premed precollege

[amnesia]

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I am wondering some things from people applying to colleges...

is there a difference in a premed degree thingy from Uni of Virginia as compared to Uni of Florida?

Just wondering. I get into UF for free, but I have to pay UVA $20K each year. Thanks for the help.

 

[soprano]

I am wondering some things from people applying to colleges...

is there a difference in a premed degree thingy from Uni of Virginia as compared to Uni of Florida?

Just wondering. I get into UF for free, but I have to pay UVA $20K each year. Thanks for the help.

#1. Calm the hell down

#2. There's hardly EVER a chance to actually major in "pre-med". If there is, don't do it.

#3. Your college doesn't matter. A 4.0 is a 4.0. You graduate with a 3.2 from UF and then you've got a problem.

#4. Go where you will be happy. If you do end up going to med school, the 20K you had to pay to UVA will look like chump change.

 

[amnesia]

you calm the hell down.

w/e

thanks.

 

[Rendar5]

I agree w/ the chill out comment. don't get ahead of yourself. Just go to a college and have fun and major in whatever u enjoy.

 

[scrappysurfer]

ps. statistically, highest MCAT scores go to philosophy majors

 

[KiwiFruit]

I also agree with the calm down comment! I used to be so high-strung. Anyway, I don't know how much college choices matter b/c I know ivy league people that didn't get into med school and I know people from state schools that did get in on their first try. But the thing I really wanted to comment on was the "pre-med" major thing...DON'T do it. As one of my advisers told me, "what are you going to do with a pre-med major if you don't get into med school your first try?" So I majored in what made me happy, even though it happened to be a science major. Besides, med schools ask you your REASON behind the choices you make...which school, why your major, etc. and your response better not be "for medical school". They want diversity...a class with a variety of interests and volunteer experience along with long-term dedication to something that you can be passionate about. But don't forget the clinical experience! Enjoy your journey...take it nice and slow, make friends...you'll learn more that way, about medicine and yourself.

 

[amnesia]

that's crap.

i would major in computer science cause i program hardcore and ****... but uh... what about the mcat? UVA has a premade "track" and you major in biochemistry basically and do a ton of sciences...


IF i major in art history, how the hell am i supposed to do well on the mcat?

 

[wendywellesley]

IF i major in art history, how the hell am i supposed to do well on the mcat?

uh... here's an idea, take the required basic courses and study for the MCAT. i was a humanities major and my weakest section was verbal, go figure.

dude- a word to the wise, don't start telling others their advice is crap, we are here to help you are we (probably) know more about applying to med school, taking the MCAT and who gets in, than you do.

good luck. it doesn't matter where you go to school, make sure you know the rules of the game and play it right. if you follow the instructions you should be in good shape no matter where you go or what you major in.

i feel like we should have a sticky for the high school students who linger in these parts.

 

[amnesia]

well, I am a junior right now... almost done! I am taking AP Biology and AP Chemistry... I am really good at it... and am trying to finalize my stuff for college and "stay the course."

I don't really want to switch around at all... I see the MCAT has verbal, bio, and chemistry... but... I thought I needed to take chemistry and organic chemistry...

sorry about the word crap.... i love this place because everyone and so normal and other places a lot of people are uptight and are study study study... 😛

 

[Law2Doc]

that's crap.

i would major in computer science cause i program hardcore and ****... but uh... what about the mcat? UVA has a premade "track" and you major in biochemistry basically and do a ton of sciences...


IF i major in art history, how the hell am i supposed to do well on the mcat?

If you take the prerequisites you have just as good a chance of doing well on the MCATs as if you major in biochem. The basic sciences are all that is on the MCATs. Biochem isnt. Thus a history, philosophy, anthropology, english or even fine arts major who took the 32 (?) credits worth of science prereques will have no worse time on the MCATs. I advise taking a broad range of courses (including the prerequisites), decide what you like or find fun, and major in it. As all the prior posters indicated, don't go to school to major in "premed". It's a waste of your college years.

 

[DrMom]

that's crap.

i would major in computer science cause i program hardcore and ****... but uh... what about the mcat? UVA has a premade "track" and you major in biochemistry basically and do a ton of sciences...


IF i major in art history, how the hell am i supposed to do well on the mcat?

You might want to actually pay attention to the advice you're getting rather than calling it crap. It may actually be that the people who are years farther along in this process than you are could know what they're talking about.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Someone may have said this, but an official "pre-med" major is the worst thing you can major in; as long as you take care of the prerequisites (Chem, Bio, Physics, etc.), you'll be good to go for med school. Take it from a Political Science major 😉

 

[amnesia]

You might want to actually pay attention to the advice you're getting rather than calling it crap. It may actually be that the people who are years farther along in this process than you are could know what they're talking about.

