Some questions - please answer

[Focused]

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Hi, I'm an undergrad who has made some bad decisions with his college career thus far but am making myself change that - so that I can put myself on a much better path for my future. I have a hard road before me and I am not sure if I can achieve my goals of being a D.O. but I am sure as heck going to try my ass off.

Anyways, I have a few questions for those here who have the time, wisdom, and patience to answer.

I was a History major but am changing to Biology (Pre-med). Now, I have read on these forums that you do not have to be Pre-Med to go to Medical school. That makes sense, but I am confused as to why one would not prefer to go Biology, considering that it would (in my opinion) better prepare you for the material that should be covered IN Medical School. Am I wrong on this?

Doesn't going Pre-Med in undergrad better prepare you, especially if you were majoring in a field that does not have many biological sciences?

Also, I have read that it is recommended that you get some clinical work under your belt before you apply to Med-school... Whats the best way to approach this? Just go in to a Doc's office and ask them if you can shadow them?

I ask this because I am in no way in a position to be looking at Medical school right now due to my decisions and I have to start making some enormous changes in my life if I want to be prepared in the future - 3 or 4 years from now, I'm assuming.

Btw, I'm 23 and I'm currently a Junior in college with a 2.4 GPA. Yeah, I know. I have a LOT of work to do and even then I don't know what my chances are.

Thanks guys - your time and information is highly appreciated by all.
Doyle

 

[ShyRem]

Yes, you can call a physician's office and ask to shadow them. Preferably a DO if you're looking at going osteopathic (about half of the schools require a DO letter these days).

As for why biology? I say why not chemistry. Prereqs are ONE YEAR of biology. However, you are requried to take one year of gen chem, one year of o chem, and many schools require now one semester of biochem (that's TWO AND A HALF YEARS of chemistry). So, let me turn your question back on yourself: why biology? You're only required to take one year of it - so why major in it?

FYI: retake those classes you didn't do well in for DO school applications. AAACOMAS will replace the first grade with the second, thus raising your GPA. AMCAS will merely average all the grades together.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Hi, I'm an undergrad who has made some bad decisions with his college career thus far but am making myself change that - so that I can put myself on a much better path for my future. I have a hard road before me and I am not sure if I can achieve my goals of being a D.O. but I am sure as heck going to try my ass off.

Anyways, I have a few questions for those here who have the time, wisdom, and patience to answer.

I was a History major but am changing to Biology (Pre-med). Now, I have read on these forums that you do not have to be Pre-Med to go to Medical school. That makes sense, but I am confused as to why one would not prefer to go Biology, considering that it would (in my opinion) better prepare you for the material that should be covered IN Medical School. Am I wrong on this?

Doesn't going Pre-Med in undergrad better prepare you, especially if you were majoring in a field that does not have many biological sciences?

Also, I have read that it is recommended that you get some clinical work under your belt before you apply to Med-school... Whats the best way to approach this? Just go in to a Doc's office and ask them if you can shadow them?

I ask this because I am in no way in a position to be looking at Medical school right now due to my decisions and I have to start making some enormous changes in my life if I want to be prepared in the future - 3 or 4 years from now, I'm assuming.

Btw, I'm 23 and I'm currently a Junior in college with a 2.4 GPA. Yeah, I know. I have a LOT of work to do and even then I don't know what my chances are.

Thanks guys - your time and information is highly appreciated by all.
Doyle

1. You are confusing "pre-med" with a major. If you are planning on applying to medical school, you will be "pre-med" whether you are a history major or a biology major. I would NOT recommend majoring in chemistry as the poster suggested above. Chemistry is more difficult than biology. I majored in forensic science, and I would highly recommend majoring in a social science or other area if you have had struggles in the past. As long as you take the mandatory pre-med classes, you will be prepared for medical school. Your concern now should be makes the grades for admission to medical school. Forget which majors correllate the most to medicine---you will be at no advantage over an English major. Once medical school starts, we are all just as clueless. I would STRONGLY suggest not changing your major, unless you find that you do not enjoy history any more. Major in something you would do if you did not get admitted to medical school.

