<p>Hi everybody! I'll be a freshman at Allegheny College this fall. I've always wanted to be a doctor and that's what I would imagin myself doing whenever I thought of my future. This is still the case today except that I've formed some kind of reluctance after shadowing a physician at Cleveland Clinic for 50 hours to complete my senior project. I saw things I wasn't expecting and knew way more about what doctors really do. Dealing with death, long (like, really long) work-hours, and physical/emotional exhaustion were amongst the negatives I noticed. Of course, there were many more encouraging characteristics (teamwork, care, doctor's ability to simplify stuff, all that) and that's why I didn't change my plan entirely.</p>
<p>Hopefully, my experience was a positive one and this doubt I'm feeling is only for the best. I decided to major in Computer Science, because I like it and have taken few networking/programming courses in the past, and minor in Biology or Chemistry (my school requires you to declare a minor) while being on the pre-med track. At some point, I also want to take a Psychology and a Sociology class to prepare for the new MCAT.</p>
<p>So, my questions are, do you think this is a good, realistic plan and can be finished in 4 years? Do you think I'll have room to take extra classes that I'm curious about (ex: history)? And ,with all that, will I have time to get involved around campus and maybe have a job?</p>
<p>If any of you would scrap out a 4-year suggested course schedule, it would be most appreciated. I'm scheduled to register for classes 3 days from now and will definitely consider any advice you guys offer.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I have been an IT manager most of my professional life and I think your plan majoring in CS and with an Eye on MD schools is a great combination. I wish I can be in your position to concentrate in science subjects during my college years. You will be fine with your plan fresh out of the gate.</p>
<p>I think you should take it easy at start, skirting Bio, Physics and Heavy Science subjects in your second semester in your Freshmen year or even in Sophomore. You need to tone in to college life before fully engaged with a “pre-med” track.</p>
<p>I suggest you go to your college’s course catalog and use it to rough out a preliminary schedule using a spreadsheet for your proposed major/minor, pre-med pre-reqs, GE/distribution requirements for graduation, etc and see if it looks do-able to you.</p>
<p>Why won’t someone here do that for you?</p>
<p>Well, first of all, it’s not our job; it’s yours.</p>
<p>Second, every school offers courses on its own rotations and has its own requirements for pre-reqs and co-reqs. For example, a small college like Allegheny probably only offers upper level elective courses every other year, while large state U may offer them every year or even every semester. Also, do you need calc 1 before you can enroll in Comp Sci 1 or can you take at the same time? Or is it not required at all? Are you required to take lab during the same semester as you take the lecture portion of the class? See, school-specific stuff. </p>
<p>P.S. although you will pre-registering for courses soon, most likely your first semester schedule won’t be final until you get to campus and an academic advisor approves it during freshman orientation. IOW, your schedule’s not set in stone. You have plenty of time to change it–all without penalty!! – during the drop-add period (usually the first 2-3 weeks of classes).</p>
<p>Thank you for the replies. I know it’s my job to schedule classes, but as I said I appreciate suggestions, and who wouldn’t? I already know the science courses I need to take and the computer science major requirements, but I’m not sure when I should take each class, or if it even matters. For example, my parents want me to get as much science classes out of the way as soon as I can, while other students think it’s better to take biology later so it’s still fresh in my mind when I take the MCAT. </p>
<p>CS 101 does require calc 1 but I have AP credits for that. And the lab is included in the 4 weekly lectures. </p>
<p>I filed my course interest form in June and on July 16th I’ll receive a call from admissions to register for classes.</p>
<p>More thoughts?</p>
<p>Take gen chem 1 (the required chem sequence for med school is the longest–5 semesters), calc 2, CS, freshman writing/elective for your first semester. Consider taking psych or sociology for your elective. You’ll need both for the MCAT. </p>
<p>RE: Bio early or later. Consider if you really want to be taking physics, biochem, biology + CS/math electives during your junior year while studying for the MCAT at the same time. (Can be done, but you probably don’t want to do it.) </p>
<p>Also be aware that some medical schools (OSU, for example, does) require upper level bio electives for admission. Postponing intro bio makes it harder to fit those classes into your schedule later.</p>
<p>Almost exactly what I had in mind. Would it be possible to fit intro bio into the first semester, or would it be too much? </p>
<p>Although it was a great opportunity, "shadowing a physician at Cleveland Clinic " might not be such a good idea after all for the HS’er. Cleveland Clinic might be just a bit more stressful engvironment, it is better suited for rotation in a third year of Medical school and preferrably after one has been rotated somewhere else.<br>
If your plan is realistic or not depends a lot on your time management skills. I am IT myself and I know that you will be spending tons of time debugging your own computer programs. I mean tons, like way after midnight. Keep in mind that the upper Bio classes, Orgo, college Physics and for some even Gen. Chem. (which was very easy for my D.) are very challenging and more so for pre-meds since their goal is basically to have an A in every class (may not happen, but this is the only reasonabel goal to have if considering Med. School). In addition, you will need whole lot of various medical ECs.
Normal amount of sleep is a must since you will not be able to perform your best otherwise, and many pre-meds tend to forget about it. Then, do not underestimate amount of time for taking care of your basic needs, like littel shopping, light cooking, cleanning, laundry,…etc. Your junior year, you will spend considerable amount of time studying for the MCAT in addition to everything else and your senior year (hopefully!) going to Med. School’s interviews. So, your 3-4 years schedule shoud be lighter, your 1-2 years have to be heavy or you will have to spend more years in UG. You also absolutely wnat to spend some time socially, no hermits are welcomed to Med. Schools, they want people who are team palyers and socailly developed.<br>
ALL of the above is based on my and my D’s personal experiences. I have been in IT for over 30 years and my D. is the 4th year Medical student. There is nothing of some sort of theoretical assumptiuons, all is real, you will experience all of it. I do not want to scare you, but I want you tro assess everything realistically.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice. Though there’s something I’m not sure I understand: what do you mean by medical ECs?</p>
<p>Medical ECs are physician shadowing, clinical volunteering (that involves direct patient contact), non-clinical volunteering, clinical or lab research.</p>
<p>Thank you @wayoutwestmom and everyone else for your helpful replies :)</p>
<p>Ok guys, I need opinions on this. I know you’ve seen many people asking similar questions but please be patient; I’m new to all this (moved to the US a year ago). </p>
<p>I recieved my class registration call yesterday and took four courses: calc 2, intro chem, intro CS, and FS 101(writing). I feel like I have SO much free time in my schedule, though my advisor insisted that I have a busy one. I wanted to take a fifth class, like psych or bio, but he wouldn’t allow me until I have arrived at campus. </p>
<p>So, would you guys advise me to take a psychology class (bio is already filled up and conflicts with my other classes) in addition to these I had mentioned above, or should I take it easy? All it would take is my waking up an hour earlier on certain days.</p>
<p>I imagine that those intro classes will not be challenging. I would take psych, but only if you are interested, it is not required. Out of what you have FS will be the most time consuming, tons of reading and writing. While D. is a very fast writer, she is a slow reader and does not like to read novels at all. You may be a different person though. D. mentioned, that while she did not learn anything new in her Honors college English and while she did not spend much time writing, she spent tons of precious time reading very boring books. I have no idea what is intro CS, but since there is no computer language name in the name of this class, I assume that you will not be writing programs in this class. I might be incorrect, you have to ask. If you will be required to create some software in this class,. then it will be very time consuming, much more than your English. Calc and Chem were very easy for my D., but again, others may have a different experiences.
Why don’t you talk to current students who already took these classes, we do not know what these classes require at your specific UG.</p>