I apologized. 😉

Thank you all...

So I shouldn't feel bad majoring in some stuff that I can sleep through? Like C++ and ASM? Which I've taught myself and make a ton of cash doing?

Well... looks like keeping a 4.0 in college will be a joke... just like in highschool... 🙄

 

[soprano]

well, I am a junior right now... almost done! I am taking AP Biology and AP Chemistry... I am really good at it... and am trying to finalize my stuff for college and "stay the course."

I don't really want to switch around at all... I see the MCAT has verbal, bio, and chemistry... but... I thought I needed to take chemistry and organic chemistry...

sorry about the word crap.... i love this place because everyone and so normal and other places a lot of people are uptight and are study study study... 😛

okay, here's some advice. Seems to me you still aren't clear on the BASICS about how to go about this process. Since you're still at least a year away from even going to college, instead of worrying about your major or the MCAT, which you won't even take for at least 4 years, try to familiarize yourself with the simple stuff first.

First of all, the MCAT has verbal, bio and physical sciences. The "bio" = biology (cell bio, genetics, immuno, physio, evolution, dev bio, etc) AND organic chemistry. The physical sciences has physics and inorganic chemistry. (not to mention the writing section)

Secondly, there are core prerequisites that you need to even apply to medical school. You'll need a full year of bio and lab, a full year of inorganic chem and lab, a full year of organic chem and lab, a full year of physics and lab, a full year of english, and for some, at least a semester of calc and/or stats. Biochem's becoming more and more "suggested" and may be a requirement at more schools by the time you apply. Comp sci is also "suggested" for some.

No matter what you major in, you'll have to take these courses. Sure, it may be easier to fill these in if they already count towards your major (ie, if you were a bio, chem, biochem, neuro major) but you can take them no matter what you major in. And chances are, you will learn how to speak/argue/write/think as well if not BETTER if you do NOT major in the hard sciences. Especially if you find you ENJOY something more than the sciences once you actually start and attend college for a year or two.

Finally, great that you're taking AP bio and chem, but med schools will still require you to take the prerequisites during college. In other words, if you go in with a semester of AP bio credit, you'll still need to take a full year of bio IN college, to apply to med school.

And I'll repeat what other's have said. You're on this board asking for advice. I, as well as many other's who have been nice enough to reply, have successfully applied and been accepted to medical school. It would be in your best interests to take what we have to say to heart, instead of refusing to listen/believe our advice.

 

[amnesia]

Thanks guys...

Perhaps a precollege premed forum could be created? Maybe a few of you guys could moderate it... It may get a lot of people like us... which this thread liberally fits in this forum...

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

I apologized. 😉

Thank you all...

So I shouldn't feel bad majoring in some stuff that I can sleep through? Like C++ and ASM? Which I've taught myself and make a ton of cash doing?

Well... looks like keeping a 4.0 in college will be a joke... just like in highschool... 🙄

LOL... You may think that because you can speak/write a computer language or two that a CSE or EE degree will be a breeze. My friend, you are sadly mistaken. You will need to take a number of calculus, physics, and advanced engineering courses that have little to do with javascript or other trivial programs.

 

[DrMom]

I apologized. 😉

I saw that. I just wanted to make a point that you're receiving reasonable advice & you should be open to it even if it isn't what you thought it would be.

 

[stoic]

I apologized. 😉

Thank you all...

So I shouldn't feel bad majoring in some stuff that I can sleep through? Like C++ and ASM? Which I've taught myself and make a ton of cash doing?

Well... looks like keeping a 4.0 in college will be a joke... just like in highschool... 🙄

the first thing you might want to aquire is some humility. you can be the smartest guy in the world, but if you're an arrogant jerk, you're not likely to get into med school. if i was on an adcom, i would certainly not recommend admission for someone who came across as you have in this thread.

major in what interests you, not what you're already good at (unless it really interests you) or what you think would be the best premed track. the requisite classes for med admissions are enough to do well on the mcat, especially if you study for the mcat before you take it.

don't major in "premed." if you're plans change (and they very well might, a lot of people change plans during their undergrad experience), you'd quickly find that a premed degree doesn't have a lot of value. also, you're not going to get any special consideration from med schools because you've majored in a "premed" program.

good luck,
S

 

[Quentin Quinn]

I am wondering some things from people applying to colleges...

is there a difference in a premed degree thingy from Uni of Virginia as compared to Uni of Florida?

Just wondering. I get into UF for free, but I have to pay UVA $20K each year. Thanks for the help.

