<p>So here's the deal. I'm going to UF starting the summer, and intend on doing pre-med. I want to declare chemical engineering with the pre-med focus as my major, but it's 134 credits, and it's apparently very tough... I am pretty solid when it comes to math and science, and feel that chemical engineering will be very interesting. However, I don't want to kill my GPA. </p>
<p>My questions:</p>
<p>If I applied as a Chem major, would it be difficult to switch majors to Chem E? </p>
<p>Would it be better to apply as Chem E first, or Chem first, if I wanted to try both and decide if I wanted to switch?</p>
<p>ufiscool-- Tough question from the outside, but I think you are blending two issues- which
engineering and pre med.</p>
<p>Pre med is simply the course sequence the UFlorida recommends. Actually, those courses
maybe a little different depending on your target medical schools-- ie., some medical
schools have more or less focus on Math. You need to do your homework on that one. I
suspect the pre med advisement office can give you the info on this one.</p>
<p>I’d go chemical engineering be/c that seems to be where your heart is. I suspect you
have plenty of AP credits. 134 hours vis 120 - big deal. Study engineering.</p>
<p>I spent 4 years on a medical college admissions committee-- plenty of engineering majors
applied and were admitted. Plenty of flute majors from Music colleges were admitted as
well. Stick it to the MCATs-- Just my .02</p>
<p>Don’t be scared about pursuing a “harder” major. Med school admissions boards take into account the difficulty of your major.</p>
<p>For example a Chemical engineering major with a 3.5 GPA may beat out an Art major with a 3.6 GPA. Just focus on doing great on your MCAT and study something you like.</p>
<p>D’s a ChemE major (she’s in her 3rd year) and will graduate next year. She says there are tons of pre-med students in her classes. She laughs about it. She’s pulling a 3.8+ overall GPA and a 3.9 engineering GPA. It is a tough major, though. She’s exceptional in math and physics (actually, chem’s her weakest subject … that’s where her B+'s are, lol). Anyway, with a chemE major she’s taken the following chem classes: AP’d chem I and lab, she ap’d chem II but decided to take it anyway, Orgo I and Orgo II with lab, p chem, and analytical chemistry, and she’s scheduled for biochemistry next fall for one of her tech electives. Other than pchem II, inorganic and instrumental analysis, I think, she will have had all the chem classes required for a chem major. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you’re not sure whether to start in Chem or ChemE, keep in mind that you will be taking most of the chem curriculum your first couple of years as a chemE major (chem I and II, Orgo I and II, pchem, etc), so it would be easier to go from a ChemE major, if you didn’t like it, to a Chem major than the reverse, I believe. Of course, I’d confirm with an advisor, but I think it’s easier to move from engineering to chem, than chem to engineering. However, your being pre-med also must figure in, and with that the pre-med advisors will all tell you to “go to your strengths.” (D was considering pre-med for awhile) If physics and math are your strengths like D, then ChemE’s fine. But if chemistry’s your strength and your physics and calc I, II, III, and diffyq grades are going to bring your GPA down, keep that in mind. GPA and MCAT rule. </p>
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