to specialize, or to major

[Miss Alyssa]

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At my school, we have specialists (13.5-15.5 credit programs) Majors (6-8 credit programs) and minors (4-5 credits). You need a total of 20 credits to get your degree.

So after first year you apply for a program, if you get an invitation, you can choose to enroll. Specialists have a reputation of being harder (as in harder to get an A). for ex. the Biochem Specialization has a cut off of like 3.7 to get in for second year. The class that finished 4th year this year, has an AVERAGE of 3.4, meaning people got below that.

I applied for the neuroscience specialist, which is less competitive (cut off of like 3.3) and I also applied to do a double major in psychology and life science.

So people keep telling me to do the majors because they're easier and I'll get a higher mark. But neuro is just so interesting!

what are your opinions?
a) neuro specialization - 'more' challenging, but fun fun fun (they get to play with brains an spinal cords in their labs!)

or

b) double major in psych and life sci - 'less' challening, not as fun, but still very interesting

 

[DrBowtie]

By doing the specialist route, It seems like you would not take a very diversified curriculum.

 

[AznDoc]

By doing the specialist route, It seems like you would not take a very diversified curriculum.

Agreed. You are going to be involved in science for the rest of your life. Now would be a good time to enjoy some other course work i.e. Shakespeare, economics, psychology, whatever floats your boat.

 

[DrBowtie]

In most US schools, classes in their major account for approx 33%-50% of their college classes. Just for comparison.

 

[fullefect1]

Why don't u just major in one of these subject.. and get a higer GPA. Why would you want to double major? I would pick the subject your were most interested in, and then just make sure you fullfill your pre-med requirements. Double majoring will not give you an advantage in applying to medical schools, but it might hurt your GPA if your are overwhelmed with work. I guess that is just my opinion though

 

[Miss Alyssa]

hmmm... you guys have given me lots to think about! 🙂
Specialist do keep you stuck in one area. Neuro is a combo of psychology, physiology, life science, and pharmacology. But it doesn't add anything from the arts...

too fill in the rest of my credits, I *plan* to take classes in French and Caribbean Studies

just to add, to get my degree, I have to do:
a) 1 specialist
b) 2 majors
c) 1 major and 2 minors

(thanks for your opinions)

 

[DrBowtie]

I would suggest C. Give you some variety. Then you can minor in French and Caribbean studies.

 

[AznDoc]

I would suggest C. Give you some variety. Then you can minor in French and Caribbean studies.

Once again, I am going to concur with the above poster. Add variety since it is the spice of life. Best wishes.

 

[stifler]

At my school, we have specialists (13.5-15.5 credit programs) Majors (6-8 credit programs) and minors (4-5 credits). You need a total of 20 credits to get your degree.

So after first year you apply for a program, if you get an invitation, you can choose to enroll. Specialists have a reputation of being harder (as in harder to get an A). for ex. the Biochem Specialization has a cut off of like 3.7 to get in for second year. The class that finished 4th year this year, has an AVERAGE of 3.4, meaning people got below that.

I applied for the neuroscience specialist, which is less competitive (cut off of like 3.3) and I also applied to do a double major in psychology and life science.

So people keep telling me to do the majors because they're easier and I'll get a higher mark. But neuro is just so interesting!

what are your opinions?
a) neuro specialization - 'more' challenging, but fun fun fun (they get to play with brains an spinal cords in their labs!)

or

b) double major in psych and life sci - 'less' challening, not as fun, but still very interesting

your school rocks ass. i wish i had that option. it seems all the majors at my school are 12-16 courses. my major biochem is 16 courses. its a pain in the ass. i wish i can major in biochem and only take 10. that would make my life so much easier. especially if i dont have to deal with physical chemistry.

 

[Miss Alyssa]

Once again, I am going to concur with the above poster. Add variety since it is the spice of life. Best wishes.

thanks for all the input guys. It will come in handy when it's time for me to pick

 

[myodana]

i'm all for double majors. but any of your options are good... if your gpa is lacking you can always make up for it in post-bac.

 

[Miss Alyssa]

your school rocks ass. i wish i had that option. it seems all the majors at my school are 12-16 courses. my major biochem is 16 courses. its a pain in the ass. i wish i can major in biochem and only take 10. that would make my life so much easier. especially if i dont have to deal with physical chemistry.

You sound like me, I'm trying to do as little physical chem as possible. I've done a half year of it, so I think I need to do another half if I want to go to school in the states.

My school is nice. The problem is that there are too many options. Anything you want, you can take. but you dont have time to do it!

 

[Philo Beddo]

hmmm... you guys have given me lots to think about! 🙂
just to add, to get my degree, I have to do:
a) 1 specialist
b) 2 majors
c) 1 major and 2 minors

(thanks for your opinions)

I agree with C. Avoid a science route altogether if you can. Its not going to help you in residency or your career. It MIGHT help a very little bit in medical school.

Do the core premed stuff, take a molecular genetics class, then concentrate on the humanities. You need all of that sweet stuff you can get, because med-school and residency will strip it from you.

Philo

hippocritis.com <-----medical satire for residents and medical students

 

[Miss Alyssa]

I agree with C. Avoid a science route altogether if you can. Its not going to help you in residency or your career. It MIGHT help a very little bit in medical school.

Do the core premed stuff, take a molecular genetics class, then concentrate on the humanities. You need all of that sweet stuff you can get, because med-school and residency will strip it from you.

Philo

hippocritis.com <-----medical satire for residents and medical students

I like science... humanities are *alright*, as in languages and fine arts, but stuff like HISTORY! Bah! I also dont like physics, physical chemistry, or calculus (it seems I can't do math very well anymore 🙂 ). I like bio, organic chem and psychology (psych is considered science here)

there are way to many choices... sometimes I wish I was in a predesigned program

 

[mdsadler]

I just graduated from an honors programn in immunology that sounds similar to your specialization program (ie: lots of courses in one particular area with limited options). I really enjoyed my program and found that I hated having to pick my option courses and never like the classes that I had to take just to fill the space. I don't think there is anything wrong with taking a specialized program.

 

[GaryM]

It would appear that you go to UofT Scarborough Campus!

I would strongly suggest doing the double major.
From experience, I know a few people that have graduated from the neuro program, and have not moved on to medical school. If it really interests you and you KNOW that you can do well, then go for the neuro specialist program.

Otherwise, with the double major you get more flexibility to take courses that you can ace, you still cover all your pre-reqs for med school, and you are not "writing off" sciences altogether.

Even if you persue a different route (i.e Master's), what you specialized in really won't matter as long as you took a few related courses in your undergrad. With the life sci major, you pretty much take all the courses that you need.

Remember, all that matters in the end is your GPA!!!

 

[Miss Alyssa]

It would appear that I'm at the Scarborough campus, but I'm actually at St. George 😛

thanks for all your input!

I may *have* to do the double major because, thanks to my low first year GPA, I may not make the cut for neuro. This my actually be a blessing in disquise from what you all are telling me!

for any of you who are majoring in a Science, and minoring (or majoring) in an Arts program, how do you find the workload? Is it hard to study for 4 science mid-terms while writing a 10 page essay for the 5th (Arts) class?
This year I had all science courses, and I only had one short essay to write... I'm kinda worried about the amount of work (in the form of reading, essays, and other assignments) an arts class will bring.