Triple Major Swag. (not for me)

[Swiss Medical]

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Hi, everyone

I have a quick question about majors. My friend is planning to pursue a triple major is biology, chemistry, and biochemistry. Now, my concern is how the hell that is going to work. He has to take his general courses, then goes into his major(s). Will the general education courses will count toward all 3 majors? I think it will. There is not TOO much of a difference between bio and biochem. He will just have to take biochem 1 AND 2, cal 1,2 and 3, some indep. research, and some electives. However, for chemistry, he will suffer because physical chemistry and astro-chemical development courses😕 is among the requirements. In other words, he will take a considerable amount of chemistry credits. Will he be able to finish his degree and , take the mcat, and apply to med school in four years? I am doubting it. Personally, i will settle for a BS in bio and maybe a bph......

If you want me to post each of the degree plans, I will kindly do so.

 

[4sport]

Does your school even allow this? Many schools do not let you double major if the pre-reqs are too similar.

 

[raltima07]

I'll bite. Does your friend have AP credit? Does he know that medical schools don't care about majors? Does he understand that if he tanks his GPA that medical school might be out of the picture? Does he know that should he want a double major, he would be better served by doing a science + humanities for a well rounded experience?


Yes, many of the requirements will overlap. I personally don't think it would be able to fit it into 4 years UNLESS he has substantial AP credit or college level credit which would make it more feasible. I see many summers and winters of classes in 'his' future.

 

[Swiss Medical]

Does your school even allow this? Many schools do not let you double major if the pre-reqs are too similar.

Not sure. it does not say you can't on the school website....

 

[xanthomondo]

Any pre-med chemistry major is only a few classes away from the biochem/bio major. Some people choose to do fourth year electives in different disciplines, your friends is going to be doing all of them in chemistry/biology. It's no big deal - let him do whatever he enjoys.

 

[Thornwalker]

In all likelyhood, your school won't allow this.

At my undergrad for example, you could double major in biology and chemistry however, you could not say double major in biochemistry and/or biology/chem because the upper division requirements were too similar.

That being said, i did know of one person who doubled major in biology and chemistry. Since I went to a smaller liberal arts college, he had to take very specific upper division biology courses and chemistry courses (think plant ecology and analytic chemistry) in order to fulfill both requirements. Not a lot of 'double dipping' is allowed. I also think he had to take a few classes over summer to handle the course load and graduate in 4 years.

 

[Lil Mick]

I was a triple major, but the pre-recs generally didn't overlap much. I don't think most schools will allow that combination (biochem might be a good major for him), though. As for the course load, if he passes out of some of the lower division courses or takes summer classes, it's possible to do well, have leisure time, and make it to medical school.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

A lot of pre-meds that I met as a post-bac minored in biochem easily. I think bio and chem are different enough that you should be able to double major in those two, and minor in biochem. I don't know about a triple major, though. Most colleges have a limit on the number of classes you're allowed to double count for two majors

I think your friend would be more interesting if he/she majored in biochem and something liberal artsy. But I'm biased because I was a social science major.

 

[Freigeist]

I did 3 majors that were pretty related like that. as long as it's allowed by the school it's not a big deal. you just have to plan ahead of time when you are going to take certain classes. However, as incoming freshman I would say your best bet is to decide after taking the intro courses for each major since you don't even know if you like them yet

 

[phnerd1105]

Tell you friend not to do this, and either double major in something he/she likes or have one major with a few minors. They should spend the rest of their time with extracurriculars and people, not with books.

 

[NKChemEng]

Make sure that he knows that the name of your degrees means almost nothing when it comes to admissions. If he's interested in a specific area of research or science, he should learn more about it by working in a lab in that area. Getting an entire degree just so it looks good on an application is counterproductive. It's easier just to be interested in something and take 1 or 2 classes to satisfy your curiosity than to do a minor or even major in that area.

 

[Elpenor]

the entire idea is stupid and having three majors will not help him at all.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

the entire idea is stupid and having three majors will not help him at all.

I don't think it's stupid to be a triple major. But I do think it's unwise to have three majors all in the sciences, because you won't have much room left for English or humanities classes. A lot of school require them. USC requires 30 semester hours in the humanities. Plus, it makes a candidate a bit more interesting than someone who only took science courses. That's why I suggested a double/triple major in science and liberal arts.

I only had one major and a minor, and I'm glad I did things that way. I got to take lots of cool classes, like World Theater History, that I wouldn't have been able to do if I'd had like eight majors.

 

[NKChemEng]

I agree with the post above. I don't think it's necessarily stupid, especially if he can pull it off with a good GPA. But by trying to fit in all the requirements in time to graduate, he'll be shutting off the opportunity to devote time to interesting electives or activities such as research or volunteering.

