<p>I know I have asked about this topic before and there are other threads and posts already about it. From what I've gathered, here are the pros and cons for me of both:</p>
<p>Bio - Pros: More generalized compared to the perhaps irrelevant specificity of Neuro
Maybe less difficult as a whole
Not restricted to upper-level Neuro classes after getting intro classes out of
the way</p>
<pre><code> Cons: Less interesting
Standard Pre-Med fallback
Professors aren't a shighly rated/less research opportunities
</code></pre>
<p>Neuro - Pros: One of the best depts. at Pitt
Interesting take on Biology
Feel of more advanced med school courses durig undergrad years</p>
<pre><code> Cons: Perhaps irrelevant or unnecessarily difficult or specific courses needed for
major and not useful for future/med school
Maybe more difficult in subject matter/coursework
Competition with other top pre-med students
</code></pre>
<p>Any thoughts or commments would be greatly appreciated (esp. those who had to choose betweeen the two and now have insight into either one). Thanks.</p>
<p>Majoring in neuroscience doesn’t mean you’re “restricted to upper-level Neuro classes after getting intro classes out of the way”. IIRC, in general any major can take upper level classes in a subject if they have the pre-reqs. Also, you do not get a “feel of more advanced med school courses during undergrad years” with neuroscience. I don’t think any courses in undergrad are on par with classes in medical school which are much faster paced and have a higher volume of information. </p>
<p>In addition, does everything have to be related to preparation for medical school? So if something covered is not useful for medical school it’s irrelevant?</p>
<p>Actually, having taken some med school courses, I can tell you that Neuroanatomy in particular, and neurophys and maybe neurochem will prepare you very well for equivalent med school courses, which will be paced faster and, but depending on the program, less thoroughly covered than what you’d have at Pitt as an undergrad. That may be true for some upper level bio courses as well, but I’m more experienced to speak about neuroscience. Med school courses are just generally different though the number of courses you are taking at one time at the fast pace they try to throw things at you, but they aren’t better or necessarily more advanced. In fact, in these topics, they aren’t more advanced, and probably less so, especially if you are considering the honors versions, but I’d say that is probably true for the non-honors versions as well. Of course, as I said, it may all vary depending on what med school you are taking courses at.</p>
<p>I agree though, not everything has to be related to med school. That’s too narrowly focused imo. I’ve said this before, but if deciding between the two, it should just come down to personal interest. Both will prepare you well for med school.</p>
<p>Ok I feel as though I’ve had too narrow-minded an understanding and see that not everything has to be related to grad school and upper-level courses are restrictive.</p>
<p>You will have some time to make this kind of decision once you take a couple of classes. Your experience will not be the same as others. If you have some AP credits, you will have even more flexibility.</p>
<p>Yeah I think so too. I kind of feel obligated to know what I’m going to do and then realize that I have a ways to go before any major decisions.</p>
<p>My daughter just finished her freshman year. Here are the things she has thought she might major in this year (in order to the best of my knowledge): Japanese, physics, chemistry, computer science, physics, applied mathematics. She also wants to take Russian and Korean for fun. This week it’s a dual major in Japanese and applied mathematics with a concentration in physics. You will have a much better idea once you take some classes. Have fun. Enjoy your summer.</p>
<p>Yep that’s exactly what I plan to do :)</p>