physics id pick russian because schools appreciate a dual language and that you have interests outside of medicine/science IMO
but only do anything if your sure you can do well in the classes

 

[sylvanthus]

Medical schools could care less about your minor or your major. Just do well in whatever you enjoy. Don't pick a specific one because you think it looks good, noone cares which one you pick, just do it because you enjoy it and do it well.

 

[DrWily]

Medical schools could care less about your minor or your major. Just do well in whatever you enjoy. Don't pick a specific one because you think it looks good, noone cares which one you pick, just do it because you enjoy it and do it well.

Agree with ^^ that guy. Don't do it to look good on applications because frankly, it won't help you really. Some AdComms may be like, oh cool, but in reality, it's not going to make or break your acceptance. Do poorly in those classes though, and it will hurt you bad. Do it if you love physics, or if you love Russian language, but don't do it to impress anyone.

 

[Loudster]

Personally, I think it's more impressive to speak a foreign language fluently without having taken any classes in it. It shows that school isn't everything in your life. For instance, I spent a couple years in Hungary, learned Hungarian and was then able to talk about that in a couple of my interviews (one interviewer even vacations often in Hungary, which was a dumb luck connection).

The adcoms were much more interested in that than they ever were in my psychology minor.

 

[DocEspana]

Hi All,

I'm currently a junior at a state university in New Jersey. I'm planning to apply to DO schools for Fall 2013 entry.

I am thinking of picking up a minor. Since I finished a year of "University" (Calc-based) Physics and Calc II, and aced all of these classes, I initially thought of taking 3 more Physics classes + Calc III for a Physics minor. However, on top of 4 more 300-400 level Bio classes, Analytical and Descriptive Inorganic Chem, it will definitely be a challenge but completely worth it, in my opinion.

However, since I'm a fluent Russian speaker, I thought of maybe picking up either a Russian minor or Russian Area Studies minor (which is basically a Russian minor + a few Russian history/politics classes).

How important is a minor? If it's an asset to an application, will DO schools look for vigor, or something unique? Although the Physics minor would be challenging and would show my determination, a Russian/Russian Area Studies minor would be more interesting and probably more of a conversation starter.

Any advice? Thanks in advance!

(side note: Since I'm currently doing neuroscience research in my school, I thought of picking up a cognitive science minor but realized that it was just many additional psychology classes. I don't have a psychology background and I wouldn't have time to finish all of them and still graduate in 4 years.)

Two things: as said before.... the minor isnt going to mean much unless it happens to be something your specific interviewer holds dear to his heart. I double majored in political science and biology. The *major* of PoliSci meant nothing to anyone except for one interview where I was interviewed by Martin Levine (now the president of the AOA) so he found my familiarity with current healthcare legislation and its debate to be very interesting and it was 80% of my interview, rather than anything actually academic

On an unrelated note. There are only like 8, non-CC, NJ state schools, and I went to one of them. Which one are you at? Curious if it might be my alma mater.

 

[emtthink]

I did a chem minor during undergrad, but it was only because I only had to take one more class to get it. It never came up during my interviews though.

 

[drgioiadds]

r u 4 reel? LOL

 

[AnaZolo]

I'm at Montclair State University.

 

[AnaZolo]

r u 4 reel? LOL

.... your meaning?

 

[AnaZolo]

Thanks to everyone for your replies!!

After giving it some thought, I decided that the Physics won't be easy to prevent from killing my GPA. I speak Russian fluently, so that's something I can include in my application without taking classes in it just to have it as an "official" minor.

I did some university catalog/program research online today, and have decided to take a different route. I planned my schedule accordingly, and decided to pick up a Gerontology minor.

Thanks to everyone for the responses and feedback!

 

[Iliketoytles]

I was interviewed by Martin Levine (now the president of the AOA)

Whoa that's so cool!!! Did you end up going to the school where he interviewed you?

 

[DocEspana]

Whoa that's so cool!!! Did you end up going to the school where he interviewed you?

Yea. He interviewed me over at touro, where I an now. He always calls me out for political things now because he knows I'm abreast of the issues.

 

[DocEspana]

I'm at Montclair State University.

Aw. I was hoping it was njit, Rutgers or tcnj. Those are the big three public schools for medicine. All I know about montclair is its large.