Uh oh :/

[malfee]

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So I really want to major in Exercise Science and Sports Studies at Rutgers. It's my #1 pick, and I have the credentials to get into the school, as far as I'm aware of. However, I don't really have any backup schools yet. I really really want that major, and not many schools around here offer it, and the few that do aren't suitable for me, either being too far away with no dormitories, or being even more expensive than Rutgers. Even with that said, Rutgers still seems expensive to me. For an out-of-state student, tuition is about $20k, with room and board costing another $10k. 😱 My family is not financially well-off whatsoever, and I'm trying to apply for tons of private scholarships, but I am still pretty worried. I never thought I'd have to worry about not affording a school, as I figured with my academics and personal motivation I should be a shoe-in, but I'm kind of concerned now.

Should I start looking at other majors? I've considered a few other ones, but each time I come back to Exercise Science and fall in love with it over and over again. 😍 It's exactly what I want to learn. Exactly. If I really really had to, I suppose I could settle for some other major that's more available around here, but I feel like I might be disappointed.

Any advice? 🙁

 

[xnfs93hy]

So I really want to major in Exercise Science and Sports Studies at Rutgers. It's my #1 pick, and I have the credentials to get into the school, as far as I'm aware of. However, I don't really have any backup schools yet. I really really want that major, and not many schools around here offer it, and the few that do aren't suitable for me, either being too far away with no dormitories, or being even more expensive than Rutgers. Even with that said, Rutgers still seems expensive to me. For an out-of-state student, tuition is about $20k, with room and board costing another $10k. 😱 My family is not financially well-off whatsoever, and I'm trying to apply for tons of private scholarships, but I am still pretty worried. I never thought I'd have to worry about not affording a school, as I figured with my academics and personal motivation I should be a shoe-in, but I'm kind of concerned now.

Should I start looking at other majors? I've considered a few other ones, but each time I come back to Exercise Science and fall in love with it over and over again. 😍 It's exactly what I want to learn. Exactly. If I really really had to, I suppose I could settle for some other major that's more available around here, but I feel like I might be disappointed.

Any advice? 🙁

Apply to other schools at that level around you, I live very close to Rutgers but would never go there. No offense but if you are going to have a tough time paying for undergrad I would forget medical school unless you will be able to take out a huge student loan and pay it off then by all means, or if you can get a full ride that is even better, I'm just saying. Please don't bash me because even though I am well off my parents aren't millionaires either and I am going to have to take out around 200 grand for medical school and just figure I will pay off all when I am a resident. NOW, to answer you question, no I have no idea what other schools offer that major, sounds pretty cool. Rutger's is not that hard to get into in my honest opinion I know people who have gone there, it is VERY FAR from being a bad school, it's great. If your GPA is pretty good and you have a decent class rank, don't even worry about it. My advice? Well, apply early (if you can) to Rutger's and really spend a lot of time on your application, write a really good essay and show them that you really have a passion for sport's medicine, tell them they are one of the few schools out there that offer a major that you love, etc. There's really not much more you can do. My other advice would be to apply to a lot of other schools around your price range that's really all I can tell you. Good luck.

Also, just out of curiosity, what is your resume like? What are your SAT scores? GPA? Rank? Those are usually what they look at first.

 

[xnfs93hy]

Wow, I'm a ***** it says it right in your signature 😳. Your SAT scores are fine if you can get it over a 2,000 (which you shouldn't have to) that would be fine, ACT is fine, and you good a nice 3.5 GPA and are probably in the top half. You will be fine don't even worry about it.

 

[malfee]

Well, as far affording medical school, from what I understand, it's very easy to take out student loans, and it's quite common for M.D. graduates to leave with $200k+ in debt, so that's why I'm not all that worried about that.

Yeah, as for getting into Rutgers, I'm not worried about not meeting their criteria academically or anything, only financially a bit. Also, I'm a pretty killer writer, so when it comes time to write my application essay or whatever, that will be fun. 🙂

 

[xnfs93hy]

You sound very driven towards your goal, like I said there is not a 100% guarantee but I think you have a very good shot. If it is too much then why don't you apply for small scholarships? There are a bunch of organizations around my area in NJ that will give you like $1,000 for writing an essay for a contest, and theres plenty more out there that no one takes advantage of. You should also TRY and apply for financial aid.

