Trying to decide if I should stay premed (interested in ChemE)

[idemandeuphoria]

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I don't how concise this is going to be, so sorry in advance!

Basically, I entered college Fall 2017 fully committed to being premed. I started taking the classes I needed to go to medical school (general chemistry I and II w/labs, biology, math). Somehow managed to get a 4.0 GPA. I have volunteered and shadowed doctors. And I could totally see myself being a doctor someday. But I also learned a lot about myself during my freshmen year. First of all, I kinda hate premeds and premed culture. It's competitive and exhausting to be around those people and I started thinking about how that culture probably isn't going to stop in medical school either (because residency admissions is also competitive).

The only solace I found was in my chemistry and math classes. Although chem I and II was full of premeds, there were also engineers in those classes. It got me exposed to the type of people in those programs. After being encouraged by my chemistry and calc II TAs to look into engineering, I started talking to professors, graduate students, and research assistants about the chemical engineering program. I ended up rashly changing my major and enrolling in more classes pertaining to ChemE for my summer term (which I'm currently in right now). I like the atmosphere so much better.

Yet, I still feel inclined to be a doctor. I love the human body. I love serving people. I'm up for the challenge of medical school. So I'm just confused. I don't necessarily want to major in something where I'll have no time to volunteer or shadow. I'll definitely be in a research lab for the duration of undergrad and probably go on trips abroad to implement my engineering projects. But I don't think that will help my medical school application.

Advice? trying to figure this out before I go too far in either direction and waste my time/money

 

[DubbiDoctor]

For people determined to go to med school, and see no viable career for themselves other than becoming a physician, it's often advised to avoid engineering majors, as they are associated with low GPAs. However, you are interested in an engineering career, and don't seem committed to medical school. I advise that you pursue the chem engineering major while taking med school pre-reqs and learning more about medicine as a career, giving yourself the opportunity to figure out whether chem engineering or medicine is right for you.

 

[Hirro]

First of all, I kinda hate premeds and premed culture.

lol, don't we all.

I would advise pursuing engineering as a major. Perhaps do an internship or something (shadowing) to get a feel for things and find out if you like it. You can always take pre-med courses on the side.

 

[DokterMom]

Try to shadow or get an internship so you can see how 'a week in the life' is for each profession. Make that your summer's mission, but with no pressure to actually make a decision right away -- let it settle. There are definitely areas of educational and even career overlap so you actually don't have to decide immediately. In fact Chem E to Med School even 2-5 years after graduation is still a pretty easy leap -- assuming you can come to terms with the loss of paycheck aspect.

If you're doing well in your engineering classes (3.7+) then there's no need to change your major. Engineering GPAs actually are given a bit of leeway since they're known to be difficult.

 

[werd]

don't worry about the other premeds. the college culture is annoying, but most of them (and especially those who are competitive and frustrating) won't get in anyway. my advice is to worry about your studies and your gpa, and decide by junior year what you actually want to do.
once you are in med school, there are more jobs as physicians than all of you can fill, and the vast majority of you will match into the specialty and even location that you want. there will still be a few with personalities that are competitive and not entirely friendly... but at that point you are vying for class rank more than you are your actual future as a physician.

 

[dr_kateb]

You can try to do both. There’s a guy that’s Chem E and premed that I sometimes run into while volunteering at the hospital.

 

[Lucca]

Major in engineering. Do some shadowing. Apply for engineering internships. Work in a ChemE lab (there are many engineers working in biomedical research and basic science!).

Loving what you do is more important and this is the time in your life to explore new interests and alternatives. Trust me that nobody looks back and thinks “I had it all figured out by 17!”