Thinking of changing major

[rrt]

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So previously, I was following the assigned pre-med/biology route. I recently started to look into transferring to a state university and they don't offer Chemistry as a minor... I looking into Kinesiology, but they require so many hours that you might as well major in it.

Some of the Kino courses look pretty helpful in understanding the human body, and I could always minor or even double major in Biology. The university has a program in exercise science that looks rewarding, and I could see some of the coursework actually help me get into decent shape! With classes like Biomechanics, Advanced Physiology, Functional Anatomy, Medical terminology, Health and Aging and Exercise testing and prescription, and Exercise & Chronic disease/disability, it seems like a decent major to go with pre-med.

If I minored in Bio, I would need to have Bio 1 and 2, Micro Bio, Genetics and either Animal, Plant or Cellular physiology.

What do you guys think?

The only reason I am thinking about this route is because this university is SUPER affordable being an official state institution (the only one in San Antonio deemed state institution) and I have to re-route my previous bio/chem plan.

RRT

 

[COTA2Phys]

If that sounds interesting to you, then go for it. It's more important to major in something that you're interested in and it appears you are.

 

[Telekinesis]

So previously, I was following the assigned pre-med/biology route. I recently started to look into transferring to a state university and they don't offer Chemistry as a minor... I looking into Kinesiology, but they require so many hours that you might as well major in it.

Some of the Kino courses look pretty helpful in understanding the human body, and I could always minor or even double major in Biology. The university has a program in exercise science that looks rewarding, and I could see some of the coursework actually help me get into decent shape! With classes like Biomechanics, Advanced Physiology, Functional Anatomy, Medical terminology, Health and Aging and Exercise testing and prescription, and Exercise & Chronic disease/disability, it seems like a decent major to go with pre-med.

If I minored in Bio, I would need to have Bio 1 and 2, Micro Bio, Genetics and either Animal, Plant or Cellular physiology.

What do you guys think?

The only reason I am thinking about this route is because this university is SUPER affordable being an official state institution (the only one in San Antonio deemed state institution) and I have to re-route my previous bio/chem plan.

RRT

hey I started off as a Bio major and now I'm Psyc. Protecting my sciGPA at all cost

 

[ShoTyme]

It sounds interesting to me. But does it interest you? That's the real question.

 

[theseeker4]

So previously, I was following the assigned pre-med/biology route. I recently started to look into transferring to a state university and they don't offer Chemistry as a minor... I looking into Kinesiology, but they require so many hours that you might as well major in it.

Some of the Kino courses look pretty helpful in understanding the human body, and I could always minor or even double major in Biology. The university has a program in exercise science that looks rewarding, and I could see some of the coursework actually help me get into decent shape! With classes like Biomechanics, Advanced Physiology, Functional Anatomy, Medical terminology, Health and Aging and Exercise testing and prescription, and Exercise & Chronic disease/disability, it seems like a decent major to go with pre-med.

If I minored in Bio, I would need to have Bio 1 and 2, Micro Bio, Genetics and either Animal, Plant or Cellular physiology.

What do you guys think?

The only reason I am thinking about this route is because this university is SUPER affordable being an official state institution (the only one in San Antonio deemed state institution) and I have to re-route my previous bio/chem plan.

RRT

What you major in will not significantly influence your chances at admission. Pick a subject you enjoy and can do well in, and fit in the med-school pre-reqs as well. If you want a backup plan in case you don't go into medicine, look at majors that increase your chances to get a job as well. Other than that, there is no advantage to being a bio major vs a history major vs an engineering major, at least not any that come close to outweighing your GPA and MCAT. If you enjoy it and can do well in it, do it. If you want to do it only because you think it will improve your acceptance chances, that is a poor reason to choose a major, as it won't have the effect you think it will. Any major is a decent major to go with pre-med. "Am I interested in majoring in this?" should be what you base your decision on.

 

[hopeful22213]

I agree with the Seeker. What you major in, let alone minor in, will have little to no effect on your admission to medical schools so long as you take the necessary pre-reqs mixed with some upper level science classes and do well in those courses.