Your ECs are something you'll talk about in an interview. Three majors is just a few extra words on paper.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

the idea is stupid and given that the the three majors are bio, chem, and biochem, it's obvious to me that this kid is just trying to stroke his ego, hoping for the oohs and ahs he'll get when he boasts how he has three majors, despite the fact that one of them is just an amalgamation of the other two.

 

[NKChemEng]

That's true actually. Triple majoring in Econ, Bio, and ... I don't know ... French would be also overkill, but it would be VERY impressive. But triple majoring in Bio, Chem, and BioChem seems redundant.

One major + publication or good ECs >>>>>>>> Three majors + no time to do interesting things.

 

[Swiss Medical]

Thanks guys. He does have a bit of an ego.........

I think a bio major would not be enough for me, so I will be double majoring in public health (if my school offers it) and biology. My freakin' parents think that humanities majors do not get into med school.

 

[JSU]

My school wouldn't allow this as the majors are too similar. Doesn't sound like a great idea anyway. Especially because Biochem is a very involved major with a lot of bio and chem anyway. Instead of a triple major, he should just take an extra semester of pchem (assuming he has taken 1 for biochem), inorganic chem and maybe a chemE class to supplement the chem side. Then take some physio and ecology courses for bio (depending on area of interest).

 

[raltima07]

Thanks guys. He does have a bit of an ego.........

I think a bio major would not be enough for me, so I will be double majoring in public health (if my school offers it) and biology. My freakin' parents think that humanities majors do not get into med school.

Explain to them that they do. I know it isn't easy, but if you want to do a humanities major than go for it.

 

[Swiss Medical]

Explain to them that they do. I know it isn't easy, but if you want to do a humanities major than go for it.

I might give this up...and even pursuing a double major.🙁

However, That will give me leverage whne pursuing Extracurriculars, volunteering, etc. i will have more time to do those rather than doing TWICE the load of coursework. I have already planned my fall and spring schedule.....I need some backup schedules too, since mom and pop like to "help" out as well.

In regards to multiple majors, it has already been noted that similar majors or majors with similar requirements cannot be done. I ended up checking the website.....

As for my folks, they need a hobby...🙄

 

[Avoidthetiger]

Haven't even read the above. But why do you even care honestly? Many students say they want to double or triple major. few accomplish it.

Whereas, I know a student who earned 3 separate engineering degrees in 4 years with a near 4.0 GPA --- and he still had time to participate in clubs (that demanded 4-6 hours a week), service group (2 hours a week) and hobbies (he loved rock climbing, haha). To each their own I say.

 

[Swiss Medical]

Haven't even read the above. But why do you even care honestly? Many students say they want to double or triple major. few accomplish it.

Whereas, I know a student who earned 3 separate engineering degrees in 4 years with a near 4.0 GPA --- and he still had time to participate in clubs (that demanded 4-6 hours a week), service group (2 hours a week) and hobbies (he loved rock climbing, haha). To each their own I say.

Well, considering his past, given that i would even consider it, overshadowing me is not something I want...

...and I wanted to just verify whether (or not) it was possible. He told me that his brother has accomplished it before. But what I am concerned about that is the COURSE LOAD. It is just to intense to complete in four years...

 

[NKChemEng]

Whereas, I know a student who earned 3 separate engineering degrees in 4 years with a near 4.0 GPA --- and he still had time to participate in clubs (that demanded 4-6 hours a week), service group (2 hours a week) and hobbies (he loved rock climbing, haha). To each their own I say.

Wanna share their story? I have been contemplating getting a second engineering major, because it is in a field that I am actually VERY interested in, but I cannot have that one as my only major (because I had to have applied to it as a freshman, and I didn't. Now I can only take it as a second major - weird situation).

 

[Avoidthetiger]

Well, considering his past, given that i would even consider it, overshadowing me is not something I want...

...and I wanted to just verify whether (or not) it was possible. He told me that his brother has accomplished it before. But what I am concerned about that is the COURSE LOAD. It is just to intense to complete in four years...

He won't overshadow you. Don't put your 2 applications side by side, and don't feel like you need to compete with him.

In my school though - if he wanted to do the triple major, it would be possible to do it in 4 years (especially with some overlap). Chemistry and biology are about 30 hours, and biochem is slightly less than that. Add in about 30 hours of general reqs and you get 120 hours -- which is approximately the amount of credits you take for a 4 year degree.

This is of course assuming he's getting a BA in everything. If you are pre-med, i don't understand the point of getting a BS. You can do the same things with the BA as the BS - go to med school, get a lab tech position, go to grad school, ect.

