<p>I'm a high school student with good grades and a love for learning (A's in high level classes, gifted program, etc.), and I'm interested in infectious disease.
However, I'm not sure about what would be a good fit for me; working in research or as a doctor, plus I'm not sure what schools have good undergraduate programs that can lead to infectious disease (it isn't normally a major on its own)</p>
<p>So, some info:
I am looking to get an undergraduate degree in both biology of some sort and mathematics.
My current grades and academic track put me on for high level universities, though I am aware of the lucrative nature of admissions and do not have my hopes up.
My personality type, in terms to which other can relate: INTJ (Myers Briggs), linguistic learner, and in Slytherin house. Those who know me well are aware of my sharp tongue and brutal honesty, however those who have recently met me view me as innocent and sweet. This sharp tongue is usually brought out by rudeness and insensitivity, stupidity, or a really open opportunity, unfortunately, so I worry about being in an environment with people with these traits, and a possible future relationship with patients.
I love learning. I've devoured books on everything from brain death to the American Revolution, and am thinking of self studying a variety of different AP courses, and might take online classes at a local university.</p>
<p>Some colleges I've looked at include: University of Pittsburgh, Boston University, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California L.A, and Penn State University.
I have also looked internationally at Cambridge and University of Edinburgh. These are not exactly realistic, however.</p>
<p>If anyone could answer my long winded and specific post, I would really appreciate it. Thank you very much!!!!</p>
<p>Noooo! Please don’t post about a Hogwarts House in the same sentence as personalty type. It doesn’t do our impression of your maturity levels much good… And your learning style isn’t so much your personality as such as how you process information best in a formal learning scenario… [I don’t want to come across as craggy- it’s past my bedtime- but it’ll save you lots of grief later]</p>
<p>Brutal honesty isn’t a good trait at all. Unless you’re a business consultant or judging a reality show. You blame others for causing it when it’s actually about how you react to the situation. You need to learn both tact and when to say nothing at all. You need to think about how rude other people will consider you as. [Maybe I’m lacking in tact now…]</p>
<p>The interest in infectious diseases is cool. Could you post your GPA, SATs, AP scores, ACT etc then people can help you more specifically about admissions? You can possibly take electives at the undergraduate level in tropical medicine/diseases, infectious diseases, public health etc. You could also try and get an internship at a lab which researches them- CDC being the Holy Grail. You might want to see if the colleges you list have any research centres in public health/infectious diseases. If they don’t, try and find some others that do and look into them.</p>
<p>Lastly, and I mean this in a positive way- you’re a bright, engaged and driven young person. As are thousands of other people on this forum. Alas, at college you tend to find that you go from a big fish in a small bowl to a small fish in a big bowl. Even worse at med school. Try and start tentatively sticking a toe in the metaphorical sea of life outside of school/college. If you don’t already, go and visit or volunteer with a hands on health project. Learn to listen to people. Engage with them. Learn from them. It’s a skill that college doesn’t teach but will stand you in good stead regardless of what you choose to do in life. It might knock you down a bit, but you’ll be built up so much stronger.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. And don’t worry about your tone or anything; I appreciate your help.
I volunteer every summer at a local hospital by transporting patients, running labs, and helping in the ER and other departments. It is a small hospital, so it doesn’t have anyone specializing in infectious disease, unfortunately.
I think you’re right about saying that my sarcasm and honesty stems from my reaction, but I don’t want this to seem like I’m some socially inept and insensitive jerk. I like people and enjoy talking to them.
Also, it is a big fish-small pond scenario, unfortunately. </p>
<p>As for stats, I am a sophomore (I know it’s early) and my PSAT results haven’t come back yet, but here goes:
My weighted GPA is a 4.33, on a scale where honors is +.5 and AP is +1.0. I have only taken one marking period’s worth of an AP, being a sophomore. Unweighted, my GPA is around a 3.8 or a 3.9.
So far I’ve taken/taking:
Hon Bio
Hon Alg II
Hon Eng
American History (no honors offered)
Hon Chem
Hon Trig Precalc
Hon Eng
AP World
I plan on taking AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Calc, AP Stat, AP Macro, both AP Englishes, AP Psych, and some sort of physics. I’m a bit of an over achiever.</p>
<p>Also, do you have any suggestions as to how to determine whether I might want to work in research or in clinical medicine?</p>
<p>Get involved in research projects as an undergraduate. Research takes a very specific kind of mindset, and it’s a very different type of thinking than what you might be doing in medical school, for instance. Try it out to see if you like it. And it doesn’t have to be a research project on infectious diseases–any biology lab (or even clinical research project) will likely give you a sense on if the research process is something you’d be interested in.</p>
<p>You can also practice clinically with an MD and be involved in research projects or even move completely into doing research later in your career. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an either/or decision.</p>
<p>As far as majors go, I’d recommend you look at microbiology programs. Even if they don’t bill themselves as “infectious diseases” majors, they often include the study of viruses, bacteria, and other microscopic organisms, which would be useful to you. Also, you could look into taking some epidemiology courses, which may give you a different angle at studying infectious diseases than biology courses would. They may only offer them at the graduate level, but you may be able to take them as an undergraduate through a petition or professor approval or something.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that everything you do doesn’t have to revolve around infectious diseases. It’s great that you find that interesting, but keep your mind open to other things as well.</p>
<p>Thanks very much. I have been looking at microbiology, but I’ll look into epidemiology courses as well.
If it isn’t too much trouble, do you know particular colleges with both good math programs and good biology/microbiology programs for my current stats? I know it’s hard without SAT or ACT, and I’m not exactly sure where to start, but I’d really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Very late here, but if you’re still reading this…</p>
<p>I’d suggest that getting a medical degree would be hugely important in having the most opportunities in infectious disease, even if you are not necessarily interested in clinical practice. I am a PhD epidemiologist, and much of my early career was spent in infectious disease work, some in outbreak investigations, more in disease surveillance. I eventually became the Deputy State Epidemiologist in a large state, but it was one of the few states that did not require an MD for that position. Sadly (IMO), it’s much more likely that a senior-level epidemiology position in infectious disease (I assume that if you don’t want to do clinical practice, you’re either interested in epidemiology or microbiology) will require an MD even without any epi training than extensive epidemiology credentials without having gone to med school. This glass (more like concrete) ceiling caused me after almost 20 years in infectious disease epidemiology to switch over to injury epidemiology, where the MD requirements are less pervasive.</p>
<p>I am definitely still reading this Glad you found it.</p>
<p>With the MD, even if I wanted to go into epidemiology or research or something else that isn’t clinical practice, would I still complete my residency and everything?</p>
Glad you found it.</p>