Why did you choose pre-med?

[rushthesand]

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Considering the pre-med track, but I just wanted to know as much about it as possible.
Pre-med seems kind of risky to me, since it seems it's a program and not a major? So you have to major in something else, and that's your "back up plan" if you can't get into Med-School...? And I keep hearing that usually it's tougher to get in as a Bio major than as something different- like English or something...also I heard that better schools have easier acceptance rates into Med School (I'm thinking about going to Umass Amherst, so this worries me). So why did you choose the pre-med track even despite all this riskiness?

 

[Roxas]

Considering the pre-med track, but I just wanted to know as much about it as possible.
Pre-med seems kind of risky to me, since it seems it's a program and not a major? So you have to major in something else, and that's your "back up plan" if you can't get into Med-School...? And I keep hearing that usually it's tougher to get in as a Bio major than as something different- like English or something...also I heard that better schools have easier acceptance rates into Med School (I'm thinking about going to Umass Amherst, so this worries me). So why did you choose the pre-med track even despite all this riskiness?

First of all, don't worry so much about what major you pick. Pick something that interests you (and it only appears tougher to get in as a bio major since that is the most common major so many of them don't get in). Also, your major doesn't need to be your back-up plan. You should be confident enough that you won't need a back-up plan.

Also, don't worry about where you do UG, as long as its not some sketchy community college or something. Any advantage by going to a top school can be negated by good ECs, gpa, or MCAT. It seems already like you're worrying too much about "all this riskiness". Its not like getting in is a life or death thing. If you're determined and capable, you should be fine.

Plus at the end of the day there's always the carib....

 

[Chillbo Baggins]

When I started college, I was considering med school in the future, but definitely not 100%. So I figured I might as well do a bio degree that satisfied all the pre-reqs, and then if I changed my mind at some point, I would switch to something else. Also, you didn't have to take a foreign language as a science major.

I enjoyed all my classes, though, and figured at the least I'd be happy with a science degree, but about halfway though my junior year I realized I needed to really decide what I wanted to do, and medicine it was.

 

[cheechootrain]

I didn't choose the premed path. It's just a label people use.

 

[deleted407021]

There is nothing risky about the 'premed' track. It includes Bio I&II, Chem I&II, OChem I&II and Physics I&II, that is all. Some schools like you take Statistics or Public Speaking or BioChem etc. Majors like Biology and Chemistry are common among people looking to enter med school because they automatically cover these requirements. It does not matter what you major in AT ALL. AT ALL. AT ALL. IT. DOES. NOT. MATTER. At all.... Find what you like and major in that subject. You can add the aforementioned prerequisites on to you course load as you go if you aren't bio or chem. Don't worry right now about not getting into medical school. You have a lot of stuff to do before you even think about applying. Good luck!

 

[Chillbo Baggins]

I didn't choose the premed path

 

[freakingoutabit]

People get really hung up on being "pre-med" and what that means. It's simple: pick a major you find really interesting and, if you think you want to go to med school, start taking science pre-reqs as electives. In a few years, if you still want to go to med school, study for the MCAT and take it. That's really all there is to it. Ignore everything that the pre-meds in your classes say. They're just trying to show off and intimidate others.

In the meantime, find a volunteer activity you enjoy and do it. (I would recommend this to anyone, not just pre-meds.) I helped organize an annual dance marathon when I was in UG, and I LOVED it. It was fun, social, and it was for a good cause. When you have time (maybe during the summers or occasional weekends), get some experience in a hospital or clinic to see if you would really enjoy working as a doctor.

ETA: As for a "back up plan," most undergrad degrees will only get you an entry-level job somewhere (if that, in this economy). Pick something you enjoy because you probably won't get a flashy job with a degree in Biology, History, English, Economics, etc. etc. unless you go to grad/professional school or work your way up. (There are some exceptions to this rule, such as engineering.)