Need Some Advice on My Undegraduate Path (Ugrad Class of 2017)

[Lucca]

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Hey SDN, first post here!

I'm a freshman at a flagship public university and my first semester has been going pretty well! I'm taking 15 hours, I like my professors, and with the exception of a comatose-inducing introductory physics lab I'm having a great time in college. Here's my issue, registration is coming up in about a week and I don't really know which of these two paths to take. Full disclosure: I already searched the forums and understand that adcoms don't care about double majoring or honors programs but only how well you do and that you love doing it - my dilemma arises from what is "practically" doable.

For reference HP - 1 means Honors Program 1 which is an interdisciplinary liberal arts major in conjunction with being a program. The major is very flexible and about 75% of students in this program double major due to a really broad swath of disciplines that "count" for it. HP-1 requires a thesis. Let HP-2 be my second honors program which is not a major but also requires a thesis / capstone volunteer or clinical project (pre-health profession program). The Graduate Certificate in PH is applicable towards a MPH and is a sub-program of HP-1, it requires additional but complementary coursework.

Path I - Double Major in HP-1 and Public Health with a Graduate Certificate in Public Health

Pros

• I really like the Public Health degree and I'm genuinely interested in the coursework.
• The Public Health degree requires a social science concentration in the context of healthcare which would be useful to me as a physician in the long term and for the 2015 MCAT in the short term (which I will definitely have to take).

Cons

• Public Health is a long degree at my school; you have to apply to be accepted into the major (if you have above a 3.0 at the time you get in) but only after completion of an introductory biology and chemistry sequence (I think this is really silly). This path would most definitely result in 4.5 - 5 years completion time or 4 years with 18 hour course loads every semester from now on ( :gulp: do not want to do that, would rather take extra time). Not to mention, I have two theses/capstones to complete my senior year which means a front-loaded course plan conflicting with MCAT preparation time.
• As a result, about my undergrad would cost about $20,000 more. Currently, I should be able to afford it as I have about 60% of my undergrad covered from scholarships but I hate to put the extra burden of my parents regardless.

Path II - Major in HP - 1 with a Graduate Certificate in Public Health

Pros

• I can actually finish in four years.
• I have the freedom to take the classes I want when I want without defaulting into an ambulating "box-ticker" for the rest of undergrad, madly striving to finish my required coursework on time.
• A simplified degree plan leaves more room for extra-curricula and possibly study abroad.

Cons

• I would have to drop out of HP - 2 since I no longer have a major in the College of Natural Sciences. This would mean dropping my responsibility as a current council representative of the program, and takes away the possibility of receiving more scholarship aid from HP-2 in the future (currently receiving aid from both HP-1 and 2). Also, I've made some good friends in there and it would be a shame to stop going to the great socials and events the program has.
• I have less science in my degree plan altogether. I still have my pre-med requirements but a lot of upper-level sociology/psychology courses are gone.

So what do you guys think? Any advice? I really have no idea which path would be better for me in the long run and registration is coming up pretty soon so I have to choose a path and stick to it. Thanks!

 

[BABSstudent]

Hey SDN, first post here!

I'm a freshman at a flagship public university and my first semester has been going pretty well! I'm taking 15 hours, I like my professors, and with the exception of a comatose-inducing introductory physics lab I'm having a great time in college. Here's my issue, registration is coming up in about a week and I don't really know which of these two paths to take. Full disclosure: I already searched the forums and understand that adcoms don't care about double majoring or honors programs but only how well you do and that you love doing it - my dilemma arises from what is "practically" doable.

For reference HP - 1 means Honors Program 1 which is an interdisciplinary liberal arts major in conjunction with being a program. The major is very flexible and about 75% of students in this program double major due to a really broad swath of disciplines that "count" for it. HP-1 requires a thesis. Let HP-2 be my second honors program which is not a major but also requires a thesis / capstone volunteer or clinical project (pre-health profession program). The Graduate Certificate in PH is applicable towards a MPH and is a sub-program of HP-1, it requires additional but complementary coursework.

