I recently finished my freshman year at University of Michigan and I was pretty set on premed until I realized my grades are horrible. I really enjoy premed and I enjoy learning about Biology, especially Anatomy. However, I realize my grades are subpar. I also have research experience and will be interning with the Red Cross but have no other ECs. I will be in UROP sophomore year. I have a few shadowing hours. Fun fact: I’ve also dissected a human cadaver before and have experience in phlebotomy. I would really like to be med but not sure if it is a reality. I know DO schools take grade replacements but I really don’t want to take Orgo again or any other chem class really. CS was originally a backup for me but after EECS 183 I realized I really enjoy coding. I also started self-studying for upper level EECS classes and I enjoy that material as well. Currently I am split between staying premed and switching to CS. I am willing to work hard and bring my grades up no matter which side I pick but I’m not sure if I want to give up on premed. I would really like to continue on the premed route and possibly do a postbacc program but I am not sure if I want to give up a viable career path in CS which I enjoy almost as equally to risk it all and not make it to med school or something. I feel like if I know medicine isn’t an option for me, it would be easier for me to pick a career path.
Stats:
Orgo 1: C-
Orgo 1 Lab: A-
Bio 173: B-
Stats 250: C
English 125: B+
Orgo 2: C+
Orgo 2 Lab: A
EECS 183: A-
Psych 280: B+
Anthrcul 101: B
Total GPA: 2.79
Also, everytime i think about giving up premed, I always think back to why I considered medicine in the first place, and I am back to the beginning of the cs vs premed argument in my head. Same thing with giving up CS, I’m not sure if i want to give up job stability.
AACOMAS ended all grade replacement in Jan. 2017. DO schools now calculate GPA the same way AMCAS does. All grades for all college level courses are included in GPA calculations.
And regardless of whether you pursue MD or DO, you must retake Ochem 1 since med schools (both types) will not accept a C- as fulfilling admission requirements. Plus you still need biochem–which is Ochem on steroids.
BTW, the average GPA for DO matriculants last year was ~3.6.
I always say you need to go with your strengths. If CS comes easily to you, then maybe that's the path you should follow.
One option to consider that combines CS and biomedical sciences is [url=<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioinformatics%5Dbio-informatics%5B/url">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioinformatics]bio-informatics[/url</a>].
I suggest you put pre-med aside for now. Complete your degree in a different field, graduate and work a few years in your chosen field. If, after all that, the call to medicine is still irresistible, then consider doing a post bacc. Med school will still be there when you're ready.
CS is a great major with decent high-pay job after undergrad. Go check out the non-traditional applicant forum in studentdoctor.net and you’ll see some CS-major people coming back to apply for med school after years of IT career.
My D is a rising CS premed sophomore at Vandy. She figures that she can get all the classes and an additional math major done in 4 years. But basically she had 30 credits last year (four classes excluding labs the first semester and five classes excluding lab the second) and will have to double up science and labs every semester. On premed track, she finished all writing requirement, chem, physics I and socialogy. And made progress on CS as well. She doesn’t see herself doing coding, even though she got A on those engineering and coding classes. she might be into consulting if medicine doesn’t work out. I do think CS has a lot of career options available.