Go to UVA, so you can find out that there are indeed people in this world smarter than yourself. Instant humility, per stoic's suggestion. Seriously, it doesn't matter where you go or in what field you major. Use some of your infinite technical aptitude to figure out the search function, since this comes up about once a week.

 

[Nunca]

I have often heard that a "Premed" degree has little value....well does it have ANY value? Does anyone have any examples of people who chose that as there major and ended up not going to medical school?

 

[doc05]

I apologized. 😉

Thank you all...

So I shouldn't feel bad majoring in some stuff that I can sleep through? Like C++ and ASM? Which I've taught myself and make a ton of cash doing?

Well... looks like keeping a 4.0 in college will be a joke... just like in highschool... 🙄

a 4.0 is rather difficult to attain if you go to a real college.

 

[amnesia]

lmao. This thread cracks me up... honestly... and JavaScript is not C++ 😉

Brown has a 7 year program... tell an Ivy League that its program sucks... But, well, it's an Ivy League.

I think I will take a designated course selection as UVA has a "premed" course selection program that goes along with a major.

 

[M4ttjabz]

man, you might want to take things step by step...if you're still a junior in high school, it's unlikely that you've been accepted to a college already... start writing essays and getting rec. letters from teachers(if you can), take the SATS, and visit colleges... and good luck getting into Virginia from out of state, you might as well apply to Ivy league schools as it's quite difficult (avg. SAT's close to 1500, 4.0gpa's and super extracurriculars)....besides, Charlottesville is quite boring, well thats just my opinion....

 

[MD Rapper]

x

 

[masterMood]

Gonna take my sats 3rd time and get a 1600 WHOOO WHOOO

 

[DelAGator]

I have often heard that a "Premed" degree has little value....well does it have ANY value? Does anyone have any examples of people who chose that as there major and ended up not going to medical school?

You will have a better time in Florida! You sound like a spaz and your GPA will fall below a 2.5 JK

You have to go where you feel more comfortable. Premed is still prermed. UF has alot of premed leadership opportunities and a premed community second to none imho

Del

 

[45408]

Don't major in pre-med, because that just SOUNDS bad.

Go to school where it's free, not where you're gonna have to find $80,000. That is, unless the Bank of Mom & Dad is going to cover you, but it's tough enough paying my in-state tuition on my own.

 

[45408]

Brown has a 7 year program... tell an Ivy League that its program sucks... But, well, it's an Ivy League.

Ivy league does not stand for "flawless school." I don't know anything about their program, but don't assume that everything about a school is going to be in line with their overall reputation.

 

[DelAGator]

Don't major in pre-med, because that just SOUNDS bad.

Go to school where it's free, not where you're gonna have to find $80,000. That is, unless the Bank of Mom & Dad is going to cover you, but it's tough enough paying my in-state tuition on my own.

Science type majors at UF

College of Liberal Arts and Science (CLAS)

Chemistry
Biochemistry
Biology Integrated
Microbiology
Neurobiology
Zoology

College of Health Related Professions
Health Science-Preprofessional Track

College of Agriculture and Life Scences
Microbiology
Agriculture Operations Management Biological Specialization
Entomology
Animal Science

Then of course you can major in non sciences like art, music etc. just make sure you make an appointmint with a premedical advisor in CLAS, Office of Helath Related Professions

Again I reiteratate UF is a great school. Have fun with your decision! 👍

 

[Reimat]

#3. Your college doesn't matter. A 4.0 is a 4.0. You graduate with a 3.2 from UF and then you've got a problem.

This is solid advice- med schools don't really look at where you went to school, just your GPA. However, your MCAT scores become the indicator of the strength of your school's program, since if you're at a more difficult school, your MCAT score should be higher.

CS is a good major- however, after the first year (and starting in the first year if you have AP credit) you basically take theory courses like Algorithm analysis, Theory of computing, a computer organization course, and some theory of programming lang course among others. CS is a great major, but those courses were hard 😉 .

 

[hnbui]

I am wondering some things from people applying to colleges...

is there a difference in a premed degree thingy from Uni of Virginia as compared to Uni of Florida?

Just wondering. I get into UF for free, but I have to pay UVA $20K each year. Thanks for the help.

okay first..."thingy".....? what are we? 12?

j/k

Don't stress out. You'll learn more about it if you hang out on this forum during the summer before you start college. You really don't need to be worrying about medical school right now. Worry about getting into a good university. Trust me once you're in college you will miss high school.

 

[tharealest]

Ugh...assembly language. That class definately brings back bad memories.

