Triple Major seeking quick opinions.

[MedSchoolFool]

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Real quick note: I posted this on the Pre-Allopathic, and Older PreMeds as well...to ensure diversity of opinion. Sorry to those who don't like seeing repeated postings. 😳

Hey Y'all...This has been a great site for finding answers about med school. I have a scenario for your collective consideration. Here goes:

I attend the University of Delaware and for various reasons I am close to triple majoring. I need 3 classes to finish English Literature, 4 classes to finish Psychology, and 3 classes to finish Interpersonal Communication majors. This would make me a triple major.

Since I will not be able to get a LOR from the premed committee until April of 2006 (Because I can't finish all the prerequisite BCPM courses until after Summer of 2005) I'm thinking, "Hey! Why not just complete the triple major?"

But then I wonder if an adcom will look at this and ask themselves, "With so many majors why wasn't one of them a science?"

I guess the gist of what I'm conflicted about right now is will a triple major in humanities and social sciences make me stand out in a good way or in a bad way?

I know that nobody can predict how individual adcom persons will react to this, but I'm just interested in what you guys think. I've read a lot of good opinions on here and need someone to bounce this off of. Thanks.

JJ

 

[Ryan]

Real quick note: I posted this on the Pre-Allopathic, and Older PreMeds as well...to ensure diversity of opinion. Sorry to those who don't like seeing repeated postings. 😳

Hey Y'all...This has been a great site for finding answers about med school. I have a scenario for your collective consideration. Here goes:

I attend the University of Delaware and for various reasons I am close to triple majoring. I need 3 classes to finish English Literature, 4 classes to finish Psychology, and 3 classes to finish Interpersonal Communication majors. This would make me a triple major.

Since I will not be able to get a LOR from the premed committee until April of 2006 (Because I can't finish all the prerequisite BCPM courses until after Summer of 2005) I'm thinking, "Hey! Why not just complete the triple major?"

But then I wonder if an adcom will look at this and ask themselves, "With so many majors why wasn't one of them a science?"

I guess the gist of what I'm conflicted about right now is will a triple major in humanities and social sciences make me stand out in a good way or in a bad way?

I know that nobody can predict how individual adcom persons will react to this, but I'm just interested in what you guys think. I've read a lot of good opinions on here and need someone to bounce this off of. Thanks.

JJ

I think it will be just fine. As long as you show that you enjoied your majors and havn't been brainwashed in the process...do well on your MCAT and no-one will care that one was not a science. 👍

PS: Don't worry so much about the small stuff.... this is a very small thing.

 

[kaikai128]

I don't think anyone is going to care...however, make sure you will have an answer as to why you decided to have 3 majors and then did a 180 and chose medicine...

Good luck..🙂

 

[uclabruin2003]

triple majors sounds good but i would also expect that some adcoms to think that why were you so undecisive? and will this undecisiveness affect your role in medical school? that is will you jump to other health careers and leave medicine? just my opinion. i dont want to offend...but i can see adcoms looking at it positively and negatively.....

 

[Fed Meat]

I think you could argue that psychology is a science. It is certainly becoming more of a hard science and more closely tied to biochemistry and biology with every passing year. How could it not be when you can graduate med school and go into a psychology residency?

 

[DD214_DOC]

I think you could argue that psychology is a science. It is certainly becoming more of a hard science and more closely tied to biochemistry and biology with every passing year. How could it not be when you can graduate med school and go into a psychology residency?

Not all models of psychology follow biochemistry and biology. There are actually various sub-fields of psychology, all of which attempt to explain behavior and psychopathology from different points of view. Many things also cannot be explained merely by biology or biochemistry.

I think it would be best to say that biology and biochemistry help to supplement current theories of psychology, but alone cannot explain away any single theory. Also, there isn't a lot of proof to determined whether the physiological effects are the cause or the effect of psychological stressors.

However, I do like psychology because it gives me a good mix of liberal arts and science. It's a very interdisciplinary field.

 

[MedSchoolFool]

Thanks to everyone who responded. It's good to hear points from both sides of the issue.

I think I'm going to concentrate on the English and Psychology degrees. Actually, I'm looking at forging the psyc program into a degree in Neuroscience, which wouldn't take me any longer to complete than I'm already looking at anyway.

I agree with the person who said that I should try to finish the degrees since an adcom may ask why I came so close without finishing them up. But I also agree with the person who said that having 3 majors may make me look directionless.

I guess the best thing to do at this point is to just make good grades no matter what and if that means I can't finish the communication major then oh well. Whatever I end up doing I'll definitely glean from the words here to help explain (i.e. spin) my decision. Thanks again everyone.