 

[Narmerguy]

Apply to other schools at that level around you, I live very close to Rutgers but would never go there. No offense but if you are going to have a tough time paying for undergrad I would forget medical school unless you will be able to take out a huge student loan and pay it off then by all means, or if you can get a full ride that is even better, I'm just saying. Please don't bash me because even though I am well off my parents aren't millionaires either and I am going to have to take out around 200 grand for medical school and just figure I will pay off all when I am a resident. NOW, to answer you question, no I have no idea what other schools offer that major, sounds pretty cool. Rutger's is not that hard to get into in my honest opinion I know people who have gone there, it is VERY FAR from being a bad school, it's great. If your GPA is pretty good and you have a decent class rank, don't even worry about it. My advice? Well, apply early (if you can) to Rutger's and really spend a lot of time on your application, write a really good essay and show them that you really have a passion for sport's medicine, tell them they are one of the few schools out there that offer a major that you love, etc. There's really not much more you can do. My other advice would be to apply to a lot of other schools around your price range that's really all I can tell you. Good luck.

Wouldn't count on paying them off during residency unless you expect not to eat or live in something made of more than cardboard.

For the OP, why is that major in particular so valuable for you? If you're considering pursuing health and exercise sciences instead of medical school than I can somewhat understand but if your plan is to apply to medical school your major will have little bearing once you've made it in.

That said, I would try to explore financial options first and then pick your dream major. Though you may not leave with a bonafide degree in Exercise Science and Sports Studies from another institution, you could leave with something else that could potentially allow you access into the same career venues you're looking for (if you should decide medical school isn't for you). Medical school is very expensive and it would be a bit unnecessary to accumulate a lot of undergrad debt on top of what you're already going to have, especially for someone with a financial situation such as yours.

I would recommend seeing what other schools (cheaper ones) offer that is similar to the Exercise Science and Sports Studies degree you're interested in. Once again, for medical school your degree will matter very very little so if you truly want to go MD you can always take a lot of those exercise courses without a full fleshed out degree. Other than that, keep going for all the individual scholarships you can. www.fastwebs.com is a good site for finding some but it can be a little cluttered at times. Your grades and what not I think will be fine for getting acceptance to the institutions you're looking for.

 

[malfee]

The reason I'm so fond of this major is because all of the classes one would take under it consist of everything I'm passionate about. Understanding how the human body works from an athletic point of view, including both nutrition and musculoskeletal information. I'm already fascinated and involved with the subjects at an informal and recreational level, and no other major seems to combine these courses in the same fashion.

Yes, I do wish to pursue medical school following my undergraduate studies, however, I would eventually like to sub-specialize in Sports Medicine, which is effectively the major I'm interested in, except so much more in depth. So, even though I do understand my major has virtually no effect on my medical school applications, however, as you might have guessed, I'm extremely interested in this one particularly, and the advice I always see and hear on here in regards to undergraduate work is to take the classes that you're most interested in. Major in what you want to major in.

However, I am willing to compromise if necessary, as much as I would dislike doing so. There is a major similar to Exercise Science and Sports Studies titled Athletic Training/Sports Medicine. Obviously, the mere presence of "Sports Medicine" in the title had me giddy at first, but from what I've researched at several different schools that offer the major, the program is in essence a watered down version of Exercise Science more geared towards individuals interested in pursuing certification as an Athletic Trainer.

I'm not trying to be stubborn (though I think I sound like I am 😀), I'm just trying to see if it's common for students to "compromise" in choosing their major in a situation like this.

 

[DonkeyD]

Well, as far affording medical school, from what I understand, it's very easy to take out student loans, and it's quite common for M.D. graduates to leave with $200k+ in debt, so that's why I'm not all that worried about that.

Just because it's common doesn't mean it doesn't suck. Think long and hard before breaking the bank for undergrad, you do NOT want to be looking at 400k of debt and a 100k/year salary. Not all doctors make big money, remember that.

