<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>While I love econ with all of my little heart, I'm not sure its be best thing to do as premed. I'm not an expert on the sbuject but don't most med schools look for you to have taken specific science classes, so that you will have the necessary background information needed to be sucessful in med school???</p>
<p>Yes, you do need a few specific science classes, primarily to take the MCATs. </p>
<p>Med Schools do accept Econ, History, etc majors, but because you wanted a high GPA isn't the reason they're looking for. Being a physics major will be difficult and not helpful to a high GPA, and physics would definitely be harder than an Econ major, so if it's GPA you're looking for then go with Econ and just take the necessary science classes. However, if you feel you can maintain around a 3.5, maybe more or less, as a physics major then I would stick with that. Also, why would you want to go to med school anyway if you can't enjoy biology, or even (bio)chemistry which is much like physics but more related to medicine?</p>
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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.
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Dude, what do you think they do in med school? You memorize every little muscle, every bone, lots of biochem info, etc. If you don't like memorization you might want to rethink your career direction.</p>
<p>Well, I took biology and chemistry as a freshman and sophomore in high school respectively and dont recall being too fond of either. And it is also not my understanding that it is integral to have a love for biology and chemistry to be an excellent surgeon.</p>
<p>Why don't you just wait until you get to college? Right now, you're "sure" that you're going to be a surgeon, but I'd be willing to bet that things will change...</p>
<p>As already mentioned, a pre-med set of courses is a bunch of science and a few math/statistics classes. You'll be completing a significant portion (perhaps half?) of the requirements (counting both prereq and major) for biochem just by taking the courses for pre-med.</p>
<p>Maybe your GPA might be lowered because you have to take so many pre-med courses on top of the econ stuff.</p>
<p>From what I gather, GPA is also relative to the major you're taking. If it's an obviously 'easy' major then the expections will be set higher.</p>
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From what I gather, GPA is also relative to the major you're taking.
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<p>Not by much. Intial amcas screening is gpa dependent without a glance at major, and as a result, many grade deflated majors tend to fare poorly. Only after that does the major come into play.</p>
<p>pre med?</p>
<p>go to VCU.</p>
<p>Oh ok, karthikkito. I thought that it would be otherwise so that there wouldn't be ways to 'cheat the system.'</p>
<p>Sadly not...thats why the most popular advice is to major in something you like and are significantly above average in.</p>