Hi, We have a daughter who is interested in representational art (think DaVinci or Michaelangelo) as well as science. Her best guess at this point is that she will major in science, but do something where her artitic bent is also put into play. Plastic surgeon for burn victims? Designer of prosthetics? Who knows… maybe even engineering.
Is there anyone on this board that has experience with minoring/majoring in art and can give us feedback? Thanks so much!
One of D2’s freshman roommates at UR was a studio art major. She was pleased with the program. It would be hard to say who spent more outside time in the lab/studio freshman year–D2 or her roomie.
D1 is a talented artist and strongly considering majoring in studio art in college. In the end she didn’t. Majored in physics & applied math and went to med school. She had several friends who were BFA studio art majors so she knew how time consuming all the required class projects were. D1 felt she couldn’t do justice to both art and her science majors.
One of D1’s friends successfully doubled majored in studio art (BFA-design concentration) and physics (BA, not BS), but it took her 6 years to complete both degrees. That friend now works as an artist/small business person full time and has never used her physics training.
D1 still draws and paints, is still a gifted artist and has on occasion taken advanced painting classes/private instruction, but for her art has remained at an advanced hobbyist level. Maybe art will be her second career after she retires from medicine.
Thank you so much for your replies! I have a feeling that she will be like WayOut’s D1 - in fact, I have been discussing plastic surgery as a career with her. Hasn’t bit yet - still thinks it’s all boob jobs. I used to work with a plastic surgeon who was an absolute sculptor with burn victims and patients with cleft palates. I think it would be a great fit for her, but who knows???
A couple more considerations if your daughter is seriously considering med school. Grading in studio art classes is highly subjective and often unpredictable. It can take a toll on a student’s GPA. Med school admission is extremely competitive right now and GPA is used as a first screener of applicants. (Meaning unless you hit some predetermined mark, your application gets auto-rejected by the computer screening program. Last year the average GPA of accepted students 3.67.)
Additionally, a successful med school application requires significant and time-consuming ECs (research, community service, physician shadowing, clinical volunteering, leadership positions, teaching/tutoring/coaching).
While it is possible to get into med student as an art major (D1 had a classmate who was music theory & performance BA with minor in biochemistry), the road is longer and more difficult.
Reconstructive surgeons do do a lot of “boob jobs” but the vast, vast majority of them are on post-mastectomy patients. In fact, post-mastectomy reconstruction is a fellowship level sub-specialty now.
Really? That’s fascinating! The man I worked with was so talented that you could tell his cleft repairs just by looking at the child - his were the ones that were… completely invisible. I found out from a parent in an educational meeting that he had died tragically in his mid-50s. The rest of the team was baffled when I burst into tears, quickly followed by the parent, at the tragic loss to the world of research and plastic surgery.
I know some plastics people here in Boston who do a lot of facial reconstruction. Reconstructive surgery is a burgeoning field given, in part, the advances made in manufacturing implants.
BTW, to me a studio art + premed is like studio music + premed, meaning I’m sure someone must do it but it’s more a case of the exception proving the rule that it ain’t exactly easy.
BTW, plastic/reconstructive surgery is the most difficult specialty to match into. (Only 65% of those who apply in plastics actually match into a program.)
Artistic ability or aesthetic sensibility isn’t required, considered or even expected in applicants; academics (clinical and pre-clinical grades, standardized exam scores/national boards, AOA), LORs, and publications are paramount.
Just something to consider. RIT has a Masters in Medical Illustration program that you daughter might consider since she likes art and bio. The curriculum looks very interesting. I have no idea about work opportunities but you can contact RIT to find out.
https://www.rit.edu/healthsciences/graduate-programs/medical-illustration
And artistic skill does matter for entrance to this program.
The colleges I am most familiar with ask for no specific major when counseling their pre-med students. The pre-med requirements or recommendations – courses in chemistry, physics, biology, biochemistry, English and math – can be met by students in any major.
Major is not a consideration for med school admission, only that pre-reqs have been completed.
Current pre-reqs
2 semesters gen chem w/lab
2 semesters ochem w/lab
2 semesters bio w/lab
2 semesters physics w/lab (UR requires its pre-meds to take calculus based physics)
1 semester biochem
1 semester college level math (UR requires its pre-meds to take Calc 1— MTH 161 OR MTH 171 OR both MTH 141 and MTH 142)
1 semester statistics or biostatistics
2 semesters of “writing intensive” classes (UR requires 1 semester freshman comp and 1 semester of upper level writing for all students
Not universally required (yet), but needed for the MCAT
1 semester intro sociology
1 semester intro psych
Individual medical schools may have additional specific requirements, including Calc 2, anatomy, physiology, medical ethics, upper level humanities, etc.
And, of course, pre-reqs can and do change over time. (As an example, one major state U med school added a specific course requirement in mid-fall and required all applicants to have completed it before June to be eligible for matriculation.)w/r/t medical illustration
D1 investigated this career when she was in high school. There are jobs, but like many artistic type endeavors, most medical illustrators are self-employed and work can be sporadic, especially while establishing oneself.
Interesting…thank you for info! Will discuss with her.