One of the strongest students I knew as an undergrad was pre-med, but that was not an actual major at his school. He took all the standard science classes plus some additional upper level stuff, but his major was actually is classic literature. Didn't stop him from having his pick of several excellent med schools.

 

[VackAttack]

I was looking at minoring in Biology (I used to be a bio major but changed to sociology because it's AWESOME!!!) but asked around to med school admissions people I know and they all said a minor in bio wasn't necessary unless you wanted to strengthen your sGPA. But I decided not to minor in it because it would've just pushed my graduation back another semester to take 1 class so I decided against it. And yes, as others have said... do something you WANT to do, not just something for the sake of doing it. You might as well learn something you really enjoy or want to before you are forced to learn all science.

Good luck!

 

[MedWonk]

So previously, I was following the assigned pre-med/biology route. I recently started to look into transferring to a state university and they don't offer Chemistry as a minor... I looking into Kinesiology, but they require so many hours that you might as well major in it.

Some of the Kino courses look pretty helpful in understanding the human body, and I could always minor or even double major in Biology. The university has a program in exercise science that looks rewarding, and I could see some of the coursework actually help me get into decent shape! With classes like Biomechanics, Advanced Physiology, Functional Anatomy, Medical terminology, Health and Aging and Exercise testing and prescription, and Exercise & Chronic disease/disability, it seems like a decent major to go with pre-med.

If I minored in Bio, I would need to have Bio 1 and 2, Micro Bio, Genetics and either Animal, Plant or Cellular physiology.

What do you guys think?

The only reason I am thinking about this route is because this university is SUPER affordable being an official state institution (the only one in San Antonio deemed state institution) and I have to re-route my previous bio/chem plan.

RRT

If you enjoy studying kinesiology, then by all means do it. If doing something related to kinesiology is something you could see yourself doing after college, then go for it. Don't choose a major for its perceived benefits to your application. What matters is that you do well regardless of your major and that you have an interest in medicine.

 

[StillStanding]

If only it was that simple (sigh)...the V.A is paying for my undergrad degree so I kinda have to pick biology or chemistry in order to get my pre-med classes paid for. Some of the majors mentioned sounds interesting though.

 

[rrt]

I have VA benefits also. They don't care what degree I am going for. As long as I am going for something. Why would they only allow certain degrees for you?

Thanks all for posting. I guess the thing about my situation is that I am already a respiratory therapist. I have a technical degree. Basically 50% of the classes I've taken in my degree won't transfer into a traditional BS or BA degree. I really don't think that I would pursue anything else other than PA or MD/DO from this point. If I couldn't get into either I would stay a RT as I do love my job. I just feel like I can offer so much more as a Doc or PA.

I struggle with options like these: Texas A&M San Antonio has a BAAS degree that will take my AAS in Respiratory Care and apply it towards the Bachelor's degree. I'd have to chose from these and only these specialties: Education, Criminology, Sociology, Psychology, Social Science and English.

I really don't like any of those programs, and I get this feeling that a BAAS degree is just a shortcut to nothing. So I am planning on waiting it out and getting a BS or BA. Biology sounds great, but TAMUSA is fairly new and doesn't have a good minor program like Chem to go with it. SO, I figure minor in Kino, but they expect so much in that minor that you might as well major in it. So, I figure doing it the other way around, Major in Kino, and minor in Bio. According to all the admission people I've talked to, Kino major in exercise science is one of the hardest degrees in their opinions that the college offers other than the hard sciences. Decisions X10^10.

I guess a small factor can be what if I don't get in first 2 rounds. I won't quite. I would attempt a post-bac program like UNT's Masters in medical science. So maybe that is the deciding factor. You need a major in Bio, Chem or BioChem to get in.

Thanks all,
RRT

 

[StillStanding]

I have VA benefits also. They don't care what degree I am going for. As long as I am going for something. Why would they only allow certain degrees for you?

Thanks all for posting. I guess the thing about my situation is that I am already a respiratory therapist. I have a technical degree. Basically 50% of the classes I've taken in my degree won't transfer into a traditional BS or BA degree. I really don't think that I would pursue anything else other than PA or MD/DO from this point. If I couldn't get into either I would stay a RT as I do love my job. I just feel like I can offer so much more as a Doc or PA.

