Hello everyone,
I am currently a sophomore, soon to be junior, at Texas A&M University and recently, I have been really been stressed about and have been trying to reevaluate myself and I need some guidance. Here is my dilemma:
So I really love being challenged and as masochistic as this seems, I love struggling in classes (and then eventually grasping the ideas), granted I am not the only one. I am currently a Public Health major and I am wanting to switch into TAMU's BIMS program. I am at the point in my UG career where I have taken just enough classes in my major for it to constitute as a minor, so this is my last chance to do any real "major changing" before I set it in stone. The Public Health program is rather new (for undergrad) but has had a good history with masters and doctorate degrees. When I am in Public Health, I will be honest, it is a bit easier than if I were have to take all of the hard science classes that BIMS will offer, but as I said, I like the challenge and I like struggling. At the end of this semester, I felt a void in my heart. I felt unsatisfied. Also with the UG Public Health program here at TAMU, I am not really able to specialize (but I guess that's why people get a masters typically in many fields?). I feel as if the degree is too broad. I am taking classes related to social behavior, law, and some science, but it is not focused enough on the science aspect for me. On the flip side, the BIMS degree is tailored towards getting into medical/professional school, and stories have been told that if you do not get into Med school or Dental or what have you, then you practically have a "useless" degree and work in low compensation jobs. My advisors have told me that it would be better to stick with public health since it is more flexible. So say I decide not to pursue medical school no longer, the degree would not be "useless". Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy Public Health. I do realize that BIMS will most likely lower my GPA, but I also believe that being challenged more by the coursework will be good for me in the future. I also think the content of BIMS is more interesting. I realize how cliche Biology majors are for medical school and I also realize that BIMS is practically the same thing. When it comes to interviews, I truly believe I can nail the interview when they ask questions about my Public Health major and that type of stuff.
I have considered one of the following:
Major in Public Health and minor in BIMS
Major in BIMS and minor in Public Health
Double Major in Public Health and BIMS (not likely)
I have always been told that your undergraduate degree should be more broad and flexible, and as you get a masters, you specialize more and more and more. An example of a niche degree would be Petroleum Engineering or Aerospace Engineering. A more flexible one would be Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering (sorry for the swap on context but its just used as an example). In terms of science, you would major in Physics as your UG. Then on the masters and doctoral level, maybe specialize in Astrophysics or something. I think you guys get the idea. I also realize minors are "worthless", but it fills the resume and its actually a true area of interest I like to also study.
I am in desperate need of advice and guidance. I still really want to further my education, whether it be medical school or graduate school (or both), but I also do not want to pick the wrong undergraduate major for self fulfillment purposes. Feel free to message me.
I just don't want to feel secure with a quality job post-bacc. I realize people say your major does not matter and its about experience etc, but I just can't help but think this.
I am currently a sophomore, soon to be junior, at Texas A&M University and recently, I have been really been stressed about and have been trying to reevaluate myself and I need some guidance. Here is my dilemma:
So I really love being challenged and as masochistic as this seems, I love struggling in classes (and then eventually grasping the ideas), granted I am not the only one. I am currently a Public Health major and I am wanting to switch into TAMU's BIMS program. I am at the point in my UG career where I have taken just enough classes in my major for it to constitute as a minor, so this is my last chance to do any real "major changing" before I set it in stone. The Public Health program is rather new (for undergrad) but has had a good history with masters and doctorate degrees. When I am in Public Health, I will be honest, it is a bit easier than if I were have to take all of the hard science classes that BIMS will offer, but as I said, I like the challenge and I like struggling. At the end of this semester, I felt a void in my heart. I felt unsatisfied. Also with the UG Public Health program here at TAMU, I am not really able to specialize (but I guess that's why people get a masters typically in many fields?). I feel as if the degree is too broad. I am taking classes related to social behavior, law, and some science, but it is not focused enough on the science aspect for me. On the flip side, the BIMS degree is tailored towards getting into medical/professional school, and stories have been told that if you do not get into Med school or Dental or what have you, then you practically have a "useless" degree and work in low compensation jobs. My advisors have told me that it would be better to stick with public health since it is more flexible. So say I decide not to pursue medical school no longer, the degree would not be "useless". Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy Public Health. I do realize that BIMS will most likely lower my GPA, but I also believe that being challenged more by the coursework will be good for me in the future. I also think the content of BIMS is more interesting. I realize how cliche Biology majors are for medical school and I also realize that BIMS is practically the same thing. When it comes to interviews, I truly believe I can nail the interview when they ask questions about my Public Health major and that type of stuff.
I have considered one of the following:
Major in Public Health and minor in BIMS
Major in BIMS and minor in Public Health
Double Major in Public Health and BIMS (not likely)
I have always been told that your undergraduate degree should be more broad and flexible, and as you get a masters, you specialize more and more and more. An example of a niche degree would be Petroleum Engineering or Aerospace Engineering. A more flexible one would be Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering (sorry for the swap on context but its just used as an example). In terms of science, you would major in Physics as your UG. Then on the masters and doctoral level, maybe specialize in Astrophysics or something. I think you guys get the idea. I also realize minors are "worthless", but it fills the resume and its actually a true area of interest I like to also study.
I am in desperate need of advice and guidance. I still really want to further my education, whether it be medical school or graduate school (or both), but I also do not want to pick the wrong undergraduate major for self fulfillment purposes. Feel free to message me.
I just don't want to feel secure with a quality job post-bacc. I realize people say your major does not matter and its about experience etc, but I just can't help but think this.