<p>We all know that tried n' true idea that "med schools don't care what you major in, as long as your gpa is high and you do well on the mcat (and take the required classes of course)." This is all fine and dandy to me, but what happens if you don't get into med school? I agree that you should major in something that interests you, but the reality is that in the economy many college graduates are facing this resoning doesn't always pan out well in the real world. I want to be a surgeon, and I actually got mentored a bit by my surgeon (I had knee surgery in the spring, long story) and he said that he was a chemistry major. He told me that he doesnt use a lick of what he learned in undergraduate at all now, and told me that he doesn't know what he would have done if he didn't get into med school, because theres not much you can do with a BS in chem.</p>
<p>As you can probably see from my username, I intended on majoring in bme. The original idea for me was that if I majored in bme and didn't get into med school, I'd still be set for the job world. But now I'm rethinking that idea because it isn't my passion and I don't want to take on a major like bme that is super stressful and super hard, ESPECIALLY if it's not my passion.</p>
<p>My only concern is, if I major in something like psychology or art, and don't get into medschool, what is it going to be like getting a job with a BS or BA in a liberal arts major in an economy like ours? Even if I try to reapply, what will I do for the 2 to 6 years I'm out of college? What are some good back up majors that will help u land a decent job after undergrad, besides engineering?</p>
<p>Research, of some sort, looking things up, finding out new things. I also like traveling and want to live abroad one day. And I am NOT a writing/reading/humanities person. Definately into science and math. Oh, and I like psychology, but I want to minor in it</p>
<p>I say reasearch partially because I LOVED this whole college search process, finding schools, finding the keys to unlock the SAT, comparing schools ect. I want to volunteer at an inner city school near my college to help kids who are interested with the whole process.</p>
<p>Actually looking things up, finding out new things is a pretty accurate description of what an information/library science degree involves—but that requires a MLIS/MLS and has a really awful job outlook. But the job is portable and there are jobs for librarians/information specialists all over the world.</p>
<p>What about software engineering? Information technology?</p>
<p>I fully agree with your concern. All medical aspirants should have a well thought of Plan B. I would recommend to go for major in Biology and minor in Statistics or vice versa, with couple of classes in computer programming. If you can’t get in Medical school, go for MS in Biostatistics/Bioinformatics. In my opinion job prospect for biostat/bioinformatics is very good and good paying. Your future will be secured if you get in MD or not.</p>
<p>Wayoutwestmom–that sounds kinda boring to me–id hate being a librarian. I was thinking more along the lines of scientific/ medical research. Also, I really want to be involved in helping people/ interacting with ppl.</p>
<p>I have a distant cousin who was a biochem major and is an informant of some company–shes pretty high up and gets to travel alot. She also makes tons of money. I wanna do something like that.</p>
<p>RE: your cousin’s job–those are incredibly hard to come by and often require years and years of business experience and specialized expertise before you’ll ever even be considered for it. </p>
<p>I can tell you based upon my personal experience and observation–the biomed research biz is not doing well right now. At all levels–from PIs down to lab techs. (I work in the biomed research industry. Not a happy place to be right now. And it’s not just my company.)</p>
<p>Vice-versa would be better for job prospects, since the statistics-specific job prospects tend to be better than the biology-specific job prospects.</p>
<p>Perhaps you’d want to be a guidance counselor in school as a backup? If so, check with them to see what they majored in for undergrad. I’m honestly not certain what ours majored in even though I talk with them fairly often.</p>