I struggle with options like these: Texas A&M San Antonio has a BAAS degree that will take my AAS in Respiratory Care and apply it towards the Bachelor's degree. I'd have to chose from these and only these specialties: Education, Criminology, Sociology, Psychology, Social Science and English.

I really don't like any of those programs, and I get this feeling that a BAAS degree is just a shortcut to nothing. So I am planning on waiting it out and getting a BS or BA. Biology sounds great, but TAMUSA is fairly new and doesn't have a good minor program like Chem to go with it. SO, I figure minor in Kino, but they expect so much in that minor that you might as well major in it. So, I figure doing it the other way around, Major in Kino, and minor in Bio. According to all the admission people I've talked to, Kino major in exercise science is one of the hardest degrees in their opinions that the college offers other than the hard sciences. Decisions X10^10.

I guess a small factor can be what if I don't get in first 2 rounds. I won't quite. I would attempt a post-bac program like UNT's Masters in medical science. So maybe that is the deciding factor. You need a major in Bio, Chem or BioChem to get in.

Thanks all,
RRT

Well technically, I could get a degree in anything too but....if I were to major in something like English.... They would only pay for that specific degree plan andno other classes outside of it. So if wanted to take the additional science classes required for med school I would be responsible for payment for those extra classes. Do you follow me? So in order to get everything paid at no extra cost to me, I opted for a science degree (biology).

 

[dmf2682]

Well technically, I could get a degree in anything too but....if I were to major in something like English.... They would only pay for that specific degree plan andno other classes outside of it. So if wanted to take the additional science classes required for med school I would be responsible for payment for those extra classes. Do you follow me? So in order to get everything paid at no extra cost to me, I opted for a science degree (biology).

Most majors require some electives outside of their area of study. Why not fill electives with premed classes?

And to come to think of it, if you're a full time student, don't you just pay tuition and take up to a max number of credits? As opposed to paying on a class by class basis. I'm not sure how your benefits work, but you may not have to disclose what exactly you're taking.

 

[StillStanding]

Most majors require some electives outside of their area of study. Why not fill electives with premed classes?

And to come to think of it, if you're a full time student, don't you just pay tuition and take up to a max number of credits? As opposed to paying on a class by class basis. I'm not sure how your benefits work, but you may not have to disclose what exactly you're taking.

For V.A benefits (911 G.I Bill) we have to declare a major in order to use the benefits. The degree we declare is the degree the V.A will pay for. Each semester we have to fill out a certification form (a form that list the classes you are taking for that term) and the information on that form is verified by the school's V.A coordinator,( this person checks to see if the classes you are taking are indeed required for your declared major). So again, yes I could major in anything but....if I want my pre-med classes paid at no extra cost to me then there's no other choice than to follow a science degree. As for electives, I'm maxed out in electives. I was in the military for a few years, moved around alot and each time I moved I basically had to start over because each school...each coast...each country has different requirements. And to add, my original major was nursing,so most of my credits are towards that degree plan but I decided I wanted to be a doctor instead so now I am here.

 

[StillStanding]

For V.A benefits (911 G.I Bill) we have to declare a major in order to use the benefits. The degree we declare is the degree the V.A will pay for. Each semester we have to fill out a certification form (a form that list the classes you are taking for that term) and the information on that form is verified by the school's V.A coordinator,( this person checks to see if the classes you are taking are indeed required for your declared major). So again, yes I could major in anything but....if I want my pre-med classes paid at no extra cost to me then there's no other choice than to follow a science degree. As for electives, I'm maxed out in electives. I was in the military for a few years, moved around alot and each time I moved I basically had to start over because each school...each coast...each country has different requirements. And to add, my original major was nursing,so most of my credits are towards that degree plan but I decided I wanted to be a doctor instead so now I am here.

Hopefully, I made things clear. It's slightly complicated but I'm figuring things out as I go. 🙂

 

[dmf2682]

Hopefully, I made things clear. It's slightly complicated but I'm figuring things out as I go. 🙂

You did a good job clearing that up, thanks.