<p>2 posts up: DAMN, I didn't know that, I guess I might grow some balls and tell him what I'm gonna do or just punk out, haven't decided yet.</p>
<p>Above post: I thought as much. I'm a little bit below your friends level, so I doubt that I would be competitive. But mad props to whoever can get into one.</p>
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^^^
Arent those really competitive. Im smart, but definently no superstar. I doubt I could get into one. But u never know. I might look into it.
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<p>Exactly. You should look into it. The worst thing that can happen is they will reject you. So what? </p>
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I wouldn't really call that a shortcut. Those are some competitive programs. For example, Florida has a combined BS/MD program, but it is limited to only 12 students per year. I know a guy who had a 1480 SAT (they take into account your sat score), 3.97 gpa, a slew of volunteer and research hours and didn't get past the second phase. If you can get into one of those programs, you certainly did not take a shortcut.
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<p>That's not what I'm talking about. The UF program is one that you apply to * while * you're already an undergrad. I'm talking about the ones that you apply to * before * you become an undergrad. If you can get into one of these programs, then you can usually coast your way through college. Sure, sometimes you have to maintain a minimal college GPA, but that's a far far cry from running the regular premed gauntlet in which you have to get top grades and MCAT scores, and STILL run the risk of not getting in anywhere. </p>
<p>I see that many of these BS/MD programs require that you maintain only a 3.2 GPA while in college. Let's face it. Normally, if you get a 3.2 GPA in college, your med-school admissions chances are normally low. However, these programs * guarantee * your admissions if you are able to maintain that 3.2. That's what I mean when I say that they're backdoors - because they allow you to get into med-school with qualifications that are far lower than what you would need to get in otherwise. </p>
<p>Similarly, most of them don't require that get a minimum MCAT score, or that you take the MCAT at all. Again, in most cases, if you absolutely bomb the MCAT, your chances of getting into med-school are slim. However, if you're in one of these combined programs, you can attempt the MCAT (perhaps because you want to see if you can get into a better med school), and if you bomb it, oh well, you just take the guaranteed med-school slot in your program. You can do poorly and get away with it. Contrast that with other premeds who need to get a decent MCAT score just to have a chance of getting in anywhere (and still might not get in anywhere even if they do get a decent MCAT score well). Again - a backdoor.</p>
<p>The point is, you're basically trading top high school performance for a guaranteed med-school slot. Most med-schools don't allow this trade - as most med-schools don't care about how well you did in high school. If you did well in high school but not so well in college, med-schools are just going to see your relatively lackluster college performance. But these BS/MD programs allow you to lock in a slot with a strong high school performance, therefore affording you the luxury of slacking off while in college, and still getting in. Sounds like quite the backdoor to me.</p>
<p>Um, Venkat, you're completely wrong about the grade thing. Most schools do not send your parents your grades unless you specifically tell them too on an opt-in basis. My parents, for example, have not seen a single grade of mine the entire time I've been in college. The rationale is that, regarless of who is paying for it, you're an adult who is entitled to your privacy; if your parents want to leverage your grades out of you because they pay for your school, that's their business, but the university stays out of it.</p>
<p>to the OP:</p>
<p>I would strongly encourage you to major in what you actually want to study, and think that neuro may even help you out in the long run. Yes, it's a harder major than English or basketweaving, but taking lots of upper level bio classes that tend to be graded more easily than your premed requirements might overall be a help to your BCPM gpa.</p>
<p>More importantly- from your father's story, you have an understanding of just how fragile the idea of getting in to med school can be, and you must prepare for that possibility. By not majoring in something you are interested in, you only worsen your situation if you get weeded out by intro classes, decide against a medical career, etc. etc. etc.</p>
<p>I understand the merits of majoring in something you love, and it is for that reason that I think your dad is being foolish.</p>
<p>With that said, I'd be inclined to simply play the diplomatic game. Find something which he thinks is easy -- and my guess is he doesn't really know -- and which you find at least semi-enjoyable and just do that.</p>
