Dual major? Unsure about future.

College Majors Science Majors
1

I’ve been recently accepted to college, but I’m still unsure as to what my plans are for the future.

Being a doctor is a perfect safety net for me, so I’ve put down on all of my applications that I’ll be majoring in biology. It’s a subject that simply clicks with me - I received a 4 on the AP Bio exam during my sophomore year of high school without lifting a finger.

Yet I’ve always loved computers. Every time I find something interesting, however, I end up liking a different computer subject within a few years (as a kid loved audio input, then switched to film editing in elementary school, then digital design in middle school, then web design, then engineering in high school). I still appreciate everything I previously liked, but I can’t juggle all of those hobbies at once.

So I’m worried that focusing on computer engineering will leave me with a useless degree (in my situation), even though I know that it’s what’s in my heart right now.

At the school I plan to go to, UF, I’ve been told that switching majors is extremely easy, but I’ve been looking through the computer engineering major and the planned schedule is 24/7 work, even over summers. I don’t see how I could fit a dual major in there or even switch into it later on while also graduating on time (which is a priority). I’ve incorporated AP classes to the best of my ability, but it’s tough to guess which credits will/will not be useful (i.e. is AP Psych going to help erase an expected schedule slot or just be a random credit).

So, what do you suggest? Should I just figure it out during orientation or give up the safety net completely? I’m good at biology and extremely interested in health, but I’m truly passionate about computers. Should I maybe keep computers as a hobby since my interest in it is so unstable while continuing to study medicine?

Also, I should mention that I don’t plan to stick to biology. I’m interesting in switching to neurobiological sciences once the opportunity arises. I’ve always loved studying the nervous system. So, I’m assuming that comes with a more rigorous course load (no expected scheduling is available) that may be even more difficult to fit with a dual major.

2

You have it backwards. Trying to be a doctor is no safety net at all - it’s very hard to get into medical school and the majority of premeds change their mind. You think you have biology figured out? So does everyone else in your biology classes, and if the class is graded on a curve you all won’t be able to get an A. As a result of the vast numbers of don’t-want-to-be-premed-anymore biology majors, the job market is much harsher for a biology major (or any related major) than it is for any engineering major.

Engineering is a lot of work, so if you want to realistically double major count on spending at least 5 years in undergrad (possibly including summers). You can simply minor in another subject instead. Or you can just take random classes that interest you instead of declaring a major or minor in the subject - in most cases, you don’t have to major in a subject to take classes regarding that subject - you just need to take the prerequisite classes.

3

Well, like I said, I plan to drop biology for neurobiological sciences, which is a less common major and probably isn’t as flooded. I won’t have any decent opportunities without medical school (maybe psychology but that’s flooded too), and I’m completely willing to put in the work to deal with all the premed harshness. I know that if I have nothing to do, I can always become a teacher. It could be a placeholder of a job while I decide what I truly love. My mom switched careers and went back to school in her mid-life, so I’m completely okay with doing the same. I’m not entirely worried about expected income, so it’s not a big deal.

Computer engineering is somewhat of the same deal. I will have to go on to graduate school to get anywhere in life, from what I can tell, so I don’t see why going on that track would be any smarter. If I’m three years in and realize “this is too hard” or “I can’t spend all these hours per day with computers,” then I’m in just as bad of a situation. I’ll probably be a teacher. I’m not interested in repairing computers for people or working retail for my entire life. I could always do a startup, but it’s not particularly common to become successful with those, and it’d still be best for me to have a stable job on the side: teaching.

Thus, their undecided value to me is about equal. I’m looking at these both from a worst-case-scenario perspective because I’m not interested in their best-case outcomes. They’re both viable options.

I’m thinking of starting off my summer & first two semesters (you’re required to have at least one semester in the summer, so I’m doing it early) in premed with biology. I set up the scheduling, which may be inaccurate since I didn’t do this at orientation or anything, and, with my APs, I can technically handle both majors’ course loads at first (especially since you can’t declare computer engineering until your fifth semester). I won’t have an excessive amount of classes either (four and a lab, then five and a lab), and their classes overlap a bit at first - besides electives, which would be the bane of my existence if I dual majored in the two.

I don’t think I can go in and say “hey, I know I was admitted to the college of arts and sciences, but I want to be put into the theoretically more selective school of engineering” without taking at least some classes first. I’m stuck with biology for now, then, unless I can switch into computer science. Although I really don’t want to lose biology and becoming a doctor as an option since my entire childhood has led me to believe that that was my “destiny.” If I can’t do it then… well… I can’t do it.

I understand what you’re saying about minors and random classes too, but can I go onto graduate school with a computer engineering minor if I realize that it’s best for me?

4

You can major in anything (including computer engineering) and be pre-med.

Putting that aside, UF is flexible around changing majors. Many of the courses you’ll need for Biology, or engineering will be similar the first few semesters.You’ll need to take Chemistry, Calc and Physics. Take that first year at UF to explore other majors while taking your core classes, before making your final choice.

By the way, a BS in Computer Engineering is all that’s required, major employers include Apple and Intel for CompE’s at UF. A lot end up working on the west coast…

Good Luck and Go Gators!

5

No you don’t. And if you do want to go to grad school, a master’s degree in computer engineering won’t be as time consuming, stressful, or expensive as what you have to do to become a doctor.

6

Oh, and if you decide to become a teacher instead a computer engineering degree will give you enough background knowledge to teach math, physics and computer classes.

7

Medical school in the US is generally considered a reach, not a safety.

You do not need to take a particular major to do pre-med. You just need to complete the pre-med courses alongside any major. If your favorite subject is computer science, then you can major in that and take the pre-med course work alongside. However, it may be a crowded schedule. You may want to see if you can fit the pre-med course work that is not already covered by your major into the elective slots.

https://www.cise.ufl.edu/sites/default/files/attachment/CSCDegreeReqSheet%2018dec14.pdf
https://www.cise.ufl.edu/sites/default/files/attachment/CSC%20Degree%20Req%20sept2014.pdf
http://www.cpe.eng.ufl.edu/images/PDF/DegreeRequirementscourses.pdf