 

[amnesia]

I honestly don't want to go through college and not get into medical school. Just makin' sure I got all my basis covered. 😉

Yes... UF is very good and in the next 5 years it will rank with UC Berkeley UMich and UVa.

 

[Law2Doc]

Yes... UF is very good and in the next 5 years it will rank with UC Berkeley UMich and UVa.

I assume/hope you are being sarcastic. But you can certainly get into a good med school if you do well at UF, so if it's truly free and you have no one to foot the bill for you, I wouldn't write it off.

 

[goheel]

I honestly don't want to go through college and not get into medical school. Just makin' sure I got all my basis covered. 😉

Yes... UF is very good and in the next 5 years it will rank with UC Berkeley UMich and UVa.

It's people like you that make all premeds look bad. You're only a JUNIOR in highschool for god's sake. RELAX. Just major in some life science, and you'll be fine. Don't get gung-ho too early, there's plenty of time for that. 😉

 

[Nunca]

You will have a better time in Florida! You sound like a spaz and your GPA will fall below a 2.5 JK

You have to go where you feel more comfortable. Premed is still prermed. UF has alot of premed leadership opportunities and a premed community second to none imho

Del

Actually, I am not amnesia. I happen to be an innocent bystander!

 

[amnesia]

😕

nunca...???

 

[10minutes]

why don't you talk after you get accepted, ok?

 

[Nunca]

😕

nunca...???

Yes, that is my username.

Stop acting like an arse and making all the other pre-college people look ignorant.

 

[masterMood]

i think one thing people should realize is that not all state system are that great.

look at SUNY. I live in NY, and the SUNY system is so bad compared to the rest of the country. So many scandals, bribery, and connections giving people high positions in the SUNY administration, these are some thigns that make the SUNY crap.

To prove that, the total cost for SUNY costs about 15,550 dollars a year for instate and the only real good schools are SUNY Geneseo, and SUNY Binghamton.

Not to insult anyone who goes to any other sunys but the professors at those places can be real bastards most of the time. Not to mention that they do not have a reputation to hold.

I think thats one of the downsides with SOME state systems. If you do not have the drive and focus to succeed, you will fall down the ladder and they won't care if you drop out because they don't hav ea reputation to hold.

Thats why I applied to mostly private schools that were better known and better academics (more caring envirnment sutff like that).

Its all about your drive and determination, but some people don't have the total focus to work so hard and need the motivation from smaller, private schools. Can ya dig it?

you're all lucky to whomever goes to the UC system, florida system, massachusetts, system among others.

 

[riverie]

Brown has a 7 year program... tell an Ivy League that its program sucks... But, well, it's an Ivy League.

by the way, Brown has an 8, not 7, year program called PLME, the Program in Liberal Medical Education. And the PLMEs do not take a so-called "Pre-med" major for the first 4 years of the program, because the whole point of a "Liberal Medical Education" is for people to major in whatever they want for undergrad without worrying about taking majors that "look good" to admission committees. I know a PLME who in majoring in Art. The PLMEs still have to fulfill some pre-med requirements, but they are slightly less stringent than the usual 32-credit requirements.

That said, medical school admission committees are increasingly looking favorably at applicants with non-traditional majors, since these people may bring diversity of opinion and outlook to a class. I am a non-PLME Brown pre-med and I chose to major in Biology because I love it, not because i thought it might look better to adcom people (which it does not, as a lot of other people on this thread have also surmised.)

Please get your facts right before you inaccurately use an institution's program to back up your misconceptions on the medical school application process.

 

[amnesia]

You guys are crazy. Ask one question and most go psycho.... 😛

you make people look bad nunca!

 

[45408]

You guys are crazy. Ask one question and most go psycho.... 😛

you make people look bad nunca!

No, we're just shaking our heads at you. Your questions weren't what provoked the reaction - your snide responses did that just fine.

 

[DelAGator]

O my goodness??

When I read you posted 100+ posts on this board and found out you are only a high school junior- I was shocked.

while it is good to have goals in your life, to be obsessive like you have been its tetering on obsession compulsion. Failure is a good for you too. Socialization skills and just a good ole fashion butt kicking is necessary for you to talk with the rest of us.

go to the prom, get rejected by girls. stop obsessing!
before you start talking about your grand plans with adults, maybe you should pass organic chemistry and physics 2 first. 👎

 

[me454555]

i think one thing people should realize is that not all state system are that great.

look at SUNY. I live in NY, and the SUNY system is so bad compared to the rest of the country. So many scandals, bribery, and connections giving people high positions in the SUNY administration, these are some thigns that make the SUNY crap.

To prove that, the total cost for SUNY costs about 15,550 dollars a year for instate and the only real good schools are SUNY Geneseo, and SUNY Binghamton.

