Problem with CompSci Major

[geomike]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I have been lurking these forums for a series of months and they are great. From this section I learned that I can still major in computer science and be able to take prereqs for med school and that is why i stuck to my major of computer science with plans of taking the prereqs and entering med school.

Obviously there was a problem, which is why I am here.... I will be an incoming freshman this fall at UC Irvine. I was talking with the Computer science department about how I should incorporate pre med classes with my compsci major, but they told me to go talk to the Biological Sciences Department since they would be able to help me better. I talked to the BioSci department and they were telling me that it would be extremely difficult (I kind of expected that response but I am determined to do this), but I didn't know how difficult it was to fit in the classes until she politely explained that the chem classes are for science majors only until winter quarter, which would throw off the premed timeline, and that I wouldn't be able to get to the Bio labs without a series of bio classes that i would need to complete first in order to be able to register for the labs.

I am just really frustrated and I really don't want to give up my Computer Science Major to be a Bio major just to get prereqs done. It's not that I'm not interested at all in Bio, but it's just that for undergrad I would much rather do the pre reqs along side a compsci major because that is what I am passionate about. I am sure there are people here with the same dilemma and I would appreciate it greatly if you have some advice for me. Thanks

 

[theseeker4]

I have been lurking these forums for a series of months and they are great. From this section I learned that I can still major in computer science and be able to take prereqs for med school and that is why i stuck to my major of computer science with plans of taking the prereqs and entering med school.

Obviously there was a problem, which is why I am here.... I will be an incoming freshman this fall at UC Irvine. I was talking with the Computer science department about how I should incorporate pre med classes with my compsci major, but they told me to go talk to the Biological Sciences Department since they would be able to help me better. I talked to the BioSci department and they were telling me that it would be extremely difficult (I kind of expected that response but I am determined to do this), but I didn't know how difficult it was to fit in the classes until she politely explained that the chem classes are for science majors only until winter quarter, which would throw off the premed timeline, and that I wouldn't be able to get to the Bio labs without a series of bio classes that i would need to complete first in order to be able to register for the labs.

I am just really frustrated and I really don't want to give up my Computer Science Major to be a Bio major just to get prereqs done. It's not that I'm not interested at all in Bio, but it's just that for undergrad I would much rather do the pre reqs along side a compsci major because that is what I am passionate about. I am sure there are people here with the same dilemma and I would appreciate it greatly if you have some advice for me. Thanks

You could, potentially, declare a double major, then decide whether or not to complete it after you have completed the pre med pre reqs. You could also take some of the pre reqs at a CC or other university, depending on what schools you want to apply to and how they view this.

 

[geomike]

You could, potentially, declare a double major, then decide whether or not to complete it after you have completed the pre med pre reqs. You could also take some of the pre reqs at a CC or other university, depending on what schools you want to apply to and how they view this.

Hey, thanks for replying.

I would rather not double major because I feel that my grades would drop if i overloaded myself like that. As for CC and other university though, I think I might have to go that route for a class or so, I am definitely considering that if it doesn't work out at UC Irvine, but I would much rather just complete all the required classes at Irvine

 

[ToldYouSo]

I have been lurking these forums for a series of months and they are great. From this section I learned that I can still major in computer science and be able to take prereqs for med school and that is why i stuck to my major of computer science with plans of taking the prereqs and entering med school.

Obviously there was a problem, which is why I am here.... I will be an incoming freshman this fall at UC Irvine. I was talking with the Computer science department about how I should incorporate pre med classes with my compsci major, but they told me to go talk to the Biological Sciences Department since they would be able to help me better. I talked to the BioSci department and they were telling me that it would be extremely difficult (I kind of expected that response but I am determined to do this), but I didn't know how difficult it was to fit in the classes until she politely explained that the chem classes are for science majors only until winter quarter, which would throw off the premed timeline, and that I wouldn't be able to get to the Bio labs without a series of bio classes that i would need to complete first in order to be able to register for the labs.

I am just really frustrated and I really don't want to give up my Computer Science Major to be a Bio major just to get prereqs done. It's not that I'm not interested at all in Bio, but it's just that for undergrad I would much rather do the pre reqs along side a compsci major because that is what I am passionate about. I am sure there are people here with the same dilemma and I would appreciate it greatly if you have some advice for me. Thanks

Declare a double major, take the pre-reqs you need then drop the bio major. It seems weird to me that your school won't let you register for the courses. A computer science major at my school is required to take an 8 credit gen bio, chem or phys sequence.

 

[geomike]

Well, my computer science major does let me take a one year science course but I think it might be different than the ones needed for the MCAT, and like I said above I really would rather not mess around with a double major

 

[wholeheartedly]

declaring a double major doesn't mean you'd have to take more credits per semester. it also doesn't mean you have to finish both majors.

Another thought, what would happen if you did comp sci with a biology minor? At my school certain classes were limited to majors or minors.

Lastly, usually you can take classes in the summer. Some of my best science class performance was during summer sessions. So having to wait til winter quarter to take start the class you need might not put you as far behind as you think it will.

Could you switch to Undeclared or Undecided status and then take the classes you need. Then officially "decide" on computer sci.

Finally, never blindly trust your academic advisor on anything. Always double check the student guidebook for confirmation of the rules. They usually mean well, but sometimes they don't quite understand everything 100%.

 

[geomike]

declaring a double major doesn't mean you'd have to take more credits per semester. it also doesn't mean you have to finish both majors.

Another thought, what would happen if you did comp sci with a biology minor? At my school certain classes were limited to majors or minors.

Lastly, usually you can take classes in the summer. Some of my best science class performance was during summer sessions. So having to wait til winter quarter to take start the class you need might not put you as far behind as you think it will.

Could you switch to Undeclared or Undecided status and then take the classes you need. Then officially "decide" on computer sci.

Finally, never blindly trust your academic advisor on anything. Always double check the student guidebook for confirmation of the rules. They usually mean well, but sometimes they don't quite understand everything 100%.

You definitely bring up some good points I didn't think of. I like the idea of minoring in Biology if that would help put me on track for pre med req's, that seems more doable. The lady was telling me about going undecided but I would rather not give up computer science at any moment even if I am planning to claim it again later because it is guaranteed for me right now. Who knows what will happen in the future.

And ya I am definitely starting to realize how true your last statement is. Since I am fresh out of high school I am so used to things being so clear cut in school and having one path and the counselor always knows everything, but it's so drastically different in college, I am learning that really quick, I will make sure to really read everything possible before making any decision. Thanks for looking out for me, it looks like it's going to be a really long road ahead.