To what extent should your major be a backup?

[Emmet2301]

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I'm always hearing how some people have engineering and business majors as back-ups. But I wonder do you really need these? Are all the bio and psych people in la la land and do not consider what happens if they do not get into medical school? So to what extent should ur major be ur backup plan. I'm majoring in a science I really like. However, if I don't get into med school then I might want to do engineering...So would engineering be better or the science that I really like?

In your reply you don't have to address my situation, but just the question in general. Thanks.

 

[fizzle]

I'm always hearing how some people have engineering and business majors as back-ups. But I wonder do you really need these? Are all the bio and psych people in la la land and do not consider what happens if they do not get into medical school? So to what extent should ur major be ur backup plan. I'm majoring in a science I really like. However, if I don't get into med school then I might want to do engineering...So would engineering be better or the science that I really like?

In your reply you don't have to address my situation, but just the question in general. Thanks.

If you enjoy it and consider it to be a possible career choice, then go for it. If you don't enjoy it, don't go into it just for the sake of a back-up. After all, college is a great time to explore your options.

 

[gl0baltrader]

Study what you like because you'll perform much better in your undergraduate classes. In terms of jobs opportunity, even though engineering pays pretty well but if you don't like what you do there is no point. You'll wake up every morning feeling miserable.

D

I'm always hearing how some people have engineering and business majors as back-ups. But I wonder do you really need these? Are all the bio and psych people in la la land and do not consider what happens if they do not get into medical school? So to what extent should ur major be ur backup plan. I'm majoring in a science I really like. However, if I don't get into med school then I might want to do engineering...So would engineering be better or the science that I really like?

In your reply you don't have to address my situation, but just the question in general. Thanks.

 

[Jemainelover]

Wow...This is the first time I've even thought about what my biology major would be useful for after college. Well that's sorta a reality check, huh.

 

[Bacchus]

I was hell bent on getting in. Thinking about my degree and possibly having to use it made me miserable.

 

[DrWookie]

I picked a science degree because I enjoy it and if didn't get into medical school I know I would end up in grad school. (I actually like medicine more for the science and less for the "hey look at me I'm helping people")

I got into med school though...so bye bye grad school 🙂 (Too bad med school isn't paid for though)

 

[dakker]

I never understood why people major in the sciences for the sake of going to med school. Major in what you enjoy, and thus if you realize you can't cut it (ie: getting into med school/grad school) you have a fall back that you enjoy. People who major in Biology to get into med school....ehhh......

 

[DrWookie]

I never understood why people major in the sciences for the sake of going to med school. Major in what you enjoy, and thus if you realize you can't cut it (ie: getting into med school/grad school) you have a fall back that you enjoy. People who major in Biology to get into med school....ehhh......

Was that a reference to me?

I 100% enjoy biology (well biochemistry). I've worked in a cell bio lab for 3 years and it is a lot of fun. It isn't my calling, but it is something I enjoy so i majored in it.

If I had all the time in the world I actually think I would probably spend like a year more in undergrad taking more upper division bio courses...really detailed stuff in a bunch of different things (The more specific the better for me, I love as much detail as possible).

 

[135892]

So what do people with a bio or psych degree do if they're never able to get into med school (ie they apply a few times and don't get in)? Grad school? Some other sort of health profession? Or do they just go to a completely different field...

 

[Jemainelover]

So what do people with a bio or psych degree do if they're never able to get into med school (ie they apply a few times and don't get in)? Grad school? Some other sort of health profession? Or do they just go to a completely different field...

I'm one of those people and if I fail to get into med school I'll probably become a PA or NP or RN

 

[chewsnuffles]

I argue that because a pre-med has to take their pre-med req's, pretty much ANY major that someone can get in addition to those pre-req's will approximately be the same. Engineers generally do better in the job market than anyone else without a graduate degree, however, its really hard to be a engineering specialty major as well as completing one's pre-req's for med school.

If your a B.S. in Bio or a B.S. in Chem or a B.S. in art history, you still are going to have a low level job somewhere without much responsability or interest. Sorry if it's bleak out there, but that is also why most pre-meds who don't get into med school end up reapplying over and over again! Many of the jobs in the biotech/pharma/research areas that are of any interests are gone now, atleast for people w/ just a bachlors.

 

[dw2158]

so you're saying my BA in biochem = someone's BA in English = someone else's BS in materials science?

 

[chewsnuffles]

so you're saying my BA in biochem = someone's BA in English = someone else's BS in materials science?

No, not the = sign

More like the sing with two ~ on top of each other.

I mean, with all the majors, you end up quite well below the "glass ceiling", making close to the same amount of money, etc.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

So what do people with a bio or psych degree do if they're never able to get into med school (ie they apply a few times and don't get in)? Grad school? Some other sort of health profession? Or do they just go to a completely different field...

Yeah, grad school. They become professors, get appointments at medical schools, and give medical students hell.

 

[Dral]

I picked a science degree because I enjoy it and if didn't get into medical school I know I would end up in grad school. (I actually like medicine more for the science and less for the "hey look at me I'm helping people")

I got into med school though...so bye bye grad school 🙂 (Too bad med school isn't paid for though)

Sounds like a budding Pathologist. 😎

 

[PremedIowa]

I never understood why people major in the sciences for the sake of going to med school. Major in what you enjoy, and thus if you realize you can't cut it (ie: getting into med school/grad school) you have a fall back that you enjoy. People who major in Biology to get into med school....ehhh......

I would have majored in biology anyway. Many, if not most, of the biology majors truly like the sciences and would have regardless of plans to go to medical school.

 

[aznb0y129]

So what do people with a bio or psych degree do if they're never able to get into med school (ie they apply a few times and don't get in)? Grad school? Some other sort of health profession? Or do they just go to a completely different field...

I got a psych degree before I decided to do a post-bacc and if I did not get into med school, I would have applied to grad programs to get my PhD and probably ended up as a clinical psychologist.