 

[tman5890]

I would tell your friend not to do that, unless he really loves science and doesn't mind doing it every moment he's awake...If he doesn't listen, let him find out the hard way, I'm sure he'll come around

 

[Swiss Medical]

He won't overshadow you. Don't put your 2 applications side by side, and don't feel like you need to compete with him.

In my school though - if he wanted to do the triple major, it would be possible to do it in 4 years (especially with some overlap). Chemistry and biology are about 30 hours, and biochem is slightly less than that. Add in about 30 hours of general reqs and you get 120 hours -- which is approximately the amount of credits you take for a 4 year degree.

This is of course assuming he's getting a BA in everything. If you are pre-med, i don't understand the point of getting a BS. You can do the same things with the BA as the BS - go to med school, get a lab tech position, go to grad school, ect.

wha...? So getting the BA is better....? How? Why is it pointless to get the BS..?

 

[Swiss Medical]

I would tell your friend not to do that, unless he really loves science and doesn't mind doing it every moment he's awake...If he doesn't listen, let him find out the hard way, I'm sure he'll come around

When he first told me, i laughed at him...and got a stone face on and said, "I'm serious".......He is a south Asian...Vietnam is in south asia ...right?

 

[NickNaylor]

The difference between a BA and a BS is negligible. Pick whatever is easier to get and/or more suitable to your interests. I didn't want to take a whole bunch of random crap classes, so I went for a BS. If you want the "flexibility" to take more classes outside of the sciences, go for a BA. I highly doubt anyone is going to care one way or another.

 

[Avoidthetiger]

Wanna share their story? I have been contemplating getting a second engineering major, because it is in a field that I am actually VERY interested in, but I cannot have that one as my only major (because I had to have applied to it as a freshman, and I didn't. Now I can only take it as a second major - weird situation).

that's too bad. the kid is a super genius but lacks common sense. He was an EE and aerospace dual-degree engineer from the get-go of college. Alot of the core-engineering classes overlapped, so he just had to make sure he took the specialized courses specific to his interests. In the last year, the engineering department opened it up for him to take about 3-4 more classes separate from Aero to get a MechE degree also [Aero and MechE are very similar] -- which he had the time for and did. Keep in mind that for most engineers, getting the degree that requires 140+ credit hours in 4-years is difficult enough. You really have to be a super genius to try to get 2, let alone 3. And he really is one. I do believe he graduated with a full 4.0.

Anyways, he was involved with one of those clubs that also required you to build a car, interned at Nasa, was a TA and research assistant, was involved in a service fraternity, and nearly broke his leg his senior year rock climbing. He just got engaged too to a girl he started dating when he was a junior in college. He's a pretty impressive dude. He wasn't pre-med though. haha. IF he had been, we would have all been in trouble.

 

[Swiss Medical]

that's too bad. the kid is a super genius but lacks common sense. He was an EE and aerospace dual-degree engineer from the get-go of college. Alot of the core-engineering classes overlapped, so he just had to make sure he took the specialized courses specific to his interests. In the last year, the engineering department opened it up for him to take about 3-4 more classes separate from Aero to get a MechE degree also [Aero and MechE are very similar] -- which he had the time for and did. Keep in mind that for most engineers, getting the degree that requires 140+ credit hours in 4-years is difficult enough. You really have to be a super genius to try to get 2, let alone 3. And he really is one. I do believe he graduated with a full 4.0.

Anyways, he was involved with one of those clubs that also required you to build a car, interned at Nasa, was a TA and research assistant, was involved in a service fraternity, and nearly broke his leg his senior year rock climbing. He just got engaged too to a girl he started dating when he was a junior in college. He's a pretty impressive dude. He wasn't pre-med though. haha. IF he had been, we would have all been in trouble.

Yes. He would have made a 43T and taken ALL the spots in the country..and the Caribbean...😎

 

[TheMightySmiter]

When he first told me, i laughed at him...and got a stone face on and said, "I'm serious".......He is a south Asian...Vietnam is in south asia ...right?

Vietnam is generally considered Southeast Asia. "South Asian" refers largely to India/Pakistan/Bangladesh.

Um, yeah. That's all I really wanted to say. 😛

 

[tman5890]

When he first told me, i laughed at him...and got a stone face on and said, "I'm serious".......He is a south Asian...Vietnam is in south asia ...right?

That's kinda funny because a friend of mine, who is also viet, is doing two really difficult majors and 1000 ECs even though I told him it wouldn't pay off. He learned the hard way of course...

 

[Ansar]

*shrug* I know a pre-med at my school who's doing Biology, Econ, and a minor in Music...he's already beginning to feel burnt out.

 

[NKChemEng]

*shrug* I know a pre-med at my school who's doing Biology, Econ, and a minor in Music...he's already beginning to feel burnt out.

The minor in music might not be that bad - actually might be relaxing. But Bio and Econ together ... why?