<p>I'm currently a biochem major, and i'm considering changing my major to biology because its a million times easier i.e. no physical chemistry, instrumental methods, etc. Because I figure if med schools dont care about your major, then why take courses that are potentially hazardous to your gpa. And besides, I figure this would give me more time to study biology, I mean when am I ever going to use physical chemistry? But im hesistanting to change my major because it just seems like a huge step downward. And also would finding jobs be more difficult as a biology major?</p>
<p>Actually one of the biggest reason i'm considering the major change is because it allows me to transfer to another school of the same institution. I don't know if this is done anywhere else, but this allows you to take courses offered by your home institution at another location, which is 5 minutes from my house. But some classes are to be taken at the local community college even though you get your degree from the main university. Proximity is the major driving force for my consideration of my major change because it'll save me a lot of money on housing alone.</p>
<p>I wouldn't consider it a huge step downward. At my school, the difference b/w biochem and molecular/cell biology is 2 semesters of p-chem and 1 sem of analytical chem lab...3 courses. There's no reason to put yourself through p-chem if you will be equally happy in another major but I'm assuming that you're in biochem because you like chem.</p>
<p>Whether it will be more difficult to find a job will depend on what kind of job you are looking for.</p>
<p>As we've tried to explain, major doesn't matter without controlling for GPA. So if on average one major is harder, then on average it doesn't seem to matter.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the difference in majors might be more extreme at your school or for you personally.</p>
<p>Don't take courses at a community college. I don't care whether it shows up on your degree or not, it'll still show up on your transcript.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that while you'll be getting rid of p-chem and other courses - you'll be picking up other lame or irrelevant courses by becoming a bio major - some which may be very difficult for the un-interested. Things like Botany, zoology and ecology/evolution will be required of you...just something to think about.</p>
<p>It looks the courses that i'm suppose to take is at the the campus near my home, not at the community college. But its not really a university as it is a campus of many different universities in maryland. So many different universities hold classes in this building so its not a community college, but its not an actual university either, so what would med school say about this?</p>
<p>I've never heard of such an arrangement and am unqualified to comment on it. On balance, it just makes more sense to try and take all your courses from your actual university.</p>
<p>How will they even know? It's not like you changed from biochem to sociology. Heck, at my school, biochem is simply another concentration within the overall bio major.</p>
<p>so would med schools know the difference in curriculum at different schools? Would they see the difference between a biology curriculum at harvard vs university of maryland? Would they know the averages of students of that major? For example, my bio curriculum doesnt require pchem so maybe the average gpa of bio majors at my school is higher than the average gpa of bio majors at a school that requires pchem. Would med schools consider the majors of these two schools the same? If so it would seem like students of the school that doesnt require pchem gets an unfair advantage.</p>
<p>As has been discussed ad nauseum, adcoms don't care very much about the school you go to nor what you majored in. They receive too many applications to dissect your application in that manner.</p>
<p>That's ridiculous. That's just the OPPOSITE of what we've just said. NCG has just suggested that they don't make microadjustments to your GPA because it's not that important to them. I've just told you that in rough proportions, majors get in in about the same proportions, even if their GPAs might be slightly different.</p>
<p>I think you guys tend to overthink things with your "how will this look to adcoms" questions. The numbers speak for themselves. Everything will even out in the end. Major in what you like. Go to the school you'd be happiest at. Don't want to take p-chem? Then switch to bio. If someone asks you why you switched, then tell them you didn't want to take p-chem.</p>
<p>If adcoms truly wanted to punish people who didn't take rigorous courses, then no English or sociology majors would get into med school and there'd be affirmative action for engineers and physics majors. The fact remains, there are many factors and variables that go into an admissions decision. You are going to go crazy trying to deconstruct the admissions process.</p>
<p>They would not know and they certainly would not care. People change majors all the time. They find that there is something else they like more, so they switch. This is so common it is not even noteworthy. </p>
<p>Biochem is somewhat useful in medicine, but hardly critical. If you don't like it, don't pursue it. Biology is also useful, and if it fits your life better, then switch. Do not stay with a major that does not suit you because of imagined effects on med school admission. If you were talking about switching to a vocational major I would urge caution, but biochem to biology? I would bet a huge fraction of med school applicants have switched in either direction between these majors.</p>
<p>For specific advice about where to take which courses, I suggest speaking with a premed advisor at your university. The situation and structure sound so unusual that it may be difficult for an outsider to understand, let alone provide useful advice. I agree with BDM that you don't want your transcript to suggest that you took courses at a community college rather than the university. But without knowing just what your options are, and how they will appear on your record, it is hard to say more than that.</p>
<p>And i'll just second what BRM said. I switched from biochem to biology after my first year, and I would take a good look at your bio requirements before you make the assumption that its a smaller time commitment. We have to take several extra courses courses from organismal bio/molec./population bio/genetics, as well as exta biotechnology labs that biochem majors don't have to take.<br>
Anyways, if you're not getting excited about your next semester's courses, then you're probably in the wrong major (at least thats how I figured it out), and it will most likely reflect in your med school app.</p>