Need advice on choosing either a Sociology or Psychology minor

[wykwang]

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Hi everyone,

I'm currently a sophomore with a lot of credits (basically a junior because of AP), but I don't plan on graduating early because I don't really see the benefit, and tuition isn't a problem. So, besides my biology major, I would like to do something worthwhile with my time and also complete a sociology or psychology minor, but I'm having a hard time deciding which. I listed my pros and cons for each and would like some opinions! Thanks!

Sociology:

Pros:
- I'm more interested in this subject (Although I am also interested in Psychology)
- I feel like I could talk and be very passionate about this during interviews, I am very interested in sociology as it applies to modern day politics, social progress, etc.

Cons:
- I already took Soc 101, and got a B+. However my TA was particularly mean for this class and kind of screwed me over, so I hope that won't happen again
- I'm worried Sociology classes will simply be more difficult than Psychology classes, and obviously I want a high GPA (Mine is kind of middling right now)
​

Psychology:

Pros:
- I know that I can ace Psych 101 and other Pysch major courses. I've taken it as an AP already in high school and my friend who took these classes has expressed to me that it's very easy.
-There are very interesting classes I think I would be excited to take in this minor

Cons:
- I don't think I'm as passionate about Psych as I am Sociology, which may come across in my application/interviews. Although I definitely would still consider myself interested in Psych.
​

Alternate Option:

- Per the first comment, I realized I could also simply take random Sociology and Psychology courses. I wouldn't get a minor in either, which makes me feel kind of unproductive :/, but it might be the best option if med schools really don't care about an extra minor (which I've heard is true).​

 

[Catalystik]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently a sophomore with a lot of credits (basically a junior because of AP), but I don't plan on graduating early because I don't really see the benefit, and tuition isn't a problem. So, besides my biology major, I would like to do something worthwhile with my time and also complete a sociology or psychology minor, but I'm having a hard time deciding which. I listed my pros and cons for each and would like some opinions! Thanks!

Sociology:

Pros:
- I'm more interested in this subject (Although I am also interested in Psychology)
- I feel like I could talk and be very passionate about this during interviews, I am very interested in sociology as it applies to modern day politics, social progress, etc.

Cons:
- I already took Soc 101, and got a B+. However my TA was particularly mean for this class and kind of screwed me over, so I hope that won't happen again
- I'm worried Sociology classes will simply be more difficult than Psychology classes, and obviously I want a high GPA (Mine is kind of middling right now)
​

Psychology:

Pros:
- I know that I can ace Psych 101 and other Pysch major courses. I've taken it as an AP already in high school and my friend who took these classes has expressed to me that it's very easy.
-There are very interesting classes I think I would be excited to take in this minor

Cons:
- I don't think I'm as passionate about Psych as I am Sociology, which may come across in my application/interviews. Although I definitely would still consider myself interested in Psych.​

Take what you're most interested in, as you're more likely to consistently do well. It would be a mistake to think that advanced psych classes are going to be a cakewalk.

And med schools don't care if you have a formal "minor," so just taking random classes in one or both disciplines is fine, too, unless you are obliged to declare a minor to keep the administration from kicking you down the graduation aisle.

 

[AttemptingScholar]

Of course, you should pick and you don't need one. But if you're honestly looking for strangers on the internet to give you an easy answer to a personal problem:

If you really want a minor, do sociology. You're more interested in and the general advice for "bad" grades (B+ isn't a bad grade) is to take more classes in the same subject to prove you can do it anyways. If the B+ is due to the TA and not that you don't have the aptitude like you said, your "con" for sociology actually turns into a "pro!"

What I'd recommend is not making it a formal minor yet. Start doing the minor just by taking those classes, and if you start getting good grades declare it. You can work on the minor without declaring it just yet!

 

[Biochemistry69]

Sociology is the study of social inequality.

I gained far more perspective from my intro sociology class than I did with any other class in undergrad. I feel like I became a better person because of it.

 

[863168]

@wykwang Hard to determine what is worthwhile when there is no context of how you spend your time. Hard to determine worth as its a conceptual concept with broad social connotations that vary heavily depending on the individual. Someone who needs immediate finances would be better suited to working a part time job rather than taking on a minor. Someone who needs a better GPA and is receiving supplemental family funding might be better off taking an easier minor. It really is necessary to contextualize this question of worth and time outside the consideration of either sociology and psychology because time itself is a zero-sum property in which dedicating yourself to more credits does remove time from extracurricular activities or doubling down on BCPM classes which will get scrutinized when adcoms extrapolate your science GPA.

For instance, in order to raise a B+ in SOCI 200 to an A that investment of worth and time might cost you an A in Organic Chemistry. You might argue that you went from an A to an A- which is minimal, however the investment opportunity lost in consolidating grades in your science GPA by taking unnecessary additional coursework means that you are making a willing choice to become less efficient by saturating your GPA with unnecessary classes. Then again, these classes might bestow upon you some intellectual insight that you feel transcends grades. Learning about third wave feminism, abnormal psychology, and how to recreate the Zimbaro prison experiment in your home using home office supplies might make you feel like you are entering into a new area of enlightenment that you've never felt before. However, this levity is not reflective of the actual methodology that is often pursued in contemporary research in either field and survey courses in sociology often benefit from hindsight rephrasing sociological studies through a contemporary perspective of the world. One such example is highlighting economic inequality in light of the recent economic events that have occurred within the span of the past decade when examining conflict theories such as Marx and historical events such as the Great Depression.

These are just some considerations to elaborate on the point that @AttemptingScholar makes when he elaborates on soliciting advice from internet strangers from personal problems. It's hard to address the question and give it justice when we don't know you personally when it comes to such a broad question that can have a number of contextual implications.

 

[wykwang]

Sociology is the study of social inequality.

I gained far more perspective from my intro sociology class than I did with any other class in undergrad. I feel like I became a better person because of it.

I completely agree with this. Definitely gained awareness and appreciation for the pervasive impact of various seemingly innocuous things on social structure.