Non-science major pressure and question about the gap year

[MTash8]

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I am currently a sophomore public health science major and I am feeling pressure from everyone from advisors to my parents to major in one of the sciences. I was a chemistry major freshman year did not like the math aspect of it. biology just does not excite me enough to want to major in. My premed advisor turned her nose up when I said I was public health major and asked why don't I just major in science so I can get all those pre-reqs covered. (This post is getting longer than I anticipated sorry) I transferred universities and am now focused on raising my GPA I just want to take 14 credits this semester and the only pre-req I will be taking is orgo. At the rate I am going I will not finish all of the pre-req by junior year where I anticipated to take the MCAT. So my question is should I consider changing to biology just to knock out those pre-reqs because I know for sure I want to be a doctor. How is the gap year? Do you recommend a gap year I never planned on taking a year off because I am afraid I won't keep going. I really enjoy learning about health disparity and really looked forward to getting involved in a major I feel comfortable in so am I taking to big of a risk just for enjoyment?

-I know the post is all over the place trying to keep a long story short

 

[NotASerialKiller]

There's nothing wrong with taking a bit more time and studying something you really enjoy. This will likely result in a higher GPA and a happier you. You don't need to take all the courses that MCAT touches on before writing, but if you can't take some of the bigger ones then there's no harm in delaying that a bit either.

 

[md-2020]

So will you finish your pre-reqs by the end of junior year? That's 100% normal. Some people finish after 2 years, many people do it in 3.

Knocking out a few final classes during senior year isn't unheard of either (reference the many "can I finish pre-reqs before I matriculate" threads).

 

[gothicfoxes]

Have you considered pursuing a Master's of Public Health? x

 

[MTash8]

Yes, I have I am a bit interested in pursuing my MPH and my MD

 

[sinombre]

The average age of matriculants is 25ish. So plenty of people take at least one year off after undergrad.

You should major in what you're interested in. You will probably never have another opportunity to pursue non-scientific things in an academic setting. Majoring in a science streamlines the process of getting into medical school, but it's not worth not doing something you want to do.

I majored in philosophy in undergrad, took several gap years, and have no regrets.

 

[gothicfoxes]

Yes, I have I am a bit interested in pursuing my MPH and my MD

Excellent combo (but I might be a little biased 😉). If this is what you have in mind, then stick with the public health major. Forget what your advisor's opinions are of this major. Do what makes you happy and complete science pre-reqs. x

 

[Goro]

Pay very careful attention:
No Adcom cares about what your major is, only that you do well.

Get your parents an account on SDN so they can see the damage they're doing to you.

And you provide more data that most pre-med advisors have the brains of a flea. I think I have enough data points now for a good power calculation.

I am currently a sophomore public health science major and I am feeling pressure from everyone from advisors to my parents to major in one of the sciences. I was a chemistry major freshman year did not like the math aspect of it. biology just does not excite me enough to want to major in. My premed advisor turned her nose up when I said I was public health major and asked why don't I just major in science so I can get all those pre-reqs covered. (This post is getting longer than I anticipated sorry) I transferred universities and am now focused on raising my GPA I just want to take 14 credits this semester and the only pre-req I will be taking is orgo. At the rate I am going I will not finish all of the pre-req by junior year where I anticipated to take the MCAT. So my question is should I consider changing to biology just to knock out those pre-reqs because I know for sure I want to be a doctor. How is the gap year? Do you recommend a gap year I never planned on taking a year off because I am afraid I won't keep going. I really enjoy learning about health disparity and really looked forward to getting involved in a major I feel comfortable in so am I taking to big of a risk just for enjoyment?

-I know the post is all over the place trying to keep a long story short

 

[StudyLater]

Get your parents an account on SDN so they can see the damage they're doing to you.

Yeah but if my kid majors in some dumb liberal arts thing like philosophy/public health then how am I gonna one-up my golf buddies when we're talking about our kids???

Pfff public health. Might as well major in being a barista. I ain't payin for it.

And you provide more data that most pre-med advisors have the brains of a flea.

This has been obvious to me literally since 5 seconds after walking into my pre-health office as a freshman.

"Yeah so like everyone has a 3.99999999 by senior year and gives sight to the blind and raises money to buy food for crack babies and builds schools in Africa and is bff's with the director of oncology at the cleveland clinic. Soooo yeah GTFO."

Thank you for that advisement.

 

[Goro]

I'd be OK with my kids majoring in public health. But I've already told them that Philosophy, English, Women's or Ethnic Studies, and Art History are out.

Yeah but if my kid majors in some dumb liberal arts thing like philosophy/public health then how am I gonna one-up my golf buddies when we're talking about our kids???

Pfff public health. Might as well major in being a barista. I ain't payin for it.

 

[StudyLater]

I'd be OK with my kids majoring in public health. But I've already told them that Philosophy, English, Women's or Ethnic Studies, and Art History are out.

Even if they want to be a doc?

 

[md-2020]

Yeah but if my kid majors in some dumb liberal arts thing like philosophy/public health then how am I gonna one-up my golf buddies when we're talking about our kids???
Pfff public health. Might as well major in being a barista. I ain't payin for it.

Even if they want to be a doc?

What's wrong with public health...?

Many, many med school acceptees are not STEM majors.

Perhaps you could look past using potential offspring as means for bragging rights?

 

[StudyLater]

What's wrong with public health...?

It's not science and will therefore make my kid look lazy/stupid. End of discussion.

 

[md-2020]

It's not science and will therefore make my kid look lazy/stupid. End of discussion.

