Pre-Med majors?

[Deafpilot]

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Hello, I'm a 23 year old student who has just recently decided on a medical career path. I was airlifted into college when I was 18 and I had no passion or direction. I also became aware of a mental illness that had been inhibiting my social and academic life severely.
Now that I am better, I'm quite literally hell bent on helping others like myself. I've got one life to live, and I AM going to be a psychiatrist.
I was originally interested in majoring in psychology, but my advisers suggested that I become a full science major to prepare me for the mcats.

Is this a wise choice?

 

[nickmx50]

I don't believe the major is as important as getting to appropriate pre-req's. Most medical schools require 1 year of physics, inorganic chem, organic chem, writing, and biology. These courses cover most of the MCAT material. In addition 1 or 2 high level college math classes like calculus and biochemistry might also be necessary depending on the school. After that in doesn't really matter what your major is, so I say follow what you have a passion for. Note that 40-60% of accepted students are biology majors at most medical schools. Be sure you plan on doing some volunteer work and if possible get a job with some patient care. Most schools want to see that you've had good exposure to the medical field. Finding a doctor that you could shadow is also not a bad idea. Good luck

 

[Catalystik]

Med schools don't care what your major is. If you enjoy your field of study you are more likely to get the excellent grades necessary to be competitive in the admissions process. You can do well enough on the MCAT if you complete the prerequisites. If you have the elective time to can take more science classes, it will ease your way in med school. Many feel that having had Physiology, Cell biology, and Genetics helped them do better on the MCAT, so I'd aim at those extras if you have the time.

 

[GoodmanBrown]

Hey, Deafpilot.

A couple of things: What happened in between "18/airlifted to college" to "23/I want to be a psychiatrist." I'm afraid bad things happened grade-wise. If so, your chances of being a doctor could vary. Have you already taken any of the pre-reqs that nickmx mentioned? If so, what were your grades there?

If all grade issues are okay, then I would recommend actually not being a biology major. I think something like philosophy, ethics, French literature, etc. would endear yourself to interviewers and med schools as someone who is different and maybe more well-rounded. One bigger caveat with that is that you have to absolutely get great grades in all your pre-reqs and science classes you take. That will show them you have all the neccesary stuff to cut a tough, science-based curriculum, but that you choose to do something different. If you're interested in psychology, do that. But whatever you do, get good grades. That's the most important part.

 

[sassilysweet]

If you are that interested in psych, do a psych major but make sure to balance it with upper-level science courses after you finish your prereqs. I am sure you will find that you are only 1-2 classes from a chemistry minor, and I would suggest taking genetics, biochemistry, and maybe cell bio. They do help for the MCAT, I've found....
I was originally on the psych- ology/iachtry mindset/pathway. Turns out after taking most of the psych classes senior year, I HATED psychology (lol)
I had taken all my sciences & prereqs early and then stuffed all my major classes together.
I guess what I am trying to say is that no matter what your motivation and interests start out as, be open to change. Make sure you start broadly but stay on track.

Do research into medical schools and different graduate psychology programs. You may actual help patients more with a clinical psychology, and there seems to be more movement towards them prescribing also. Again, just keep your options open as you restart the process.

 

[Deafpilot]

You are absolutely correct, something did happen. I maintained a 3.0 + through school until UNT in the fall of 07, where I sabotaged my collegiate career. I stopped attending all classes and took 5 Fs, no withdrawals. At this point I was too encumbered by my afflictions. School was no longer an option until I was absolved. I'm being non-descriptive here bc my battle is already a long way up hill, the idea of mental illness casts a lot of doubt.
Since then I've taken up school and maintained the former GPA. I've taken my biology/math/writing, courses where i excel. I don't have physics/chem pre req's yet.
I've yet to put any effort into school whatsoever. This is why I am excited and hopeful. My experiences have made me passionate about aiding others in their recovery. Over the last 2 years I've become my old self. I'm ready to give school a real shot. When I see advisors I always bring the failing UNT transcript to the forefront but they never seem too pessimistic as long as the classes are retaken at UNT. They're business courses and completely unrelated to my focus but my gpa needs fixing.