JJ

 

[DD214_DOC]

I don't think an adcom will know if you came close to having a second or third major or not, unless they have a copy of your school's academic bulletin and flip through to see what classes you are missing.

I think you guys are giving adcoms your points of view. You need to look at things from their point of view.

 

[Freakingzooming]

personally, I think you should just stick to the literature major and decide really if you want to do psychology.. cuz psychology to me doesn't add any value to your application (I was looking this up on MSAR and it showed up as one of the most popular majors) but it will add to your knowledge. I know I enjoyed my one psych course- intro to dev. psychology (piaget rocks).

But to put things in perspective, worry more about your grades and less on whether you finish a triple, double, or quadruple major. I think adcoms really aren't impressed with a double major as much as you doing the best you can with one major. Honestly, I don't even think they look into the double major or not unless you match up evenly with another candidate in ECs, LORs, essays, GPA, MCat.... and so on.

 

[DD214_DOC]

Freaking makes a good point. I would dump all but one of the majors (pick whatever you like best) and focus the time you would have otherwise used on the other majors and pickup some interesting ECs. Try to do more than the premed club/volunteering stuff. I have had a lot of good conversations with advisors and such regarding my somewhat unusual activities (martial arts, music, as well as running my own business, although I forgot to put that on my application).

Doing stuff that most people aren't doing makes you look different and appear more interesting. I'm sure adcoms get tired of the usual premed club/volunteer guy.

 

[divinity09]

I actually did graduate with three majors which all ended up being separate degrees. Psychology, Anthropology, and Biological Science. My interviewers asked me about it, and it was positivie. They asked me about why I had sought each degree, how they applied to my future career as a doc, etc. They never asked me about being indecisive, but my bio advisor at school suggested had I not finished one or the other it may have pointed that way (so many hours and nothing to show for it). One of my bio professors once told me, 'college is not job training', and that was some of the best advice I ever had. I studied the things that interested me, and each of those programs helps me approach at problems from different angles, etc. So my advice to you is to finish all three if you really enjoy the classes. You'll be a doctor for the rest of your life, you only get a shot at your education once.

-Aaron

 

[DD214_DOC]

I guess college isn't job training, if you don't mind being unemployed.

For the person trying to decide what to pick, I would suggest psychology. I know a lot of people knock it for being an, "easy" major. I think this is somewhat ignorant. Yes, there are not really any complex mathematical equations to memorize. But does the absence of math define ease?

Psychology is probably as close to med school as you can come in undergrad. It also depends a lot on the program you have, the professors you have, and the classes you take.

All psych courses combine other disciplines: anatomy and biochemistry

You can focus on classes such as physiological psychology (also called psychobiology) and abnormal, which focus more heavily on the biological/biochemical side of psychology.

You can focus on cognitive psychology and learning and memory type classes, which are heavy on neuroanatomy and a lot of really obscure concepts such as conditioning and learning processes. (Skinner is big in this area). Learning & Memory was probably the most difficult psych class I have taken, as some of the stuff is really abstract but very useful.

Or you can focus on the more, "liberal arts" type classes, such as social psychology. No science in these type of classes, but they are also useful.

I ended up doing a bit of everything, as my program is actually, "experimental psychology" and we don't focus on any particular area. I have taken everything from abnormal and physiological to adolescent and learning & memory.

Although I have regrets about not studying music, I would probably still do psychology over again, only with a music minor 😀

Just don't expect to get a job in psychology without graduate school. And oh yeah, I hope you like to write.

The pros to psychology: (1) You become much more analytical and gain the ability to apply and infer knowledge. This also depends on how the psych program is at your school. Some programs simply require you to memorize stuff. Others, like mine, require you to apply this knowledge in given situations and analyze case studies. This isn't very easy, but will prepare you well for work as a physician. (2) Being able to explain stuff is cool (3) You can use it all of your life. (4) You can kinda sorta help people, although I would refrain from that unless you have a Master's.

The downsides to psychology: (1) You have a more acute sense of how stupid and ignorant people can be. This is huge. (2) the world isn't so mysterious anymore (3) some students gain the ability to look at people objectively, even those with whom they have close relationships (4) A lot of the more hard-science types don't think much of psychology. Refer back to Point 1. (5) People may get pissed off when you explain their behavior to them.