Path I - Double Major in HP-1 and Public Health with a Graduate Certificate in Public Health

Pros

• I really like the Public Health degree and I'm genuinely interested in the coursework.
• The Public Health degree requires a social science concentration in the context of healthcare which would be useful to me as a physician in the long term and for the 2015 MCAT in the short term (which I will definitely have to take).

Cons

• Public Health is a long degree at my school; you have to apply to be accepted into the major (if you have above a 3.0 at the time you get in) but only after completion of an introductory biology and chemistry sequence (I think this is really silly). This path would most definitely result in 4.5 - 5 years completion time or 4 years with 18 hour course loads every semester from now on ( :gulp: do not want to do that, would rather take extra time). Not to mention, I have two theses/capstones to complete my senior year which means a front-loaded course plan conflicting with MCAT preparation time.
• As a result, about my undergrad would cost about $20,000 more. Currently, I should be able to afford it as I have about 60% of my undergrad covered from scholarships but I hate to put the extra burden of my parents regardless.

Path II - Major in HP - 1 with a Graduate Certificate in Public Health

Pros

• I can actually finish in four years.
• I have the freedom to take the classes I want when I want without defaulting into an ambulating "box-ticker" for the rest of undergrad, madly striving to finish my required coursework on time.
• A simplified degree plan leaves more room for extra-curricula and possibly study abroad.

Cons

• I would have to drop out of HP - 2 since I no longer have a major in the College of Natural Sciences. This would mean dropping my responsibility as a current council representative of the program, and takes away the possibility of receiving more scholarship aid from HP-2 in the future (currently receiving aid from both HP-1 and 2). Also, I've made some good friends in there and it would be a shame to stop going to the great socials and events the program has.
• I have less science in my degree plan altogether. I still have my pre-med requirements but a lot of upper-level sociology/psychology courses are gone.

So what do you guys think? Any advice? I really have no idea which path would be better for me in the long run and registration is coming up pretty soon so I have to choose a path and stick to it. Thanks!

Which do you think you would enjoy more?

 

[Lucca]

See, I really don't know. I would enjoy both paths a lot! In the second one I could fit in some study abroad which sounds really great but in the first one I get to "squeeze" everything I can out of my college basically. I feel like the first path though would stress me out basically all the time.

 

[wiloghby]

Go for path 2. Studying abroad is a great opportunity -- you'll have an amazing time and also get to demonstrate that you can handle cultural competency. As you said, path 1 would stress you out more as well. If your goal is to become a physician, either path will offer you great experience that you can take with you to medical school. But one of the two paths will make medical school admissions easier for you -- and that's path 2. The double major isn't going to help you get admitted.

If you do well in either program and have a strong MCAT with the usual premed activities, you will be a strong candidate at any medical school. But it seems like you are hinting that your chances of doing better -- and having more fun -- involve Path 2. Go for that!

Take it from someone who took a much more difficult path than necessary during undergraduate.

 

[BABSstudent]

Go for path 2. Studying abroad is a great opportunity -- you'll have an amazing time and also get to demonstrate that you can handle cultural competency. As you said, path 1 would stress you out more as well. If your goal is to become a physician, either path will offer you great experience that you can take with you to medical school. But one of the two paths will make medical school admissions easier for you -- and that's path 2. The double major isn't going to help you get admitted.

If you do well in either program and have a strong MCAT with the usual premed activities, you will be a strong candidate at any medical school. But it seems like you are hinting that your chances of doing better -- and having more fun -- involve Path 2. Go for that!

Take it from someone who took a much more difficult path than necessary during undergraduate.

I agree. I would go with option two because of what the OP said. Plus, it takes less time to do.

What's your backup plan, OP?

 

[Lucca]

If medical school doesn't work out try to pursue a career in public health. Perhaps finish the MPH I started in undergrad and try to re-apply or something along those lines. Still figuring my end-game out.