 

[rom3o]

Hi there, I'm majoring in AT... and from what I can tell you based off of my school is that AT is more "clinical oriented", whereas exercise science seems to be geared more towards running health and fitness facilities. Here is what my curriculum consists of for Athletic Training:

BIOL 124 Human Anatomy and Physiology 4 credits
HEAL 110 Personal Health 3 credits
ATEP 228 Introduction to Athletic Training 3 credits
Gen Ed Written Communication (Lower Level) 3 credits
Gen Ed Oral Communication 3 credits

Year 1 (Spring Semester – 14 credits)
BIOL 125 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 credits
HEAL 205 Principles of Accident Causation and Prevention 4 credits
HEAL 330 Nutrition 3 credits
ATEP 229 Clinical Experiences in Introductory Athletic Training 3 credits


Year 2 (Fall Semester – 14 credits)
PHED 200 Professional Dimensions of Health, Recreation, and P.E. 3 credits
ATEP 310 Athletic Injury Recognition of the Lower Extremity and Thorax 3 credits
ATEP 315 Clinical Evaluation Skills for the Lower Extremity and Thorax 3 credits
Gen Ed Information Technology 3 credits
Electives 2 credits



Year 2 (Spring Semester – 15 credits)
ATEP 320 Athletic Injury Recogition of the Upper Extremity, Head and Neck 3 credits
ATEP 325 Clinical Evaluation Skills for the Upper Extremity, Head and Neck 3 credits
PHED 300 Kinesiology 3 credits
Gen Ed Fine Arts 3 credits
Gen Ed Western Civilization 3 credits



Year 3 (Fall Semester – 15 credits)
ATEP 350 Therapeutic Modalities 3 credits
ATEP 354 Rehabilitation of Athletic Injuries 3 credits
ATEP 357 Treatment and Rehabilitation Clinical Techniques 3 credits
PHED 365 Measurement and Evaluation of Physical Fitness 3 credits
PHED 410 Social / Psychological Aspects of Health and Fitness 3 credits



Year 3 (Spring Semester – 16 credits)
ATEP 413 Management Skills in Athletic Training 3 credits
PHED 450 Physiology of Exercise 4 credits
PRLS 410 Administration of RHT Organizations I 3 credits
STAT 250 Introductory Statistics I 3 credits
Gen Ed Literature 3 credits



Year 4 (Fall Semester – 15 credits)
EFHP 524 Physiology for the Athletic Trainer –
Including the Pharmacology of Sports Injuries 3 credits
PRLS 405 Planning, Design and Maintenance of Leisure Facilities 3 credits
Gen Ed Written Communication (Upper Level) 3 credits
Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Science 3 credits
Elective 3 credits



Year 4 (Spring Semester – 15 credits)
ATEP 441 Practicum 3 credits
PRLS 450 Research Methods 3 credits
PRLS 460 Sport and Recreation Law 3 credits
Gen Ed Global Understanding 3 credits
Elective 3 credits

Opposed to exercise science:

Exercise Science Required Courses (68 credits)
HEAL 205 Principles of Accident Causation and Prevention 4 credits
HEAL 220 Dimensions of Mental Health 3 credits
HEAL 323 Program Leadership and Evaluation 3 credits
HEAL 330 Nutrition 3 credits
HEAL 350 Interventions for Populations and Communities at Risk 3 credits
HEAL 490 Internship 12 credits
PHED 200 Prof. Dimensions of Health, Rec, and Physical Education 3 credits
PHED 300 Kinesiology 3 credits
PHED 304 Sport, Culture, and Society 3 credits
PHED 365 Measurement and Evaluation of Physical Fitness 3 credits
PHED 410 Social/Psychological Aspects of Health and Fitness 3 credits
PHED 450 Physiology of Exercise 4 credits
PHED 480 Special Topics 3 credits
PRLS 310 Program Planning and Design 3 credits
PRLS 405 Planning, Design, and Maintenance of Leisure Facilities 3 credits
PRLS 410 Administration of RHT Organizations I 3 credits
PRLS 411 Administration of RHT Organizations II 3 credits
PRLS 450 Research Methods 3 credits
PRLS 460 Sport and Recreation Law 3 credits

This obviously varies depending upon school.