Not to insult anyone who goes to any other sunys but the professors at those places can be real bastards most of the time. Not to mention that they do not have a reputation to hold.

I think thats one of the downsides with SOME state systems. If you do not have the drive and focus to succeed, you will fall down the ladder and they won't care if you drop out because they don't hav ea reputation to hold.

Thats why I applied to mostly private schools that were better known and better academics (more caring envirnment sutff like that).

Its all about your drive and determination, but some people don't have the total focus to work so hard and need the motivation from smaller, private schools. Can ya dig it?

you're all lucky to whomever goes to the UC system, florida system, massachusetts, system among others.

I'm a grad of SUNY Albany class of 03 and an MS II in US medical school. There were quite a few others from class too who made it in as well.

Not too bad for a "sub par'" state school. I love premeds, so lost, so arrogant, so egotistical. Its always good for a laugh.

 

[masterMood]

i'm not saying that you can't get into medical school at these places but the SUNY system is very corrupt.

besides i know many people who went to suny albany, and its mainly a party school. it may have the resources or w/e but the professors in suny can be really crappy. Maybe some of us don't want to take the crap in the crapjob the state funds in the public university system.

Geneseo, Binghamton, and Stony Brooke are good, buyt the overall price is like 15,000 dollars ayear. THATS RIDICULOUS. and they want to raise it more this year (one of the chairmen makes 380,000 dollars + additional 80,000 dollars, goes on sabbaticals and lectures to SUNY schools, and wants a pay raise by increasing SUNY tuition, otherwise he'll leave. Btw, he was appointed by george pataki. (still ironic how a republican is governor of NYS!!!))

I'm a senior in high school and i just got some acceptances to some safety schools last week and the total i'd be paying at these schools would be about 10k total and 13k total compared to suny. they're not bad school by any means, the safetieis i applied to, but its cheaper and wiser to go private if you're in NY.

 

[superdavykinz]

I apologized. 😉

Thank you all...

So I shouldn't feel bad majoring in some stuff that I can sleep through? Like C++ and ASM? Which I've taught myself and make a ton of cash doing?

Well... looks like keeping a 4.0 in college will be a joke... just like in highschool... 🙄

I'm assuming you go to a Florida High School since you said you're getting into UF for free if you went there because of Bright Futures..anyway..FYI, Florida's school system (not counting college/university) is ranked 49th, so you shouldn't get all cocky thinking that college will be easy because you do so well in high school. And the cs major is fine but it's completely different in the workforce.

 

[sumfratrisamor]

I honestly don't want to go through college and not get into medical school. Just makin' sure I got all my basis covered. 😉

Yes... UF is very good and in the next 5 years it will rank with UC Berkeley UMich and UVa.

You know what - I live in VA, and I'm in community college right now so I'm looking into various universities, and one of the schools that is actively trying to recruit me is UF.

 

[sumfratrisamor]

O my goodness??

When I read you posted 100+ posts on this board and found out you are only a high school junior- I was shocked.

while it is good to have goals in your life, to be obsessive like you have been its tetering on obsession compulsion. Failure is a good for you too. Socialization skills and just a good ole fashion butt kicking is necessary for you to talk with the rest of us.

go to the prom, get rejected by girls. stop obsessing!
before you start talking about your grand plans with adults, maybe you should pass organic chemistry and physics 2 first. 👎

What, being born a few years earlier than some of us automatically makes you an expert?
I know some med students (and some doctors for that matter) that could use a good ole fashion butt kicking too.

 

[QofQuimica]

Hi Amnesia,

My vote is for staying in-state, too, especially since you know that you want to go on to medical school. Only a very few students receive a scholarship to medical school, and you will probably have to take out loans at that point in your education. So if you can get through college without taking any loans out, you will be in a much better position.

Also, you should not overlook the educational opportunities available to you at UF; the school has a very selective honors program (the link to it is http://www.honors.ufl.edu/ ), so if your grades and SAT or ACT score are high enough (minimum 3.9 weighted GPA and 1380 SAT or 32 ACT), that would be a good option for you to consider. UF also has a junior honors medical program that sounds like it might be ideal for someone like you if you meet its requirements; you can try to transfer in after your second year of college at UF. The website is http://www.med.ufl.edu/oea/admiss/site/Junior.shtml

Finally, I have to agree with the other posters that you should nix the pre-med major idea. Don't even worry about what to major in at all at this point, because you will likely change your mind anyway once you get to college and start taking some classes. Try to take a wide breadth of classes, and keep an open mind as far as what subject will ultimately be the one that really turns you on. Good luck with your studies.