Medical Should I get a second bachelor's in engineering after music performance degree?

[Goro]

What do you guys think about a second bachelors? Ive been looking into online medical admissions counselors but everyone suggests to ask reddit or SDN (my schools pre-health advising isn't strong). I posted here about a month ago asking if I should add a double major in biochemistry as a junior in music performance. All responses were advising me to not pursue a double major in biochem. It makes sense, I've still thought about this idea though. I've heard from some people and forums that medical school admissions like the diversity that could come from a music student. However, I find myself disappointed with what I will have in my portfolio. I won't be able to easily get research with this degree, even in medical school I believe that my background will hold me back. If I was, say, to acquire and excel in a degree in physics or engineering, I think that medical schools and PI's would see me as competent and I would have the background knowledge to contribute meaningfully to a discipline. I also am a quiet person, I think it would help if I had a full degrees worth of time to find and develop relationships with science professors.

After I initially considered biochemistry, I explored the website of the (v good) engineering college at my university. They have a nuclear engineering degree with a specialization in medicine / radiology. It just happens to be that radiology is my favored specialty. I've been in contact with my school, the engineering college. And they've told me I can't transfer because I'm too late in my degree, but I can apply to get a second bachelors after I complete my music degree. My parents say they will pay for a second degree if this is what I want to do, they understand what happened to get me to this decision(long story). I feel a little bit guilty that I didn't realize what I wanted sooner, but I am happy I still have a chance to do something as interesting and stimulating as this. What do you all think? Is this a strong plan?

Oh, also, how do I know what engineering (or physics?) discipline will help me further the field of radiology? I don't want to just sit on my butt and follow pre-made instructions for diagnosing patients (well I do want to do this a little bit), I also want to be on the forefront of medicine and help people by working hard and pushing myself mentally. Could it be worth it to pursue engineering and medicine? Is there interdisciplinary applications in which I could insert myself?

A second bachelors isn't worth it. Just do a post-bac program for career changers.

Oh, also, how do I know what engineering (or physics?) discipline will help me further the field of radiology? I don't want to just sit on my butt and follow pre-made instructions for diagnosing patients

Please shadow some doctors and disabuse yourself of these strange notions.

It's not a strange notion, I'm aware that a lot of medicine is just following the book. There's only so many things that will show up on the scans, eventually it will be easy and repetitive. And I don't see an explanation for why a second bachelors isn't worth it, I put many reasons why it might be beneficial and still don't see a reason not to continue thinking about it.

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[TheBoneDoctah]

If you take the prereqs for medical school, do well on them, and do well on the MCAT, ADCOM doesn't care what your degree is in as long as you did well. If you want to be a doctor, double majoring is a waste of time/money.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

I don't see it as a waste of time / money if studying a different discipline allows me to dive deeper into medicine. With my music major, I would never get accepted to MD programs that also simultaneously developed doctors that were multidisciplinary

You literally asked us what we think about a second bachelors. Goro and I have both answered your question and you basically told us we are wrong.

...go get a second bachelors then.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Your majors literally have zero relevance once you are in medical school.

 

[Goro]

It's not a strange notion, I'm aware that a lot of medicine is just following the book. There's only so many things that will show up on the scans, eventually it will be easy and repetitive.

And you know this exactly....how?

Look, you came here asking for realistic advice; you got it. We're not here to affirm your notions or your choices.

 

[lord999]

As a qualified BCNP, Medical Physics at the practitioner level hardly uses any of the undergraduate physics or engineering beyond University Physics as it is too broad, you basically get all that training in residency, and if you really want to make a major go of it, you take your DiffEq and enter Medical Physics as a graduate major. You will waste your time in undergraduate as you seem to already have with rather self-imposed notions about how t his works.

Yes, radiology as with all medical specialties (even the exotics like tropical medicine) gets "repetitive" after a while, that is the way it works. Even when you are doing novel work, you rely on what you knew to relate. If you are a BFA Music Performance, maybe this may help. How much does harmonic and composition theory inform technical performance? To some degree, you actually have to learn the mechanics even before any theory makes sense, but at the technical performance level, do you actually think about Fux's Gradus Ad Parnassum when playing period music? It's helpful after the fact, but it's not particularly something you actively think about during the work.

My advice is that you ought to shadow a bit more, but also, you have too fixed a worldview such that it will be harmful.

No, your justification for taking a degree is not reasonable.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I have overseen admission of music performance majors into dental school and have known many who got into medical school. I don't get the OP's point or insistence on getting a second bachelors degree as long as prerequisites and recommended courses and experiences exist on the application.

 

[tantacles]

It's not just about admissions. I want to get strong foundations in science / engineering for research. It's not just about admissions. I don't just care about admissions, I actually care about research too

The answer remains that it won't particularly help you for admissions, but if you want to get another degree, go ahead. Or, if your GPA is good, just audit some courses for a fraction of the price.