<p>My D is thinking of Double Majoring in Bio/Premed track and Economics. She just got her senior AP scores and her logic is her scores of 5 in micro, macro, Bio, BC Calc, among others, can get he credit for those econ classes and others if she wants, but we are uncertain about taking the credit for math and bio, because depth in those areas can help on med school exam but isn't needed for econ. So, my questions:</p>
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<li><p>Is a double major in the biosciences/premed and economics unusual? Is it difficult?</p></li>
<li><p>Should you apply AP credits in your major, particularly those needed for premed and med school exams?</p></li>
<li><p>Any alum or upperclassmen or women have any recommendations? She will be involved with the Century Scholar research program along the way.</p></li>
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<p>I’m confused by why she wouldn’t want to accept the AP credit for math/bio. Is she thinking that she might rather take those classes again, thinking they’d be more in-depth at Rice than they were in high school?</p>
<p>^yes, the thought being to be ultra prepared for the med school exams. I have heard this recommended before, but am questioning what people would do or have done.</p>
<p>Best thing to do is wait until O-week. There will be advisors there to answer her questions and peer advisors, too. Another option is to email the department and ask. My DS wasn’t sure whether he should take the AP chem credit, or take the class at Rice. He ended up hopping right into Org Chem, and did fine. Same with the calc AP credit. YMMV. :)</p>
<p>I was just wondering why she wants to do Econ and Bio if she wants to go to med school. (just wondering because it seems that from your post, she has way way more interested in medicine than in business or econ). I’m not saying she shouldn’t, I just began to wonder when you stated that she wanted to be ultra prepared for med school. </p>
<p>Usually the common double major I know with pre-med students are Psych and Bio. </p>
<p>However I wil say that most people do take the AP credits for their major and pre-med. It is common and most people do fine in the class they place into.</p>
<p>I don’t agree with the previous poster, I’d suggest sticking with Pre-Med and Econ if it’s what the student is interested in. Acceptance to medical school is never guaranteed, by any means, and it’s always good to have that other degree which can translate to a wide range of careers. Plus, given four years to study ANYTHING, why not study whatever you have the most interest in?</p>
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<li><p>AP credits in macro/micro are just credit…you can’t place out of introductory economics unless you take and pass the test administered by the department. My friend took the test (he passed it), although I’m not sure how he was able to take it (maybe he took it during Oweek?). He went into microeconomics (Econ 370) and got smoked by it…I’m pretty sure 95% of econ majors take Econ 211 (into. economics), unless they are transfer students.</p></li>
<li><p>My friend is doing this exact thing (double in biochem and econ)…Economics is 10 classes (minimum requirements for degree) plus Math 101, which she already has credit for. Biochem is a lot more though, I’m pretty sure, assuming she is going to do the B.S.</p></li>
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<p>If you’re wanting to double major, definitely take the credit. I’d think you’d be doing a disservice to yourself if you didn’t take AP credit, when you’re attempting to double major, where your course scheduling becomes more stringent. You’ll be able to finish up your required math by taking diff eq (Math 211), and you’ll have intro bio knocked out also.</p>
<p>^… the getting smoked by an upper level class is the concern. She got 5s in Bio, Chem, BC Calc, Stats, Micro, Macro, Eng Lang, Lit, and 4s in Gov, and History. I would assume you would want to use these to place out of nonmajor courses and maybe just increase credits, given the comments. Seems like what Westsidewolf is saying, is that you need to be careful what you seek to place out of-- with some it is ok, but others not— given the comments on micro 370.</p>
<p>At first I thought the two (econ and bio majors) seemed unusual. However, the two do provide a unique background for: (1) World health or health systems, (2) investment banking, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry (I know several research scientists that got MBAs after a few years in the pharma industry and one research scientist at Scripps who was in industry, then went into investment banking, and now is a lead scientist who seeks cures and license royalties for Scripps and himself), (3) a business oriented compliment to a private career in medicine (if one exists after Obama reform), (4) a pretty unique background for taking the LSAT and applying to law school, and (5) an aggressive and challenging undergraduate transcript for applying to medical school.</p>