<p>I'm considering pre-med but I don't want to major in a hard physical science like chemistry, biochem or physics.</p>
<p>What I considered instead to complement my pre-medical studies was an Economics major, because I enjoyed it and could do well on it. I liked it for its macro/policy-aspects, but not its micro/finance/business aspects though. Despite that, I do feel having a "business" sense is a good life skill, and could be a good complement for doctors to have. To complete the major, I'd have to do the boring/easyish business'y courses. </p>
<p>But recently, I took an intro computer science course and I've found that I really enjoyed solving the puzzles and figuring out the algorithms/solutions. Of course, this is an intro class, so it's probably a lot easier than the classes later on. If I did decide to major in this instead of economics, I'm not sure if my GPA would be as high as it could be had I just majored in Econ with the GPA boosting business courses. I'm quite bright and attend a top liberal arts school, have taken linear algebra (but only got a B) and would not say I am a puzzle solving genius. Despite that, I feel the programming I could learn through computer science would be also very valuable.</p>
<p>My plan after undergrad was to work somewhere for 1-2 years doing something healthcare related to mature a bit more and gain a valuable life experience before going into another intense 4 years of academics. I think I could probably get a job more easily with computer science, as I'm sure people in healthcare would have plenty of people knowledgeable in public policy and public health and what not, but not enough programmers and it'd be something I could enjoy. </p>
<p>So my question is what is the best complement to pre-med (and a short job after undergrad) if you take pragmatics into account? (like GPA)</p>
<p>You can major in economics and get a minor in computer science. You you don’t have to major in it in order to take several classes. You should research the requirements for major in both. </p>
<p>For example, I’m interested in chemistry but a major in chemistry requires you to go into physical Chem and other classes that are difficult and not even interesting at that point. It makes more sense for me to get a minor in chem so I only take the several Chemistry classes I actually like.</p>
<p>If the computer science major required you to take classes that are completely unappealing to you then you shouldn’t do it. Find a major where all of the requirements interest you.</p>
<p>And med schools are all about GPA and MCAT scores so you should want to choose a major that you are interested in so you will get the highest GPA possible. Don’t go for the easier just for the GPA, but if you have equal interests for both then you should go for the one that you might not struggle as much in. Never choose a major just because it is easier though. If you’re interested, the grades will follow.</p>
<p>The other thing to consider is, if you do not get into medical school or decided not to go, which major would be more satisfying to you to complete for both personal interest and the type of job and career you would get?</p>
<p>What is looks like from your post is that CS would be a more enjoyable backup option for you, but you are also more likely to end up in your backup option if you do CS based on your assumptions about grading at your school.</p>
<p>However, be careful about assuming that a subject that is not that interesting to you will be easy to get A grades in.</p>
<p>CS is very time consuming. It is too bad that your first class was not really challenging programming class, because it seems to give you incorrect impression. You will spend many days debugging the programs. If you are up to it, go ahead. But I am not sure how you going to have time for challenging upper Bio classes, Orgo…all kind of medical EC’s… I am in IT, have been for over 30 years. We basically used to live in computer lab, when I was in school. I bet, you can do everything from home now, but it also bet that it is still very time consuming. I love my job!!</p>