When I started at a CC, I was a Biology major but I changed when I realized it was a longer route and it was going to be harder. I then switched to Psychology. I’m currently a Psychology major at a CCC, and I applied to UC’s and Cal States for Fall 2016 as a Psychology major, but as every Pysch class gone, I feel like Psychology is not for me and I really want to go to go to medical school to be a gynecologist when older. I don’t want to step back and retake my major classes, would it be possible to stay as a Psychology major (because it does not matter what your major is when applying to med school) but just take the requirements at a UC for med school?
Yes that’s possible. However I believe the UCs put a maximum on the number of years you can be there after you transfer. Which if you have a lot of prereqs, this could be an issue. Or you could get you psychology degree and just complete the requirements for med school at a cc.
Start by learning more about what becoming a strong med school applicant takes. Read thru the very informative FAQ at http://www.rhodes.edu/hpa/15890.asp They also have a nice writeup in the PreMed Essentials link on the left side of that page. There is also an excellent online handbook at Amherst I recommend. https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/careers/act/gradstudy/health/guide The point you need to understand is that its not just the classes but other factors such as experience in a medical setting by a job or volunteer work, research involvment, strong recs, that are going to be critical in getting into med school.
I always ask kids that say they want to be doctors, why an M.D? Not that I know it is wrong for you, it may be the right fit, but have you actually looked into the medical field and considered the alternatives?Its almost a reflex response, someone thinks of a career in medicine and its “I’m pre-med!” Doctors are far from the only ones in the health field that help people. Physical therapists, radiology techs, nurses, speech pathologists, to name but just a few. Before you go heavily into debt and commit so many years I suggest you explore the alternatives.
If you don’t have actual experience in the medical area yet then I’ll come right out and say you’re probably making a mistake to enter UC with your current plan. Kids entering as frosh have 4 years ahead of them to figure out what to do for their career, you only have 2. In view of the 30-40 years you have ahead of you in the workforce I’d strongly suggest staying at your CC another year. This will allow you to take some of the premed requirements as well as build up exposure to the medical field. If its right for you (and I mean both in terms of interest and in getting A’s in the premed classes), 1 extra year is no big deal. If its not right, you have time to think about what you want to do before the UC timer starts ticking. You are not going to be a happy camper if you spend a year at a UC and enter your senior year after finding out medicine is not for you and in a major you don’t like.
Note, BTW, that many people say that taking all the premed classes at a CC is frowned upon by med schools. You need to take more advanced classes in the same fields at the UC.
Lastly, to answer the direct question you asked, you can take all the premed classes at a UC provided that you figure out a way to do so while still meeting the requirements for a Psych major, for the overall number of upper-division units you need for a degree, and while staying under the unit cap for transfers.
@mikemac I just wanted to say: great response! I’ve worked in the medical field for 5 years, and I agree about making sure you get involved and seeing if it’s the right choice.
^^ I have a friend who went to dental school and became a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery). His drive for this was fueled by money.
However, after he graduated, he realized it wasn’t what he wanted to do, he wanted to be a painter. He is an INCREDIBLE painter and is actually doing quite well and making a name for himself and after all the schooling he did and the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on tuition, he hasn’t practiced a single day of dentistry lol.
It isn’t exactly relevant to the OP’s post, but your post made me think of it.
edit: Rhodes has redone their website. Their premed guidance is now at https://www.rhodes.edu/sites/default/files/PreMed_Essentials.pdf
Yes, you can be a psychology major and just do the pre-reqs for medical school. However, I hope you like psych enough to do well in it.
Yeah, I’m getting A’s in Psychology because I put in the work for it, and it was a second interest of mine following Biology. Thank you so much @mikemac for your response!! You made a lot of good points. Everyone else, thank you for responding!
I just saw in another thread that you have a GPA of around a 3.2 - med school admissions is incredibly competitive, such that a 3.2 will likely hurt your chances at American medical schools. Not impossible, just unlikely.
You’re going to NEED to do well in all of your pre-med courses - which is, generally, very difficult.