 

[malfee]

Thanks for the input, rom3o. This is Rutger's Exercise Science recommended course schedule:

Freshman
Fall
119:101 General Biology* (4)
377:140 Fdns. of Ex. Sci. & Sport Studies (1.5)
198:110 Intro to Computers & Applications (3)

Spring
119:102 General Biology* (4)
640:135 Calculus I (4)


Sophomore
Fall
377:213 Functional Human Anatomy* (4)
160:161 General Chemistry* (4)
160:171 Intro. To Experimentation* (1)
750:193 Physics for Sciences* (4)

Spring
377:275 Basic Stats for Ex. Science (3)
OR
377:413 Stats & Res. Design for Ex. Science (4)
160:162 General Chemistry* (4)
377:___ Elective (3)
750:194 Physics for Sciences* (4)


Junior
Fall
377:303 Neuromechanical Kinesiology* (3)
146:356 Systems Physiology* (3)
146:357 Systems Physiology Lab* (1)
377:319 Risk Mgt Health/Fitness Professionals (1.5)

Spring
377:___ Elective (300 Level or above) (3)
377:350 Biomechanics* (3)
377:370 Exercise Physiology* (3)
377:371 Exercise Physiology Lab* (1)


Senior
Fall
377:381 Biochemistry of Exercise* (3)
377:410 Exercise Testing and Prescription*4 (4)
377:494 Internship in Ex. Physiology I (3)

Spring
377:454 Advanced Exercise Physiology* (3)
377:496 EKG Use and Interpretation* (3)
377:495 Internship in Ex. Physiology II (3)

They actually make a point to say that this major is ideal for pre-meds (it does include almost all of the pre-reqs except for organic chemistry, which is available as an elective), so perhaps it's a bit different where you're going to school. The AT programs around here seem kind of similar to yours, but they never appealed to me as much as the ES major has. I suppose I'll take another look at it though. =]

 

[rom3o]

haha, yeah that looks much better than the ES at my school, good luck, looks like a fun major ... my reasoning for choosing my particular major is the same as yours! 🙂

Thanks for the input, rom3o. This is Rutger's Exercise Science recommended course schedule:

Freshman
Fall
119:101 General Biology* (4)
377:140 Fdns. of Ex. Sci. & Sport Studies (1.5)
198:110 Intro to Computers & Applications (3)

Spring
119:102 General Biology* (4)
640:135 Calculus I (4)


Sophomore
Fall
377:213 Functional Human Anatomy* (4)
160:161 General Chemistry* (4)
160:171 Intro. To Experimentation* (1)
750:193 Physics for Sciences* (4)

Spring
377:275 Basic Stats for Ex. Science (3)
OR
377:413 Stats & Res. Design for Ex. Science (4)
160:162 General Chemistry* (4)
377:___ Elective (3)
750:194 Physics for Sciences* (4)


Junior
Fall
377:303 Neuromechanical Kinesiology* (3)
146:356 Systems Physiology* (3)
146:357 Systems Physiology Lab* (1)
377:319 Risk Mgt Health/Fitness Professionals (1.5)

Spring
377:___ Elective (300 Level or above) (3)
377:350 Biomechanics* (3)
377:370 Exercise Physiology* (3)
377:371 Exercise Physiology Lab* (1)


Senior
Fall
377:381 Biochemistry of Exercise* (3)
377:410 Exercise Testing and Prescription*4 (4)
377:494 Internship in Ex. Physiology I (3)

Spring
377:454 Advanced Exercise Physiology* (3)
377:496 EKG Use and Interpretation* (3)
377:495 Internship in Ex. Physiology II (3)

They actually make a point to say that this major is ideal for pre-meds (it does include almost all of the pre-reqs except for organic chemistry, which is available as an elective), so perhaps it's a bit different where you're going to school. The AT programs around here seem kind of similar to yours, but they never appealed to me as much as the ES major has. I suppose I'll take another look at it though. =]

 

[malfee]

Haha, yeah. 😛 Thanks, you too. So you're into sports medicine as well?

