Premed Concerns

[548955]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello everyone.
I have a few questions about being premed and medical school and I would really appreciate any opinions.
I am a freshmen right now and I won't be starting my pre-reqs until my sophomore year because I wanted to make sure it was what I really wanted to do. Because I will be starting my pre-reqs late does this mean that I won't be able to start med school right after college? And if I do end up having a gap year, I was thinking about volunteering abroad (Africa, India) in hospitals/clinics, does that sound like a good idea? Also should I take orgo and physics in the same year or is that a bad idea? Here's what I have planned as far as the sciences go:
Sophmore year:
Bio I & 11
Chem I & 11
Junior Year:
Org. Chem
Sociology
Senior year:
Physics I & II
Biochem.

Also I've been hearing mixed responses about taking calc I, my advisor told me that it is not required for med school, can I get by with just taking a semester of statistics? or should I definitely take calc I (Math is my weakest subject)
Finally, I chose to major in Psychology because I truly enjoy learning about human behavior, is that a bad idea? has any of you majored in something other than the sciences?
Any responses/opinions are greatly appreciated =]

 

[justAstudent]

Your schedule looks fine. Your choice of major is also fine (schools don't care about what your major in college is). Some schools require Calculus and Statistics so if you have any "dream" schools I would check their requirements.

 

[gyngyn]

Few schools require calculus. Statistics is, however, important. Your major does not matter, only that you distinguished yourself in it.

 

[548955]

Thank You !

 

[jeghaber]

You might want to consider changing your picture if your avatar is an actual picture of yourself. Up to you, of course, but anonymity might not hurt for when you're eventually applying.

 

[911 Turbo]

And if I do end up having a gap year, I was thinking about volunteering abroad (Africa, India) in hospitals/clinics, does that sound like a good idea?

Why do you want to do this?

 

[meretalking]

Hello everyone.
Because I will be starting my pre-reqs late does this mean that I won't be able to start med school right after college?

You can apply during your senior year and indicate that you intend to finish the prereqs during the upcoming year, and thus matriculate right after undergrad. However, keep in mind that you might need them to boost your BCPM GPA. (Bio, Chem, Physics, Math GPA, calculated and looked at separately from the rest of your GPA. Note that most psychology courses do not fit in this category). If you need those courses to boost your GPA prior to applying, it might benefit you to wait until you have the grades in and take a gap year.

And if I do end up having a gap year, I was thinking about volunteering abroad (Africa, India) in hospitals/clinics, does that sound like a good idea?

Again, keep in mind that the application process, including in-person interviews, can take the course of 6 months to a year. You would have to be able to return the US at least once or twice to attend interviews, most likely in the ~November and ~February seasons, depending on how early your application is processed. Feel free to go abroad, but only if you can afford to fly back and forth a few times, and if whatever activity you are leaving the country for allows you to leave for several weeks at a time.

 

[Redpancreas]

In regards to Africa, do so only if you really want to (as in you would foresee yourself enjoying it). It won't set you apart but it will definitely be seen as a strong commitment to volunteerism. There are many other ways to be seen that way though at home as well.