2. You need to volunteer in a hospital (preferably the ER.) Get to know a physician and follow him around, so you can get a recommendation from him. You can count the time spent with the physician as actual volunteer hours instead of just shadowing.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Yes, you can call a physician's office and ask to shadow them. Preferably a DO if you're looking at going osteopathic (about half of the schools require a DO letter these days).

As for why biology? I say why not chemistry. Prereqs are ONE YEAR of biology. However, you are requried to take one year of gen chem, one year of o chem, and many schools require now one semester of biochem (that's TWO AND A HALF YEARS of chemistry). So, let me turn your question back on yourself: why biology? You're only required to take one year of it - so why major in it?

FYI: retake those classes you didn't do well in for DO school applications. AAACOMAS will replace the first grade with the second, thus raising your GPA. AMCAS will merely average all the grades together.

I disagree. Chemistry is a much more difficult major than biology, and VERY LITTLE chemistry is used in medical school.

 

[MoxieDO]

Hi,
I am a Biology major and a History/chemistry minor. I love history and if I could go back, I would have been a history major to score a higher GPA (it is very easy for me, I get high A's in those classes). People do a Biology major because it is the traditional route and also encompasses all the prereqs for medical school, so it makes sense that many ppl get a Bio major or minor. Another thing about a Bio major is that if you do poorly in the prereq's and very well in the upper level classes, you demonstrate that you are able to learn harder material.

So Point-if you can do all your prereqs well, then perhaps you could keep your history major. If you do this, be sure to also incorporate some upper level science courses. I know many ppl who are going to med school that did not do the traditional science major, but did english, philosophy, history, religion, etc...

If, however, you have not done well in your current major and feel you would do better in a Bio one, then by all means switch. It will somewhat better prepare you for med school, but remember, it is your education, learn what you want now because from med school on, it will be all about the sciences. Best of luck!

 

[yunan]

MoxieDO's right. it doesnt matter what you major, just Ace the pre reqs. i was a bio sci (premed) as an undergrad, and even though it did require me to take a lot of pre reqs for med, the upper div also killed my gpa. medicine has very little chemistry so do not major in chem..that **** is rough and might hurt ya. this is what i would do,

1. ace medschool pre reqs and all recommended classes to boost ur gpa.
2. dominate the mcats
3. shadow a DO, preferably a clinic so you get to know the doc in a smaller, more personal setting.
4. again, depending how ur current gpa is, retake classes that u screwed up if you can.

what i probably wouldve done if i had the chance to redo in college is major in somethin else easier than bio sci at a small college, and concentrate solely on the pre reqs. that wouldve helped my gpa alot more cuz u really learn all ur stuff in med school and just gun it for the first 2 yrs. but only if i knew about sdn back then.

 

[Focused]

Ok. Well I definately do not need anything that will lower my GPA...so I have to decide what I want to do. I want to be as prepared as I can for Med school, but I understand that nothing can prepare you for it until you are there. Well one thing that I'm confused about is the the prereqs for med school. I'm set on going to a D.O. school because they allow you to replace the grades rather than simply averaging them plus I really prefer their approach to medicine. Its how medicine should be, IMHO.

Anyways, what are the prereqs for Med-School? Here is what my University requires a Biology Major to take - and specifically the Pre-Med core concentration which is a little ways down the page. If any of you have a moment, check it out and tell me if it looks good or doesn't look good. I'm assuming a Biology advisor would know what classes I need to take to be rdy for Med school. Though, personally, I don't always trust the advise of my advisors at my University.

Link to my school's Biology Pre-Med setup:
http://www.nicholls.edu/bulletin/academics/arts_sciences/biology.html#biology

May also want to check out their site dedicated to their Pre-Med program:
http://www.nicholls.edu/biol/premed.html

Also does any one know if D.O.s is going to change the way they accept grades to be more like M.D. schools? Averaging instead of replacing? I think replacing makes a lot more sense considering that if you can make an A in it the 2nd time around, obviously you learned the material, and therefore it shouldn't be averaged...

