<p>Hey everyone, I am caught in a dilemma between choosing Economics/Pre-Med as a major versus Physics /Pre-Med. Currently I'm a high school senior and have taken advanced courses in physics and done quite well, however, not top of my class well. I am also mediocre in math (inclusive of calculus) and am beginning to wonder whether or not I will be able to maintain a high GPA (necessary for acceptance into a good medical school) if I was to major in Physics in college, and the course material gets to be over my head in later courses. I also dont want to go the biochemistry, biology, chemistry, etc. route b/c I feel that it too will end up not being conducive to a high GPA in addition to not being all that interested in it, feeling that it requires too much rote memorization. So, alas, I have come to think of taking Economics/Pre-Med. I feel that it is more useful then physics would be to a doctor and also would be easier to obtain a high GPA in. What are your opinions on this? Will this end up being more difficult then the aforementioned majors? Thanks.</p>
<p>I don't think you should pick your major based on how you believe you will do in it. Besides, you stated over and over how you don't think you're good at math and physics and the material gets over your head, so why would you possibly major in it?</p>
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So, alas, I have come to think of taking Economics/Pre-Med. I feel that it is more useful then physics would be to a doctor and also would be easier to obtain a high GPA in.
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<p>WARNING: Don't assume this. Depending on the school you go to, economics can be a very difficult major for obtaining a high GPA, because the competition could be stiff. Not only that, but economics is not a cake walk subject...it requires a lot of math and quantitative skills itself.</p>
<p>Well, I don't plan on attending an Ivy League university but a school more along the lines of SMU, U San Diego, Syracuse, etc. And furthermore, I'm tired of all this hippie crap saying I should pick a major based on something I like. I have news for you - I dont go to school for FUN or to LIKE what I am goddamn doing. In my personal opinion, what one learns academically aside from study skills or work habits at an undergraduate institution is an utter and complete waste of 4 years. And this holds especially true for the medical student who will learn everything needed to become a competent doctor IN medical school. So excuse me if Id like to obtain that higher GPA without killing myself studying for something thats not even going to be all that helpful in medical school or pertinent to anything else I ever do in life.</p>
<p>well, in bio, chem and ochem you will learn things without which you cannot do well in med school.</p>
<p>hence the "pre-med" part of the econ major... its not like i wouldent be taking those classes genius</p>
<p>how bout some courses on etiquette or grammar?</p>
<p>Neither Physics nor Economics is easy.
Doctors need biology and chemistry, so if you aren't interested in them, you probably wouldn't like med school.
Doctors don't use economics at all. Physics is a natural science and is therefore more closely related to medicine than economics is...genius.</p>
<p>Economics is more important to doctors than physics?? Is this really what healthcare has come to?</p>
<p>Being a Physics major will help you more on the MCAT, thinking analytically/critically helps alot on it, and physics will definitely gear you for that.</p>
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Hey everyone, I am caught in a dilemma between choosing Economics/Pre-Med as a major versus Physics /Pre-Med. Currently I'm a high school senior and have taken advanced courses in physics and done quite well, however, not top of my class well. I am also mediocre in math (inclusive of calculus) and am beginning to wonder whether or not I will be able to maintain a high GPA (necessary for acceptance into a good medical school) if I was to major in Physics in college, and the course material gets to be over my head in later courses. I also don’t want to go the biochemistry, biology, chemistry, etc. route b/c I feel that it too will end up not being conducive to a high GPA in addition to not being all that interested in it, feeling that it requires too much rote memorization. So, alas, I have come to think of taking Economics/Pre-Med. I feel that it is more useful then physics would be to a doctor and also would be easier to obtain a high GPA in. What are your opinions on this? Will this end up being more difficult then the aforementioned majors? Thanks.
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<p>Well... no offense... you are going into medicine for the wrong reasons it seems...</p>
<p>Top 5 reasons as to why one picks medicine:
I want to help people
I cannot see myself doing ANYTHING else
I love learning about the human body at the macro and microscopic level
I love to apply both the THREE sciences and my love for humanities into one area
I want to further my development of patient/people contact</p>
<p>Top 5 reasons as to why one does not go into medicine:
My parents/sibilings/relatives/etc did it (tradition)
Prestige/Fame/Fortune
Adrenaline Rush
I want to help people (yes it's on both lists, because it can be seen as negative/positive)
I don't know what else to do, and medicine seems like a great option.</p>
<p>And, if you don't like chemistry and biology, what is the point you are entering medicine for? First Year Anatomy is going to be quite the pickle if you aren't liking the rote memorization. Sure, it will be different from high school memorization, but the idea of having the bigger hippocampus is still there. Hope you also know the you need 2 semesters of the following: inorgo chem, orgo chem, biology, usually calculus or physics and 1 sem of physics (if not 2). Yes, it is true what they say that you should major in something you will get a high GPA in. For that, you need to find a major that plays upon your certain aptitudes and strengths when i comes to academics. </p>
<p>If your math skills are below the average, don't do physics. You'll get yourself killed if you think its relatively easy because no memorization is involved as much as the other 2 sciences. As for economics, you still need a great background in calculus, not to mention ability to apply mathematics in situations, which is tough at times. So, you need fundamental ability in mathematics for each subject. If you really want to, go into political science. You seem you'd like that major. It isn't AS intense as the other 2 majors. But, still considered a relatively challenging major. Or better yet, go into philosophy. If you don't like memorizing but like thinking and developing skills in critical thinking which is needed everywhere, do that major. Trust me, one of the greatest neurosurgeons in history, Dr. Wilder Penfield, was a major in philosophy at Princeton and did his medical degree in Mcgill University in Canada, where he founded the Neurological Institute. </p>
<p>Yah, poli sci and philosophy are not the typical med school major... but, medical schools arent looking for typical are they?</p>
<p>That is true, Econ won’t be used one bit if your going to become a Dentist, Doctor or Surgeon. Such majors which would be useful would be Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Physics for instance. Econ is a major which is useful for CPAs, Lawyers, Wall St. Folks, Auditors, and similar fields. But you can do Art History and Pre Med as well. Do whatever interests you. But if you suck horribly at Math and Science, why become a Doctor then? Pick something that will interest you, rather then something which will mess up your GPA.</p>
<p>“I dont go to school for FUN or to LIKE what I am goddamn doing. In my personal opinion, what one learns academically aside from study skills or work habits at an undergraduate institution is an utter and complete waste of 4 years. And this holds especially true for the medical student who will learn everything needed to become a competent doctor IN medical school.”</p>
<p>HA!</p>
<p>Seriously? I realize this was posted in 2007, but I hope you did not even get into college for saying something so dumb. First of all, you wrote this while you were in high school! You had no idea what college would even be like! Secondly, I am going to laugh when you are miserable in college. Third, what happens if you don’t get accepted into medical school? What then? Well, if you study something that you don’t even enjoy, you will ALWAYS be mediocre in your career. Do yourself a favor and choose something you love while still being academically challenged. If you did not, you are probably miserable right now. It took me a while to realize this, and now I’m majoring in econ and studying for the MCAT. Luckily, if I choose not to go to medical school, I will still have an extremely rewarding and very high paying career. That’s rational thinking.</p>