Trying to decide on major...psych or phil?

[exilio]

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Well,

I wanted to go English major, but there is no way I can squeeze that into two years. I am trasnferring from a community college so there are some lower division pre-reqs I simply can't do unti I xfer.

And as it stands right now, Psychology is the best fit academically, but it is my 3rd choice for a major. The first being English, the second being philosophy.

However, from the schools I have looked into, it takes about 3 more classes to complete the phil major versus the psych major. This is an issue for me since I am a "non-traditional" student, which is to say I'm older than your average student and therefore don't want to spend an extra year in college to satisfy a major when what i really want it to go to medical school.

So, the real question is this: How many classes are reasonable to take related to a major in one quarter or semester? 3? 4? Or just 2?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[exilio]

And also..I know you should go with your passion, but for me, that passion is to be a doctor and must be tempered by a realistic schedule that makes that happen.

And it's not that I would hate majoring in psychology so much as I would really enjoy the philosophy major.

Confused? So am I... 😕

 

[Gleevec]

Do what ya like, if its philosophy thats great. If ya can double major in psych and phil, all the better. You probably have enough coursework in psych to at least get a minor? Definitely dont waste your time on something that bores you though.

 

[Medikit]

I believe Philosophy will actually help your verbal score on the MCAT. Neither are particularly useful degrees but you're planning on going to med school anyways. I believe philsophy will also make you a more interesting well rounded person.

 

[exilio]

I believe Philosophy will actually help your verbal score on the MCAT. Neither are particularly useful degrees but you're planning on going to med school anyways. I believe philsophy will also make you a more interesting well rounded person.

The verbal portion of the MCAT is the least of my concerns. However, the other sections have me soiling my drawers. 😱

And either degree is useful as a fallback if med school doesn't work out. I can earn a masters in psychology and work in a myraid of settings. As a philosphy major I can go on to a masters program and a Ph.D so I can teach in a university setting, which is my second passion.

But I would much rather teach philosophy than be a psychologist, so that is why I lean towards philosophy.

 

[HessExpress]

If you want a more practical degree and save your sanity...go with psychology.

Anyone else take ethics ever? I'm taking this as a summer course thinking it'd be cake, but we analyze ethical issues in such depths you actually change your stance by the end of the issue! 😡

 

[CrazyCozak]

The verbal portion of the MCAT is the least of my concerns. However, the other sections have me soiling my drawers. 😱

And either degree is useful as a fallback if med school doesn't work out. I can earn a masters in psychology and work in a myraid of settings. As a philosphy major I can go on to a masters program and a Ph.D so I can teach in a university setting, which is my second passion.

But I would much rather teach philosophy than be a psychologist, so that is why I lean towards philosophy.

Hey, if you afraid that adcomms will laugh at your Phil major, you can be proven wrong! The main part is, if that's something you enjoy, then do it. If you want to get more reassurance from actual Phil majors, get in touch with another SDNer, Quideam. She's a recent (1 week) Phil graduate, and was accepted to number of great schools, including Cornell, which she'll be attending this fall.
So PM her, and ask her some specific questions if those should arise.
(P.S. She's on vacation right now, so if you decide to contact her, she'll be back in July) 🙂
Good luck!

 

[samurai_lincoln]

Hey, if you afraid that adcomms will laugh at your Phil major, you can be proven wrong! The main part is, if that's something you enjoy, then do it. If you want to get more reassurance from actual Phil majors, get in touch with another SDNer, Quideam. She's a recent (1 week) Phil graduate, and was accepted to number of great schools, including Cornell, which she'll be attending this fall.
So PM her, and ask her some specific questions if those should arise.
(P.S. She's on vacation right now, so if you decide to contact her, she'll be back in July) 🙂
Good luck!

IIRC, philosopy majors have the highest average on both the MCAT and LSAT (I know the latter is true). Humanities and social science majors stand out nicely amongst the flood of bio/chem majors adcoms must wade through. I think either option is fine. The only concern I would have is whether you can finish the phil major, and still complete all your premed prereqs. Since you don't mention this, I assume you basically have them all covered through your CC coursework?

There is no way you could finish the english major, even by taking a few summer classes? I would try for your first choice, just so you don't feel like you missed out on enriching your knowledge in an area you love. Does the school to which you are transferring give any leeway in designing majors? Maybe there is a humanities combination option, where you can dabble in all 3 areas? Just throwing out suggestions.

 

[exilio]

Hmm...I am starting to regret offering the third option. 🙄

Anyways:

Crazy,
I am by no means fearful with how an adcom will look at my major, especially philosophy. Thanks for the tip on Quideam, I might drop her a line. 😉

Samurai,
Like you, my CHIEF concern is having the time to satisfy the major requirements for philosophy. English is even tougher. And by the time I leave my CC, next fall, I willhave satisfied the bio and chem pre-req, and still have the ochem and physics requirements.

My schedule upon transfer would look something like this:

Fall, Quarter system:
Ochem, 4 units
Physics, 4 units
Major, 4 units
Major, 4 units

And the next two quartes would be the same. The concern comes in that many majors have pre-reqs for acceptance...and since my CC's philosophy program sucks, it is unclear as to which phil courses can be credited toward the program at one of the three schools I am interested in.

Confused? So am I.

That's why psychology seems to be the best way to go since I shouldn't have a problem with amount of upper division classes needed. Most of the lower division pre-reqs are being taken care of as part of my pre-med coursework.

Maybe what I should do is post a sample schedule for what I am thinking..would that help? Anyone?

 

[Medikit]

The verbal portion of the MCAT is the least of my concerns. However, the other sections have me soiling my drawers. 😱

People have the most trouble IMPROVING their verbal score than with any other section. But... you did say you like English so I suppose you won't be taking vacations from good books like the rest of us science majors. I thought I was a verbal stud until I took my first practice test. That's why I always recommend majors that could improve that score, such as English or Philosophy. The admissions people will like it as well; the vast majority of applicants they see are Biologists and Biochemists (haha I'm both).

The only negative is that you will have to take a lot more classes and probably end up with a Biology or a Chem minor and possibly a second major in Biology.

Personally I think psychology won't stress your intellect enough. A lot of people consider it one of several slacker degrees one can earn in college (uh oh I probably pissed off some people 😉 ).