<p>Rare is the person who only has one interest in life. (In this case, neuroscience.) I could have been perfectly happy majoring in Economics, History, Psychology, Public Policy, Statistics, or a specialized biology major (Immunology, Genetics, etc.). While there certainly are majors I would not have liked (anything ethnic, English, Classics, a language), there are a plethora of choices.</p>
<p>You can major in any number of things, and I'm guessing there's something out there that fits the bill.</p>
<p>In contrast, your father only comes in two flavors: annoyed and not. Give him what he wants for your own peace of mind. Make sure to score political points off of this -- ("I can't see what would make you think this, but I will do what you want. I just hope you remember this, so that in the future, if I disagree with you, you'll know that I really do have a good reason for it.") -- but for now, in your shoes, I would just give him what he wants.</p>
<p>When a slightly better option forces you to take a much worse one somewhere else, it's usually not worth it.</p>
<p>"Please know that while I LUV the idea of being a neurscience major, I NEED to become a doctor, it is the only thing I have ever envisioned myself as."</p>
<p>"What happens if you don't become a doctor?"</p>
<p>You can do a lot of things with a neuroscience major including research. Also, I'd rather have a job that I enjoy than be stuck with a job I despise because I chose a major I hated.</p>
<p>I'm dealing with the same thing, but I want to do a psych major with a specialization in cognitive sceince and I'm being told that I won't have a job, etc. But a chem major is too hard for me (according to my parents), and a biology major requires math and I'm being told by my parents that I'm no good in math so I can't do that either. </p>
<p>Then I'm being told (all by my parents) to major in spanish (I used to like it, but I'm turned off by it and I'm not learning anything). </p>
<p>What to do, what to do? Do I major in something because it's easy but not enjoyable, or major in something that is a bit harder but I enjoy learning about it?</p>
<p>^^^^
I'm going to be a doctor, there is no question about that. The only way I wouldn't be able to is if I became a vegetable or died, which in that case nothing else would matter. If I don't make it on my first try I will reapply every year until I get in, even if I'm applying my 20th time, and it becomes an inside joke at medschools about the same guy applying every year and getting rejected every year. </p>
<p>With being a premed doing what seems optimal for me to get into medschool seems the smartest. Some people may say study what you love even if it is extremely hard becuz your grades will suffer if you study something you dont like. Others will say study something that you can do really good in, if you do that then you will get a high gpa and go to med school, you cant hate it so much that your grade suffers over the common sense you have to know that you need a good gpa. And by taking an easier major you will have more time to do other things such as extracurrics, research, etc., to make your app stronger. Finding an answer to which one of these approaches to education will optimize your premed experience is a question in itself.</p>
<p>I think the real question is not if you major in something that is enjoyable but hard, or easier but you dislike it.</p>
<p>The real question is SHOULD you do these things.</p>
<p>Do you really feel that you should give up what you really want to academically pursue so that you can give yourself an edge on an application, or is it worth it to live a soul-sucking existence to get into med school, which is a hard process in the first place no matter how you look at it.</p>
<p>Or, should you find a balance of both, or is it an all or nothing type of thing.</p>
<p>These are questions, that I have yet to be able to answer myself yet. And until I find a satisfactory answer I dont think I will be able to solve my problem.</p>
<p>1.) Are you actually no good at those things?</p>
<p>2.) Talk to psych major alumni/seniors at your school and see whether they have jobs you might like. Many jobs don't care much about major, but some do.</p>
<p>3.) By all means, look for a middle ground: hopefully you can find something you enjoy which either is easy or which becomes easy because you enjoy it.</p>
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If I don't make it on my first try I will reapply every year until I get in, even if I'm applying my 20th time, and it becomes an inside joke at medschools about the same guy applying every year and getting rejected every year.
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Um. Don't do that.</p>
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so that you can give yourself an edge on an application
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My point isn't that you should major in (insert major here) to give yourself an edge. My point is that you should do this to keep peace with your family.</p>