<p>I'm a junior, I'll be a senior in four weeks, I'll be applying to college in four months, and I have no idea what to do. I have the scores to go almost anywhere I want (3.94 UW, 4.8 W, 33 ACT, 1/379 class rank; the list goes on) and that stresses me out more than anything. "The world is my oyster", as they say, and that means I have no merit-based criteria to narrow things down.</p>
<p>I've wanted to be a doctor for the longest time, probably 7-8 years, but lately I'm not sure if that's what I want. I have a passion for the human body, medicine, and especially cancer, but I'm not sure if I would be happy doing that. After taking advanced math classes and physics/engineering courses, I'm beginning to realize that I love applied sciences and complex math. Now I'm all kinds of confused. I wanted to major in engineering as they generally do well on the MCATs and a few years into college I should know what to do, but I don't think that is the best idea. I want to be able to pick what I want and dedicate all I can to it. If I did premed along with engineering I wouldn't be able to focus on engineering as much as I want to. What I would love to do is double major in EE and physics, but doing this would mean little to no time to study for the MCAT and might stretch me too thin. I'm also very good in the humanities, specifically history, and I'm not sure if I want to do something with that.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any advice that might help me make the decision? I feel like I'm running out of time even though I have a few months.</p>
<p>Check out bioengineering / biomedical engineering?</p>
<p>@bodangles I looked into it and it doesn’t have the aspects of the medical field that I want, which is the interaction with the people, learning their stories, helping them, etc. </p>
<p>Medical school doesn’t require a ‘pre med’ major per se, does it? Can’t you be an engineer and apply to medical school so long as you take biology and ochem?</p>
<p>But if you want to do EE and physics, check out what UCSB is doing. I wish I could have a do over so I could study that there.</p>
<p>@collegevetting It does not require a specific major, that’s why I thought going for EE and/or applied physics would be great, because I can decide in years, not months, if I want to be an engineer or a doctor. I’m just worried since engineering is so vigorous if I’ll be able to balance the major and the preparation for med school applications.</p>
<p>UCSB is one of the ones on my list! Unfortunately it’s clear across the country so I’m not sure if I would be able to go even if I got accepted.</p>
<p>You’ll be a year older then. It would be great if you could visit over the summer. You might want to call or email and see if there are any engineering/physics types around over the summer, because they are good at arranging private tours and interviews.</p>
<p>My niece was there pre med, not an engineering major though, is finishing med school as we speak, and will be going to her first choice residency practice area (surgery) at a hospital associated with an Ivy, back east. So it may end up sending you back the way you came, eventually…</p>
<p>The good thing about starting in Engineering / Physics is that it is a whole lot easier to transfer out than in.</p>
<p>Do visits over the summer. Look especially at schools which give out large amounts of merit money (because graduating debt free is always good). </p>
<p>@collegevetting your last statement is extremely true and actually really solidified my thoughts of doing one of the two, at least to start with. </p>
<p>@Buggie111 definitely looking into the large merit scholarships. I’m going to try to get to some of the schools this summer but my top five are spread out nationwide-makes it tricky. </p>
<p>Nice to hear that, best of luck. I’m half a GPA point lower than you, much tougher situation.</p>