Pre reqs or Degree?

[DylanE]

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First post on here and I couldn't find any similar threads, so hopefully this isn't repetitive. I'm an anthropology major who transferred into a UC, then decided med school would be a more pragmatic way to do what I want to do. I'm still going after my anthropology degree but I added a biology minor, which has led to a few issues. Firstly, turns out that I won't be able to finish all of my pre reqs AND my minor within the 3 years they give me after I transfer. I was thinking of getting the degree and then finishing up the last couple classes (3rd quarter of physics, 3rd quarter of calc) at a city school, would this look bad? I've also considered that since I've managed to get through some of the tougher pre reqs with a competitive GPA, I could avoid taking the upper div bio classes and apply with my anthro degree, but I haven't been able to find any info on how med schools would respond to that. I would like to be better prepared by getting through the upper divs, but I'm trying to working within my time constraints and still give myself the best chance at getting into a respected school. Any advice/experiences would be much appreciated!

 

[Jojokarade]

Do not worry about your anthro major. As long as you complete the prereqs for medical school and have a good MCAT, then you will be fine. A lot of medical schools like the non-traditional majors because you "tend" to get more rounded people. In terms of your school, is there no way to apply for an extension so that you can finish your minor? Seems a little strange that they just say you are done without a chance to fully finish something.

 

[DylanE]

thanks for the response. I already had to get a year extension so I could stay for 3 years instead of 2 after I transferred. The problem is that the bio minor that I want to finish requires a couple different classes than the premed requirements, such as only 2 quarters of physics, calc, and o chem instead of the full year. I could finish the minor within the time frame they have allotted me, but that would mean taking upper division bio instead of covering all my bases for prereqs. I guess the question boils down to what looks better: an anthro BA with a biology minor, plus some courses at a city college, or just an anthro BA with all of my prereqs taken at a proper university?

 

[littlefurrybugs]

I would get the BA in anthro without the minor. Minors mean very little to med school apps, so I'd rather save the money I would use for taking extra classes for the application cycle.

 

[MDWannabe90]

I would get the BA in anthro without the minor. Minors mean very little to med school apps, so I'd rather save the money I would use for taking extra classes for the application cycle.

This!!!
Seriously, minors don't do much for you, I'm a philosophy major looking to go to medical school, I asked the head of the department of chemistry if I should minor in chemistry cuz I would only need 3 or 4 more classes and he pretty much said it would be a waste of time and I totally see what he means now. In addition, it would be much better to take the pre-req's at a proper university as you put it, especially when it comes down to pre-req's it would look much better to adcom's. Your not doomed if you do work at a community college, but I do know that university work has a greater level or respect. There's also statistical evidence that shows non science majors and science majors do equally as well in medical school so the upper level bio classes your talking about might not be as necessary as you think.

Good luck! 😉

 

[RCPreMD]

I am in this exact same situation, I am applying next semester to transfer to a UC and i am currently applying to get an anthro BA, I am also worried about being able to fulfill my premed at the UC while not going past their "credit limit", how was the process of getting the 3rd year extension and if you dont mind me asking what school was it?