 

[rom3o]

I guess you could say that, for the past 3.5 years I've been working for a prosthetic and orthotic company which obviously revolves around the musculoskeletal system. In my free time I enjoy going to the gym and reading up on the prevention of sport-related injuries and how the body reacts and develops to weight-lifting, etc

Haha, yeah. 😛 Thanks, you too. So you're into sports medicine as well?

 

[tennisball80]

Haha, yeah. 😛 Thanks, you too. So you're into sports medicine as well?

Why sports medicne for you ? Why do you like it ?

I like medicine but I am not sure about their specialities. 🙂

 

[xnfs93hy]

Wouldn't count on paying them off during residency unless you expect not to eat or live in something made of more than cardboard.

For the OP, why is that major in particular so valuable for you? If you're considering pursuing health and exercise sciences instead of medical school than I can somewhat understand but if your plan is to apply to medical school your major will have little bearing once you've made it in.

That said, I would try to explore financial options first and then pick your dream major. Though you may not leave with a bonafide degree in Exercise Science and Sports Studies from another institution, you could leave with something else that could potentially allow you access into the same career venues you're looking for (if you should decide medical school isn't for you). Medical school is very expensive and it would be a bit unnecessary to accumulate a lot of undergrad debt on top of what you're already going to have, especially for someone with a financial situation such as yours.

I would recommend seeing what other schools (cheaper ones) offer that is similar to the Exercise Science and Sports Studies degree you're interested in. Once again, for medical school your degree will matter very very little so if you truly want to go MD you can always take a lot of those exercise courses without a full fleshed out degree. Other than that, keep going for all the individual scholarships you can. www.fastwebs.com is a good site for finding some but it can be a little cluttered at times. Your grades and what not I think will be fine for getting acceptance to the institutions you're looking for.

My parents would give me money for rent, and books, etc. I would have to take out that fat $200k loan though. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it, all I know is that my parents said they won't pay my tuition for med school if I go, they will cover everything else.

 

[desidp12]

rutgers is definitely a really good school...try to call the financial aid office and explain your situation. they are not as responsive as other financial aid offices but its worth a try. also, if you have a good SAT score, they give u scholarships for that. i had a 1330 and i got 5,000 from them. the next cut off was 1400 which equalled 7,500. i dont know what the scholarship quota will be this year. again, call them. and definitely apply to as many private scholarships as u can, even the smaller ones, they add up.

 

[xnfs93hy]

rutgers is definitely a really good school...try to call the financial aid office and explain your situation. they are not as responsive as other financial aid offices but its worth a try. also, if you have a good SAT score, they give u scholarships for that. i had a 1330 and i got 5,000 from them. the next cut off was 1400 which equalled 7,500. i dont know what the scholarship quota will be this year. again, call them. and definitely apply to as many private scholarships as u can, even the smaller ones, they add up.

I could not have said it any better myself. I have a website that you might want to check out, my teacher recommended it to me last year, you have probably heard about it: http://www.fastweb.com/ it is basically a scholarship search engine, definitely check that out.

 

[malfee]

rom3o: That sounds awesome!

tennisball80: I've always found the human body fascinating, but even more so, the human body being utilized in athletics. It amazes me each time I exercise or play a sport how I am able to precisely control my movements, even while under mental and physical duress. However, for as long as I can remember, I've always been a fan of crazy futuristic concepts of human advancements via bioengineering. Nothing even remotely realistic (go watch Ghost in the Shell 😀), but just the possibility of such incredible physical feats has always had a place in my heart. I've always admired such "superhuman" individuals as professional athletes and special forces operatives, and how they're able to perform, as I do, under duress.
Sports medicine appeals to me so much because not only am I genuinely interested in learning and studying the field, the position as a sports medicine physician seems like such a practical career for me - one that I would find both emotionally and financially rewarding.

Other areas of medicine do interest me, however, sports medicine is numero uno! 😉


P.S. - Prior to realizing I wanted to attend medical school, I had considered Athletic Training or Exercise Physiology, but decided that both seemed too "basic" and not as in depth as I may like to study. I'd like to learn about all of the little kinks that make human medicine so spectacular and complex, and then apply those to sport, athletics, and ultimately health.