Thanks again folks 🙂
Doyle

 

[scpod]

Anyways, what are the prereqs for Med-School? Here is what my University requires a Biology Major to take - and specifically the Pre-Med core concentration which is a little ways down the page. If any of you have a moment, check it out and tell me if it looks good or doesn't look good. I'm assuming a Biology advisor would know what classes I need to take to be rdy for Med school...Doyle

While there are a few schools that have additional requirements, generally 8 hours each of Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics are all that is required. Your school seems to think that it prepares you well for the MCAT. Did they tell you that other than Health Sciences majors, Biology majors generally score lowest of everyone on the MCAT? It's true. You are usually better prepared being a social sciences major. At least, statistically speaking, you'll score higher on the MCAT.

 

[OSUdoc08]

While there are a few schools that have additional requirements, generally 8 hours each of Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics are all that is required. Your school seems to think that it prepares you well for the MCAT. Did they tell you that other than Health Sciences majors, Biology majors generally score lowest of everyone on the MCAT? It's true. You are usually better prepared being a social sciences major. At least, statistically speaking, you'll score higher on the MCAT.

👍 👍 👍

 

[Focused]

No I did not know that. Thats very interesting. So I could continue as a History major and just take the prereqs for Med School? Then graduate with a History degree and actually apply and have a chance in to Med school? That's wonderful news. I plan to contact Physicians in my area and ask them if I can shadow them or get some type of volunteer work from them in the near future... but I want to make absolutely sure that I am doing things right so that I'm not messing myself up later down the road.

I really really want to make myself as presentable as possible to Med School. Another question: I am going to take history classes towards my major and start taking the prereqs for Med school right now - as I see it, I have about 2 years left before I graduate with a History degree. I figure I'll have another year of retaking classes that I made Cs in. That's the lowest grade I have made, except for 1 D, which I will also retake. Should I retake the classes before graduating or graduate, then retake them (if thats possible)... if it isn't possible, then what exactly is a post-bacc?

Thanks. You guys/gals are wonderful. 🙂
Btw, sorry for all the questions. I just have a lot to learn. 🙂
Doyle

 

[MoxieDO]

A post-bac is sort of like a second chance at demonstrating your ability to do the work that is req in med school. I did not have to do one, but had many friends who did and I planned to do one if I did not get into med school. I still suggest retaking classes before graduation. If you do not get in the year you apply or choose to wait a year, then a post-bac would be a nice way to spend that year. in the TCOM post-bac (I dont know about other ones), you take many of the classes 1st yr med student take. If you show you can do well in them, it heightens your chances of being accepted into med school the following year.

 

[KateGia]

Ok. Well I definately do not need anything that will lower my GPA...so I have to decide what I want to do. I want to be as prepared as I can for Med school, but I understand that nothing can prepare you for it until you are there. Well one thing that I'm confused about is the the prereqs for med school. I'm set on going to a D.O. school because they allow you to replace the grades rather than simply averaging them plus I really prefer their approach to medicine. Its how medicine should be, IMHO.

Anyways, what are the prereqs for Med-School? Here is what my University requires a Biology Major to take - and specifically the Pre-Med core concentration which is a little ways down the page. If any of you have a moment, check it out and tell me if it looks good or doesn't look good. I'm assuming a Biology advisor would know what classes I need to take to be rdy for Med school. Though, personally, I don't always trust the advise of my advisors at my University.

Link to my school's Biology Pre-Med setup:
http://www.nicholls.edu/bulletin/academics/arts_sciences/biology.html#biology

May also want to check out their site dedicated to their Pre-Med program:
http://www.nicholls.edu/biol/premed.html

Also does any one know if D.O.s is going to change the way they accept grades to be more like M.D. schools? Averaging instead of replacing? I think replacing makes a lot more sense considering that if you can make an A in it the 2nd time around, obviously you learned the material, and therefore it shouldn't be averaged...

Thanks again folks 🙂
Doyle

Here is a link to the aacom website with all of the prereqs listed.
http://www.aacom.org/data/cib/03-prereqs.html

Good luck! 🙂