 

[leorl]

no! do not dump all three and focus on one! I don't think the "directionless" view is valid. You're applying to med school, therefore you have a direction. Having three majors reflects your interests. I tripled in biology, psychology and classics, so have a science, social science and humanities in there - but I was never directionless, I just happened to be interested in all three. Plus I did a year abroad. All these things means you have diverse interests, not that you were split...especially if you do well in all three. You can triple major and have good extracurriculars... I did research for 1.5 years work and rowed all four years, and tutored for work as well. It's entirely doable, you don't really have to sacrifice one thing for another if you don't want to.

 

[leorl]

p.s. I really shouldn't permit the same topic on multiple forums...but I'll make an exception cuz I'm feeling nice 🙂. If one of them doesn't generate much of a response, I'll close that one.

 

[DD214_DOC]

I still wouldn't do it just to do it, or only because you don't have that many classes to take.

 

[bgreet]

You're completely screwed. Triple major? No science? Just kiss your chances at getting accepted ANYWHERE. 🙄

 

[MedSchoolFool]

😀 Thanks for allowing the same topic on multiple forums, leorl. 😀

To answer some of the concerns of whether I am doing 3 majors just to do them or because I'm really interested in the subjects....YES! I'm completely interested in what I'm studying.

Psychology is great because of the focus on the individual. Communication has more of a group focused approach. Between the two I feel that I've come to know myself and those around me in a more understanding and considerate sense. My interpersonal interactions have been enriched, and my sensitivity to the needs of others has been enhanced. Studying these two fields has brought not only practical knowledge but greater respect for what it means to be human.

Psychology has further fueled my curiosity about the brain. I am interested in learning the physiology and functions of the different parts. To this end I am going to use the BCMP classes and psyc classes together to complete a degree in Neuroscience rather than in psychology itself. This seems like a natural extension of my psychological studies and will make constructive use of the BCMP classes as leading to a degree rather than merely being med school prereqs. Plus it will be a science major.

As far as the English degree goes I feel that it has benefited me more than any other subject I have taken. English demands analytical and critical thinking skills. Every character in a story is an exercise in case study. English has taught me not only to ask, "What does this all mean?", but it has equipped me with how to find an answer. I feel that literature can enlighten us about the human condition, and has the capacity to make us feel and care for others more than any other discipline by putting us squarely in another person's shoes.

Communication...we all know doctors need more practice in this area. I mean, how many times have you heard that this is a skill sorely lacking among physicians? I know I've heard it plenty. By studying communication I've learned skills in listening, persuasion, cultural sensitivity, conflict resolution, and even in clothing styles that I wish I would have known about years ago. We are always sending messages, especially nonverbal messages, and the power to interpret, control, and respond appropriately to these messages is often what separates the leaders from the followers.

As a future physician, I want to not only understand medicine and the technical do's and don'ts of a patient's affliction, I want to understand the full person before me. I want to be aware of the subtleties that are normally overlooked by other doctors. We are more than a body, and often illnesses are more complex than a physical exam will show. I think I need to be ready to recognize and address those underlying issues and concerns.

In essence, my liberal studies of English, Communication, and Psychology have given me the conviction that people are not patients, but that patients are people. It is one thing to see a patient, but it is another to see a person. Enough said.

Anyway...I hope that you guys can see I have sincere interest in what I'm doing. I was only uncertain as to whether having 3 majors would generate questions about not having any direction. I can see that it does indeed cause this, and I appreciate those responses. I also see, though, that it has advantages, and now that I've explained myself here I feel that I can do so adequately to an adcom should they question my decision.

Thanks for all the input. Y'all have given me a lot to think about. I really do appreciate it.

JJ

 

[irishlaydi]

Thanks to everyone who responded. It's good to hear points from both sides of the issue.

I think I'm going to concentrate on the English and Psychology degrees. Actually, I'm looking at forging the psyc program into a degree in Neuroscience...

JJ

i wouldn't worry too much about it, like one person said just be able to explain why u chose the majors and why medicine now. but if you're going to take all the science courses needed to apply that shows dedication as well. I have a double major from my school, one was in Psychology. However, I just took more scientific based courses and pharmPsych courses than traditional psych courses because I was more interested in neuroscience but my school didn't have that option. Anyway, what i'm saying is it won't hurt you, just be able to talk about it. good luck with everything

 

[Pooh Chong]

It won't make you look indecisive. You may get asked about it...and at that point you say why you took interest in these three areas and how you feel they will help you as a physician. Just always bring the focus back as to how your experiences/interests will make you a better physician than without them....and you'll be fine.

If anything, I think it will make you look well rounded. And you can also say that you started with a single or double major in mind....and you found one class interesting in the other(s) so you kept on taking classes...and then you discovered you were very close to obtaining a degree...and decided to do it.