Need Some Wisdom/Criticism About Under Grad Degree and Future

[Dr.Moxy]

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Hey all,

Loving this forum as there is lots of good wisdom and pessimism/realism floating around which suits my style lol. I just wanted some insight from MD students or MDs about what undergraduate degree I should pursue given my current situation. I'll list below the facts to make it quick and efficient for everyone to analyze my situation. Constructive criticism is WANTED and WELCOMED like a Victoria's Secret Model to my home for some "coffee" lol. 😉

Long-term GOAL: Medical School in the U.S., Caribbean is WORST case scenario but I am still willing to go at that point.

Current Course-Work completed: All pre-med classes completed, just missing Biochemistry which I will take next year.

Current GPA and ECs: 3.63 with former Biochemistry Major--junior standing right now. Some 200 hours volunteering at a hospital and applying for research right now. Also will be going on a medical missions trip this summer and the following summer. I know with this alone I am still not a strong applicant so no need for reminders lol! Tips and criticism are welcome tho as always.

Academic Strengths: I love understanding concepts, problem solving, and the whole Math, Physics, Chemistry and engineering. I am GOOD at memorization too but not as fond of it.

Dilemma: I am attending a private university which has really high tuition so I do NOT want to spend an excess of 80k on a Biochemistry Degree which I may never use if MED school doesn't pan out. Plus I didn't like the biology courses at all which made it really difficult to study--even though I still pulled A's--and stay motivated but I do love medicine. Instead of finishing with a Biology degree, I am thinking of doing a Computer Science degree which is obviously more difficult but I do really enjoy it more and it also has better future prospects than a Biochemistry degree if MED school doesn't pan out. However, I am just worried about any future dents in GPA by doing Computer Science which is giving me second thoughts about doing this. Again, I will have all my pre-med classes alongside any extra classes med-schools may want (such as biochemistry and etc) completed if I do go Computer Science. I am just worried that doing so may not be a good idea if medicine is ultimately my goal--due to the fear of GPA dent--but the tuition at this school and my passion for the major is pushing me to choose Computer Science.

Question: Given my long-term goal and dilemma, would it be wise to go with Computer Science or to just stay in Biochemistry?
Thanks all and if you need anything clarified please let me know!

Best wishes to you all,
Moxy.

 

[itsthat1guy]

Having a comp sci degree would definitely be a good backup and medical schools don't care what your major is as long as you get good grades; if you think you can do well is comp sci then do that

 

[Wasted Energy]

Computer Science is a SOLID plan B, as long as is doesn't mess up your plan A. Also, make sure you enjoy computer science, you'll be spending quite a few hours on programming assignments; not a huge deal if you like it though.

 

[LizzyM]

Without an MCAT it is hard to say but you might go full steam ahead with biochem... if you get in, great (you have a good shot if you can score very well in the MCAT... make the effort). If not, consider an MPH in environmental health (chemistry, biology, math) or MPH or MS in biostatisitics (computer science with a purpose other than pure programming). The biostats degree is very marketable.

 

[kyamh]

Being able to code is a huge asset in research as well as the general job market. Learn to put together websites too! I would to worry too much about killing your GPA. Think about the type of learner you are. I find CS very easy to do well in because, at the end of the day, if your code works you get a decent grade. You have the Internet at your disposal, often on tests too, and you can test and debug your code until it works...no guess work about whether or not you did the assignment right. You can also pick and choose CS courses that are not known to be incredibly difficult....like graphics instead of machine organization 😉

 

[Dr.Moxy]

Without an MCAT it is hard to say but you might go full steam ahead with biochem... if you get in, great (you have a good shot if you can score very well in the MCAT... make the effort). If not, consider an MPH in environmental health (chemistry, biology, math) or MPH or MS in biostatisitics (computer science with a purpose other than pure programming). The biostats degree is very marketable.

Thank you for the thorough and detailed reply! Means a lot! Quick question, let's my GPA does take a hit at the end of my undergraduate studies to the point where it's a between a 3.0 and 3.5, and assuming I do above a 30 on the MCAT--I feel I will since I am pretty good in chem and physics and math--do you think it would still be worth doing Comp Sci instead of Biochem?

 

[Mad Jack]

Honestly I would pick whatever you think you can complete with a decent GPA while also completing your prereqs. Medical schools don't much care if you have a degree in Biochemistry, English, or Teledildonics. They do care if your GPA is balls. Do what you can to keep that GPA up. If you fall to the 3.0-3.5 range your chances of medical school with a 30 versus a 3.8 or higher are abysmally low.

 

[LizzyM]

You are a junior with a 3.63.... it is going to be hard to move that GPA down to a 3.0 unless you really screw up... I would think that even with a B+ average here on out you would have 2.5 years averaging 3.63 with 1.5 years of 3.3 to bring you to 3.5. Do work to keep that gpa closer to 3.5 in the last year so that you average 3.58. With a 30 or better on the MCAT you have a better than average chance of getting admitted somewhere.

At this point going forward, which is going to land you a higher gpa Biochemistry or Comp Sci. For your goal of MD school your first priority shoudl be gpa and the second should be putting the time into the MCAT to do very well.

 

[Catalystik]

Letting your GPA go down is a bad idea. If you'd be having to stay at an expensive school an extra year to complete the requirements for a new major, that doesn't seem like a good one either. Between a rock and a hard place.

LOL at calling LizzyM "bud."

 

[Mad Jack]

Letting your GPA go down is a bad idea. If you'd be having to stay at an expensive school an extra year to complete the requirements for a new major, that doesn't seem like a good one either. Between a rock and a hard place.

LOL at calling LizzyM "bud."

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the only person that should get away with that would be Wolverine.

