Switching B.S. to B.A.

[bluesTank]

Hey everyone,

Just need a little input on my situation.

So I am on the B.S. Chemistry track right now, and I am in my senior year. Needless to say, I am in some pretty tough advanced chem classes right now. More specifically, I am sitting here at 2:30 am with a test in Analytical Instrumental Chemistry tomorrow morning, and I probably understand about 30% of the material. Maybe it had to do with my three tests today and yesterday but anyways...

So I have been thinking about switching from a B.S. to a B.A. which means I could drop this, and all other chemistry courses RIGHT now, and basically be finished with my degree (except for a few biochem courses for my biochem minor). This would basically allow me to coast through this and next semester, take it easy (sort of), avoid inorganic chemistry and polymer chemistry and basically be free... This was all just in the back of my mind, but tonight before this test tomorrow, it has started to become my possible reality.

I figure I have had several interviews already, and most of them went pretty well, so I think I have to get into at least ONE of them (sorry if that sounded cocky).

So what do yall think? Should I just screw it all? Or try and recover from this mess tomorrow and miserably grudge through the rest of the year to get my BS? Will medical schools care (assuming I get accepted) that I switched?

Sorry for the long-ness.

Thanks!

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[Textuality]

I have B.A's in Biology and Psychology, chose not to do the BS in Bio because I don't really like bench work nor did I really have time to do the mandatory Bio research (I did more clinical/psych research). So far, doesn't look like it's hurting me any since I have invites to Vandy and Emory, and got a secondary from Stanford.

I'd say do what you need to maintain your sanity 😛 Not to mention, it's frickin senior year! Enjoy yourself a little! Unless you're applying MD/PHD, I don't know how much of a difference those upper level, super complicated chem classes will make (since I think Biochem and Pharmacology is about as chemistry deep as most med classes run).

Just my two cents though 🙂 Like people keep saying, don't do volunteering/majors/etc just because you think the adcoms will like it, do it cause you like it because they might not even care, and then you would have been miserable for nothing.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I think it will be fine - the biggest issue would be that you listed you would be taking certain classes this year, so you'd need to let them know that is changing somehow.

But otherwise - not much difference btwn a BA and BS on paper. You'll be fine.

 

[foreverLaur]

I don't think it will be a problem either. Especially since it seems like continuing on this path will lower your GPA.

At my school, the only difference between a BS in the sciences and a BA in the sciences is Calc II. No joke.

 

[hildtom]

i agree with everybody else. screw it all. this is your last year of "freedom" before med school afterall. might as well try to have an enjoyable year before the real work begins!

 

[Meatwad]

I don't think it will be a problem either. Especially since it seems like continuing on this path will lower your GPA.

At my school, the only difference between a BS in the sciences and a BA in the sciences is Calc II. No joke.

Yeah, at my school Chem BS majors take more electives in chemistry, but BA students still need to do two semesters of P-Chem, Analytical labs, Inorganic I, Calc 3, Linear Algebra, etc.

 

[postbacker]

Switching majors is not a problem, but dropping a bunch of hard classes mid semester is a red flag...you have a very high GPA, and it comes across as "grade grubbing" to me, not the result of some sort of personal epiphany...also sounds like poor planning, lack of foresight, that sort of thing (i.e., you should have thought of this BEFORE this semester started and BEFORE you put those classes on your AMCAS app).

Just my opinion...that's what you wanted, right? Probably won't make a bit of difference since you already have interviewed, and it probably would have zero effect on any admissions decisions, so go for it! Just doesn't pass my smell test...

 

[Writer1985]

Switching majors is not a problem, but dropping a bunch of hard classes mid semester is a red flag...you have a very high GPA, and it comes across as "grade grubbing" to me, not the result of some sort of personal epiphany....

👍

If you change your schedule, you are obligated to report it to all the schools that you applied to. Can't imagine they'd be too thrilled to hear you're dropping all the intense ones.

Don't kill yourself for an A in your last year of college.