Switching Majors?

[miniman]

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Hey!

So, I am transferring to a University this spring... (I'm taking the fall semester off) and I am a biology major. I have been considering whether I wanted to continue to major in biology or reflect another aspect of what I enjoy as well (beyond medicine)... So, I was thinking of getting a Social Worker degree... I only need to take all my Chemistry, Physics, and bio-Chem.... What do you all think of this plan? Does a social worker degree still look competitive? I don't want to deny a passion of mine, nor do I want to risk lowering my chances as this is not a competitive major... (I know MCAT scores are everything... but I know with enough study time I will be able to master that... 🙂 )

My main idea is that I enjoy Biology, but I know the time it takes to do well in it. It's a harder degree... and I have to work (30 hours a week), volunteer (8 hours a week).... yeah I have to do a bunch of other things as well... so I figured if I take a degree that I have a passion for as well that is easier it would be better for me... but is it only better in the short run? Would taking an easy degree pathway hurt me in the long run? IDK if I am making a big hoopla over nothing. 🙂

Is there anything I should be thinking about before I give more serious consideration to moving in this direction? Should I major in Anthropology/ Sociology instead as that is a bit harder and more competitive?

Any advice would be great!
M

 

[Blanky]

"Social Worker degree" sounds like a bad idea as it will be difficult to spin into medicine. The Sociology, or Anthropology are great ideas if that's what you enjoy. Is the degree change actually going to slow you down in regards to prereqs and the degree requirements.

 

[raiderette]

Social Work is closely tied to the reality of medicine and you can use your degree if you take gap years or need to reapply. I am not sure how the degree is viewed. You would certainly be able to get a job easier than you would with a degree in anthropology.

 

[efle]

Is the social work degree still a regular ol' B.A. from that institution, identical to Bio/Anthro? If so then you should be fine studying that, med schools seriously don't care how hard your major is

 

[gyngyn]

Vocational majors are viewed less favorably by some reviewers.
Outcomes are also weaker (for MD).

 

[miniman]

Vocational majors are viewed less favorably by some reviewers.
Outcomes are also weaker (for MD).

Interesting... why may I ask? Would a public health degree be seen in the same way?

 

[miniman]

Is the social work degree still a regular ol' B.A. from that institution, identical to Bio/Anthro? If so then you should be fine studying that, med schools seriously don't care how hard your major is

Ok! That seems reasonable! 🙂

 

[efle]

^ The worse outcomes might be reflective of the population more than the major, e.g. if the population that studies vocational majors tends to score lower on the MCAT.

 

[miniman]

^ The worse outcomes might be reflective of the population more than the major, e.g. if the population that studies vocational majors tends to score lower on the MCAT.

Yeah! I know! That's why I am considering anthropology as well. Social sciences do well on the MCAT. The big pro fro getting a BA in public health is that I can get a masters in healthcare administration if med school doesn't work out. I don't know about you, but I just want to cover my bases well when it comes to this! 🙂

 

[gyngyn]

We don't know for sure why the outcomes are worse. I can report that vocational majors are viewed to be less rigorous but that may be a minor contributor to the outcome.

 

[Lawpy]

We don't know for sure why the outcomes are worse. I can report that vocational majors are viewed to be less rigorous.

How do adcoms define rigor?

 

[gyngyn]

How do adcoms define rigor?

Loosely.

 

[efle]

Yeah! I know! That's why I am considering anthropology as well. Social sciences do well on the MCAT. The big pro fro getting a BA in public health is that I can get a masters in healthcare administration if med school doesn't work out. I don't know about you, but I just want to cover my bases well when it comes to this! 🙂

Again though, these trends likely reflect the population more than the major having any causative role. It's not that a vocation major fails to prepare you and a social science major prepares you well. Rather it is that vocation premeds are a lower performing population. How you personally will score on the MCAT is not going to change a bunch by majoring in one thing vs another.

As an analogy think about the variation between states. The average MCAT score of people in many Southern states is a lot lower than the average MCAT score of people in the Northeast. This does not mean that moving to the Northeast is going to improve your MCAT score. Instead it tells you something about the premed populations in the areas.

 

[miniman]

Again though, these trends likely reflect the population more than the major having any causative role. It's not that a vocation major fails to prepare you and a social science major prepares you well. Rather it is that vocation premeds are a lower performing population. How you personally will score on the MCAT is not going to change a bunch by majoring in one thing vs another.

As an analogy think about the variation between states. The average MCAT score of people in many Southern states is a lot lower than the average MCAT score of people in the Northeast. This does not mean that moving to the Northeast is going to improve your MCAT score. Instead it tells you something about the premed populations in the areas.

Ohhh ok... I thought it was tied to the patterns of thinking. For example, Philosophy majors do better on the LSAT because the test is geared for those who can think critically... like what philosophy majors teach. Great point though! 🙂

 

[miniman]

Loosely.

I just noticed the cat in your photo... I'm not a cat person but that one is such a sweet-heart!



Sorry I had to say it!

 

[gyngyn]

I just noticed the cat in your photo... I'm not a cat person but that one is such a sweet-heart!



Sorry I had to say it!

She's the most adorable fur ball you ever met!

 

[efle]

And I'd argue it's the opposite direction - people who are good with logic/reasoning tend to be both good at the LSAT and drawn more often to Philosophy. People who struggle with traditional academics and tend to struggle with the MCAT will be drawn more often to vocational majors.