To change or not to change majors, that is the question.

[manosi]

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Long time lurker, first time poster. Getting straight to the point: Senior at a small liberal arts university going into the last semester as a nursing (BSN) major. GPA of 3.75 (strong upward trend) and no MCAT to date. Have been volunteering/shadowing for quite some time, and I am currently working on a research grant (1 year total, possible publication, 1 professional presentation). Leadership positions for 2-3 years.

My dilemma: Medicine was a late decision that truly came after experiencing the healthcare environment as a nursing major (previously wanted to be a CRNA). I have known that I wanted to pursue medicine since around halfway through my junior year, but I never changed majors. The longer it has gone on the more I have came to despise nursing as a major. At least at my school, it is very academically disappointing. Also, I have heard that there is some bias against nursing or other healthcare professionals at MD schools. My only qualm with changing majors is giving up a leadership position (Vice President of the nursing association on campus). I have a more prestigious leadership position, but would giving up the one VP spot look bad on me?

My question: Should I change majors to something I'm interested in and defer graduating this Spring for next Spring? I have a year of prereqs to take anyway (OChem and Physics), so even if I stayed a nursing major, it would take me 5 years to complete all of the required coursework.

My family is pushing me towards graduating with my BSN this Spring, but I do not want to shoot myself in the foot before I am even applying by going straight from one profession to another. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[btown8908]

Hmm, that's interesting. I'm not sure how the nursing program works but if you're fine with taking another year then go for it. From what it sounds like, you're going to have to take another year to finish anyway.

As for "...I have heard that there is some bias against nursing or other healthcare professionals at MD schools.", I have never heard this rumor. IMO, I think it gives you an advantage over other applicants because you've already had first hand experience in the medical environment.

I don't think giving up your VP position will look bad (the application only asks for length of time, not whether you stepped down, etc.). Just talk about it and what you got out of it.

Finally, you probably should think about signing up for the MCAT. I would shoot for late June or July. Should give you enough time to study/prepare for it (you don't need the prereqs to help you prepare from MCAT; princeton/kaplan/examcrackers takes care of that for you).

2 things: 1) When do you want to apply? 2) You can use this experience as a start for your personal statement when it comes time to apply.

Good luck!

 

[manosi]

The nursing program at my college is basically like any other major: you take general education courses and then courses for the major as a Junior and Senior. The grading scale is different (96+ is an A), but I have managed to not let that hurt me (all A's thus far).

I have heard of adcoms looking down on nurses as jumping ship from one profession to another basically. If it wasn't for majoring in nursing, though, I would have never really discovered my desire to become a physician. Also, after reading LizzyM's recent AMA thread, I recall her telling a student in a similar situation to change majors from nursing. That's what really sparked my interest in this, as I have been debating doing so for quite awhile now. It would be great to hear some other opinions on this from people in the know. I am not expecting a top-10 medical school acceptance, but I am dead-set on allopathic.

I had initially planned on taking the MCAT the summer after I finish my prereqs which would be the summer of 2013. I would be applying during that time, as well. Would not having an MCAT score until sometime in June or July be detrimental to my application cycle? I want to apply as broadly and early as possible.

I definitely plan on working my experiences as a nursing major into my PS. At this point, I have had well over 600 hours of direct patient contact, and I have never been so adamant about a decision before in my life. I just don't want adcoms to see my "betrayal" of the nursing profession as something that could potentially happen with my career as a physician.

 

[dreamweaver1988]

The nursing program at my college is basically like any other major: you take general education courses and then courses for the major as a Junior and Senior. The grading scale is different (96+ is an A), but I have managed to not let that hurt me (all A's thus far).

I have heard of adcoms looking down on nurses as jumping ship from one profession to another basically. If it wasn't for majoring in nursing, though, I would have never really discovered my desire to become a physician. Also, after reading LizzyM's recent AMA thread, I recall her telling a student in a similar situation to change majors from nursing. That's what really sparked my interest in this, as I have been debating doing so for quite awhile now. It would be great to hear some other opinions on this from people in the know. I am not expecting a top-10 medical school acceptance, but I am dead-set on allopathic.

I had initially planned on taking the MCAT the summer after I finish my prereqs which would be the summer of 2013. I would be applying during that time, as well. Would not having an MCAT score until sometime in June or July be detrimental to my application cycle? I want to apply as broadly and early as possible.

I definitely plan on working my experiences as a nursing major into my PS. At this point, I have had well over 600 hours of direct patient contact, and I have never been so adamant about a decision before in my life. I just don't want adcoms to see my "betrayal" of the nursing profession as something that could potentially happen with my career as a physician.

You'll get your score about 30 days after you write the test. So, if you take the MCAT in early June, you'll know your score by early July. Keep in this mind so you can be sure to have your apps in early (although it doesn't have to be June 1 like people on SDN make it out to be; that said, rolling admissions = the earlier, the better).

Like a previous poster mentioned you don't need the prereqs to take the MCAT or to apply to medical school. You just need them before you begin medical school. Of course, schools will want evidence of your ability to excel in the prereqs, so having most of them finished when you apply is preferable.

Also, think about the timeline you have proposed. Prereqs finished after spring semester of 2013, MCAT during the summer of 2013, apply summer 2013, matriculate fall 2014. If you can wait that long, fine; otherwise, consider taking the MCAT sooner rather than later.

 

[btown8908]

Agreed.

Didn't feel like writing it out.

PS. Why do you care about LizzyM? She's just a random adcom. There's hundreds if not thousands of different adcoms out there. Read but don't absorb everything. Worry about yourself and do your thing.

 

[manosi]

I just assumed that it would be best to take the MCAT after having my prereqs done. Also, it seems as if I have no choice regarding the timeline. I can't finish the prereqs any earlier.

As far as LizzyM, that was the first definite answer I had heard regarding nurses applying MD, so I suppose it impacted my thinking. I was hoping to hear from Catalystik or someone else with adcom experience related to the matter and also the premed/med student community. I know that nurses get into MD schools, but statistics show it at a much lower rate than other majors. Of course, that could just be due to the competitiveness of the applicants.

A downside to switching would be an increased course load during the time I'm taking ochem and physics, but I've managed so far.

Thank you all for the stellar advice so far! 👍