Wow. I sympathize with your unborn child already.

 

[avgn]

It's not science and will therefore make my kid look lazy/stupid. End of discussion.

10/10 "I can't tell if srs stupid or jk" post. @md-2020 don't fall into the noob trap now

Also, public health isn't exactly liberal arts. lol it's pre-professional, the classic antithesis

 

[gothicfoxes]

It's not science and will therefore make my kid look lazy/stupid. End of discussion.

Lmao this brought back high school flashbacks. I know your post is joking, but I know people that have this as a motto. Some of my friends' parents refused to pay for their undergrad if it wasn't science or engineering. They honestly thought their child was useless and a disgrace if they didn't do science.

 

[Goro]

Neither wants to be a doctor. My daughter will make an excellent teacher or policewoman because she likes bossing people around, and my son should be a lawyer because he lives to argue.

🙂

Even if they want to be a doc?

 

[619959]

Yeah but if my kid majors in some dumb liberal arts thing like philosophy/public health then how am I gonna one-up my golf buddies when we're talking about our kids???

Pfff public health. Might as well major in being a barista. I ain't payin for it.

Stop that...Public Health is not a dumb liberal arts major -_- We gotta take so manyyyyy math and science classes also! We are in waaayyyyy better position that Chemistry majors who do not find any job after graduation (due to lack of outside world experience)

 

[619959]

It's not science and will therefore make my kid look lazy/stupid. End of discussion.

whoaaaaa....that went wayyyy too far

 

[619959]

Lmao this brought back high school flashbacks. I know your post is joking, but I know people that have this as a motto. Some of my friends' parents refused to pay for their undergrad if it wasn't science or engineering. They honestly thought their child was useless and a disgrace if they didn't do science.

the day will come when we have unemployed Math majors (unfortunately)

 

[medshoes]

Stop that...Public Health is not a dumb liberal arts major -_- We gotta take so manyyyyy math and science classes also! We are in waaayyyyy better position that Chemistry majors who do not find any job after graduation (due to lack of outside world experience)

how do public health majors have better job prospects and experience than chem majors...

 

[619959]

how do public health majors have better job prospects and experience than chem majors...

that was a bad comparison...my fault (oooppsss)
May be you get what I mean?

 

[TheRhymenocerous]

I'd be OK with my kids majoring in public health. But I've already told them that Philosophy, English, Women's or Ethnic Studies, and Art History are out.

C'mon, Goro, why the humanities hate? My English degree has landed me several jobs in unexpected fields and it's serving me quite well in the application cycle! All professions need writers.

 

[Goro]

Because the NY Times jobs sections are brimming with jobs for English majors, aren't they?

C'mon, Goro, why the humanities hate? My English degree has landed me several jobs in unexpected fields and it's serving me quite well in the application cycle! All professions need writers.

 

[StudyLater]

Stop that...Public Health is not a dumb liberal arts major -_- We gotta take so manyyyyy math and science classes also! We are in waaayyyyy better position that Chemistry majors who do not find any job after graduation (due to lack of outside world experience)

Professor of chemistry is a respectable profession. And whaddya gonna do with a public health degree anyway? Go take surveys for the census? It's a f*cking Mickey Mouse degree. You're gonna be a doctor, lawyer, MBA or accountant, and you're gonna like it (I might consider this weirdo comp sci **** if you get a job at Google).

whoaaaaa....that went wayyyy too far

Iunno anythin' about that. Thems a thinkin' man's troubles. I just does what I'm told, sir.

Lmao this brought back high school flashbacks. I know your post is joking, but I know people that have this as a motto. Some of my friends' parents refused to pay for their undergrad if it wasn't science or engineering. They honestly thought their child was useless and a disgrace if they didn't do science.

Ahhhhh yeah, the old "Get a 6 figure degree or I'll disown you" thing. Hehhhh, good times. Good times.

Because the NY Times jobs sections are brimming with jobs for English majors, aren't they?

Neither wants to be a doctor. My daughter will make an excellent teacher or policewoman because she likes bossing people around, and my son should be a lawyer because he lives to argue.

🙂

But if your daughter really likes arbitrary, meaningless power trips she could totally teach English!!!

"Um excuse me, but why is this sentence crossed out???"
"Oh it sounded awkward."
"Awkward?"
"Yeah I didn't like it."
"But...you took off like 30% for it...."
"Yeah, I know. I really didn't like that one."

10/10 "I can't tell if srs stupid or jk" post.

*gentlemanly bow*

 

[avgn]

Because the NY Times jobs sections are brimming with jobs for English majors, aren't they?

idk good sir, if you think most English majors actually want to do journalism or even go into a profession where writing is the primary activity, you're kinda misinformed. Or maybe it's only the students at the top schools who gets this freedom of choice

 

[avgn]

how do public health majors have better job prospects and experience than chem majors...

b/c chem majors are basically stuck in one environment: lab. PH people on the other hand, can supplement their education with a lot of internships and have a whole host of career options: research, policy, advocacy, gov't, consulting. It runs the gamut. The good thing about PH is that it's everywhere; it's just established enough to have a core set of competencies, but it's also just so flexible because it's pervasive

 

[StudyLater]

The good thing about PH is that it's everywhere; it's just established enough to have a core set of competencies, but it's also just so flexible because it's pervasive

Just like the Starbuckses you all can work at. Brimming job opportunities at every corner.

 

[619959]

Just like the Starbuckses you all can work at. Brimming job opportunities at every corner.

what's your major?

 

[StudyLater]

what's your major?

bioquimica

The middle i is accented. So really inflect on that syllable.