my father thinks majoring in psychology for pre med is a "joke"

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Can someone please give a good explanation of why he is wrong? He wants me to major in a harder science (molecular/microbiology to be exact) because he wants me to do this UCF BS/MD program, even though the standards are rigorous. (link: UCF/USF Program Admissions) I, however, think the program is not worth it because of how I would be forced to major in molecular/microbiology, would have to get the 3.7 cumulative gpa by junior year, and have a 30 on the mcat. Therefore, I think it'd be better to major in something I enjoy, like psychology. I told my dad this, and he said he'd "cut me off" and not give me any type of fiscal aid in college if I majored in something "worthless" like psych. But he doesn't realize, I guess, that I have a higher goal, wanting to go to med school. He says that I'm going to work hard in med school anyways, so I should just do the program. He has said he won't let me major in psych. So, can someone PLEASE give a good explanation of why MAJOR DOESN'T MATTER and how my dad is wrong. Thanks.</p>

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<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/214387-what-should-premed-major.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/214387-what-should-premed-major.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Read that thread. Also see:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1062158498-post2.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1062158498-post2.html&lt;/a&gt; , as well as the AAMC data I used to make those calculations:
[AAMC:</a> FACTS Table 18: MCAT and GPAs for Applicants and Matriculants by Undergraduate Major](<a href=“http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2008/mcatgpabymaj08.htm]AAMC:”>http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2008/mcatgpabymaj08.htm)
I hope that will help.</p>

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<p>Here are scatterplots of the data, the first one is with a regression line/fit and the second just labels which data point corresponds to which major:
<a href=“http://img.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/v196/goldshadow/withregression.jpg[/url]”>http://img.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/v196/goldshadow/withregression.jpg&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://img.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/v196/goldshadow/bymajor.jpg[/url]”>http://img.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/v196/goldshadow/bymajor.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>Not all psychology programs are the same. Check out UC Davis’. They have one that would work very well with pre-med AND satisfy your father:
[UC</a> Davis, Psychology : Undergraduate Information](<a href=“http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/Advising/Degrees/degree.cfm?SDID=3]UC”>http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/Advising/Degrees/degree.cfm?SDID=3)</p>

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<p>… whoa, nice work GS.</p>

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<p>thanks for the replies so far guys. i know you get questions like major choice a lot, but in my case i explained those types of answers to my dad and he still didn’t get it. so im looking for more/hardcore stats or “evidence”, and i think you helped a lot GS and others. thanks again.</p>

8

<p>or… you could just tell your dad that you will do a biochem major and just end up changing it to psych when you are at college. And then get in to med school and prove to him he was wrong.</p>

<p>you are an adult now.</p>

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<p>@madamebovary: Even if we are adults, most of us are getting at least some college money from our parents, so I don’t think doing something like that would be a good idea.</p>

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<p>@oregon: hopefully OP’s dad wont find out while Op’s doing the psych major. Hopefully Op’s dad wont cut off his med school funding.</p>

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<p>Medical admissions is a numbers game and the people in the easier majors psych, nutrition, anthro, health sciences, etc usually ended up having really high GPA’s by the time they applied. With molecular bio/biochem your GPA can take a hit with the upper level courses like p-chem, calc 2, and analytical chem. That’s why its usually advised not to major in engineering unless you are sure you can still attain a high GPA (or at least high enough.)</p>

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<p>Another reason why many premeds flock to non-science majors: Although they can not avoid taking the prereq’s, they have the options of taking “easier” upper-division biology courses (“easier” in terms of grading). For science majors (bio or chem), they can not dodge intermediate science (core) courses required for their major, which may be graded harsher or the workload may be heavier. Also, science majors will likely be loaded with more upper-division labs, which is usually more time-consuming (sometimes two afternoons every week); they have less time for ECs out of the campus.</p>

<p>Not all non-science majors (and courses) are created equal though. Some of them (Philosophy or Economics) are actually quite demanding as well. Actually, I start to believe that if a major is rated higher (mostly because of their PhD program), that major tends to be more demanding (in terms of the amount of work and grading.) Why? they are not lack of students.</p>

<p>Also, not all science majors are created equal, even from the same department. Some track is easier than the others. Depending on the capability (and interest) of a student, it is sometimes better to take an “easier” track.</p>

<p>Sometimes I feel that the premed environment is to discourage students from challenging themselves academically. Many (but not all) students try to take classes which are as easy (esp. in terms of grading) as possible, either in science or non-science classes.</p>

<p>Actually, my S once said that he would rather hang out with non-pred students outside of classes. He once jokingly said that you know you are in a premed class when your fellow students ask professors/TAs a question like: “Will this be in the test?” Sigh!</p>

13

<p>Just tell him that HE is a joke</p>