 

[Dr.Moxy]

Letting your GPA go down is a bad idea. If you'd be having to stay at an expensive school an extra year to complete the requirements for a new major, that doesn't seem like a good one either. Between a rock and a hard place.

LOL at calling LizzyM "bud."

Haha I didn't even look at the username! Correction made thanks LOL. Yeah that's a problem too... I'm gonna be here another year for Computer Science and obviously engineering will be much more difficult to maintain a solid GPA as opposed to Biochemistry. The average engineering GPA here is 2.9 which also freaks me out so I really am stuck on what to do. If I stick with Biochem I'll be out next year but with Comp Sci I'll be here an extra year.

 

[Dr.Moxy]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the only person that should get away with that would be Wolverine.

Well, I am a pretty hairy and muscular guy minus the regenerative abilities so I think that can slide 😉

 

[Dr.Moxy]

You are a junior with a 3.63.... it is going to be hard to move that GPA down to a 3.0 unless you really screw up... I would think that even with a B+ average here on out you would have 2.5 years averaging 3.63 with 1.5 years of 3.3 to bring you to 3.5. Do work to keep that gpa closer to 3.5 in the last year so that you average 3.58. With a 30 or better on the MCAT you have a better than average chance of getting admitted somewhere.

At this point going forward, which is going to land you a higher gpa Biochemistry or Comp Sci. For your goal of MD school your first priority shoudl be gpa and the second should be putting the time into the MCAT to do very well.

Thanks for the reply again. P.S. sorry for calling you "bud" lol! Didn't read the username there haha. Honestly at this point I'm not sure since the upper division classes here can be quite ridiculous for Biochemistry but the average GPA for an engineering major here is 2.9 which freaks me out so statistically speaking, Comp Sci would prolly lower my GPA even though I may be above average. Just no idea what to do at this point lol -_-

 

[Mad Jack]

Thanks for the reply again. P.S. sorry for calling you "bud" lol! Didn't read the username there haha. Honestly at this point I'm not sure since the upper division classes here can be quite ridiculous for Biochemistry but the average GPA for an engineering major here is 2.9 which freaks me out so statistically speaking, Comp Sci would prolly lower my GPA even though I may be above average. Just no idea what to do at this point lol -_-

Go for whatever program gives you the higher GPA. It isn't that hard. Going into the harder field when you ultimately want to become a physician is just handicapping yourself for no good reason.

 

[Dr.Moxy]

Go for whatever program gives you the higher GPA. It isn't that hard. Going into the harder field when you ultimately want to become a physician is just handicapping yourself for no good reason.

I know... it's just the problem of tuition as I am going to spend that much on a Biochem degree that I will never use. If I were going to a STATE school with super low tuition I would have undoubtedly picked Biochem and flown straight through as it would seem the most logical. Honestly the only thing really bugging me is the tuition; if it was cheap I would have just stuck with biochemistry all the way. Dono... -_-

 

[Mad Jack]

I know... it's just the problem of tuition as I am going to spend that much on a Biochem degree that I will never use. If I were going to a STATE school with super low tuition I would have undoubtedly picked Biochem and flown straight through as it would seem the most logical. Honestly the only thing really bugging me is the tuition; if it was cheap I would have just stuck with biochemistry all the way. Dono... -_-

You're paying the same amount either way. So just go the way that will help you the most. You're probably looking at grad school (PA or whatever) with the biochem degree if you don't get into medicine, which isn't exactly the worst of fates. Or you could do a SMP if you're hell bent on med school. Biochem will really help you with the foundational stuff you cover in a SMP.

 

[DokterMom]

If you were a freshman or a sophomore with a middling record, I'd recommend giving Plan B serious consideration. But as a Junior in a really good place on the Plan A track, I'd think a better bet might be maximizing your shot at Plan A rather than risking your standing for a marginally better Plan B.

What about the BioStats idea? Sounds like a very marketable program and a good blend of what you've got and what you're good at. Plus, would be very helpful skills as an MD and on the MCAT.

You say you'd need another year in UG to switch to Comp Sci. If Plan A ends up not working out, you could do that other year then at State U to pick up the Comp Sci classes...

 

[Dr.Moxy]

If you were a freshman or a sophomore with a middling record, I'd recommend giving Plan B serious consideration. But as a Junior in a really good place on the Plan A track, I'd think a better bet might be maximizing your shot at Plan A rather than risking your standing for a marginally better Plan B.

What about the BioStats idea? Sounds like a very marketable program and a good blend of what you've got and what you're good at. Plus, would be very helpful skills as an MD and on the MCAT.

You say you'd need another year in UG to switch to Comp Sci. If Plan A ends up not working out, you could do that other year then at State U to pick up the Comp Sci classes...

Thanks so much for the reply and insight, it means a lot! It's just at the university here--I just transferred in last semester--the grading system is bogus even with EASY material. For instance, with my med school pre-reqs at my former college, I pulled A's with hard work and would usually get the highest grades in the class; however, the tests at this university are unreasonable with easy material--that's the best I can put it. Case in point: biochem average in the class for the 1st test is 40 out of 100 when the material isn't even hard lol. Even though Computer Science is harder from an intellectual stand-point, I feel at least it would be more reasonable to pull good grades since I'm strong in problem solving--but when the department GPA average is 2.9 it kinda worries me lol. At this point, my major status is similar to that of a refugee lol.

 

[LizzyM]

If your options are to finish a degree you feel has no marketability or stay an extra year at an expensive school so as to change undergra majors, why not finish the undergrad major that takes 4 years and spend the extra year on a marketable skill and earn a MS at the same time. Seems a better use of your time & money.

No worris about calling me "bud". I've been called worse. 😉