<p>I've just begun my freshman year of college. Currently, I am a biology major but I intend on changing majors as I know that it is not a guarantee that I will get into medical school and have no interest in any jobs I would be able to acquire with a biology major. Personally, I would enjoy both majoring and working in the field of environmental engineering (I would have to major in Civil Engineering with an Environmental Engineering focus at my school), if I did not get into medical school; however, I understand that it would be a hard task to major in Civil Engineering and be pre-med.</p>
<p>With the new MCAT 2015, I've noticed it'll be much harder for pre-med students to both fulfill medical school course requirements and adequately prepare for the MCAT and it's newly added sections, especially for those who aren't science majors.
-How difficult would it be for me to major in Civil Engineering, fulfill pre-med requisites, and adequately prepare for the MCAT? I'm only 16 so I'm also considering staying in college for an extra year to finish the Civil Engineering requirements (if I choose that major) and study/enroll in a MCAT preparation course the 5th year.
-What would be some other majors (more specifically science majors, since thats my main interest, but other majors as well) for pre-meds to consider that provide a decent or good job, while not adding too much weight on top of the pre med requirements, if they were to not get into medical school OR decide not to go to medical school.</p>
<p>NOTE:
I'm very dedicated to making it into medical school so I know some may tell me not to worry since I'm so motivated; however, many things are out of my control and I recognize the many events could happen in the next few years of my life that may either detour or prevent me from attaining my goals. I would personally like to be prepared for anything and not just major in Biology and gamble on my chances of getting into medical school, no matter how high or low they are.</p>
<p>ALSO:
I understand major requirements vary so here are some links to requirements specifically for my school, for the major requirements, scroll down to 'Major requirements', the Core requirements are pretty consistent for all majors:</p>
<p>Civil Engineering major req's: <a href="http://bulletin.sc.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=36&poid=4012&returnto=4241">http://bulletin.sc.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=36&poid=4012&returnto=4241</a>
Suggested pre med req's: <a href="http://www.sa.sc.edu/oppa/files/2010/10/Med-School-Requirements-Recs.pdf">http://www.sa.sc.edu/oppa/files/2010/10/Med-School-Requirements-Recs.pdf</a></p>
<p>I'd appreciate suggestions on other science majors that have good job outlooks that you may think I'd be interested in.</p>
<p>Check out this list of majors offer and click the respective link to see the major req's (for suggesting courses):
<a href="http://bulletin.sc.edu/content.php?catoid=36&navoid=4241">http://bulletin.sc.edu/content.php?catoid=36&navoid=4241</a></p>
<p>Considering you might be a SC resident, you are most likely going to end up at USC med school which is what happens with most med school applicants (they go to instate med school) and so it is best to compare what they need to what you will be doing.</p>
<p><a href=“M.D. Program - School of Medicine Columbia | University of South Carolina”>M.D. Program - School of Medicine Columbia | University of South Carolina;
<p>There are a couple of engineering areas that seem to cover premed requirements more closely than Civil eng (Biomedical and Chemical).</p>
<p>Based on the curriculum, you are getting Physics, Math, an year of Chemistry and probably English covered. You need an year of organic chemistry, one year or more of Biology, some biochem, and also psychology and sociology which are not yet listed as requirements but cover 25% of the new MCAT.</p>
<p>I have a friend who owns (or rather used to–he recently sold the business and retired) a environmental engineering firm. Mostly he hires chemical engineers, not environmental or civil engineers. (Environmental engineers don’t have the breadth of chemistry he needs his employees to have. Chemical engineers also are familiar with the industrial chemical processes and wastes his firm deals with.)</p>
<p>He also hires geologists. (But that would have even less overlap with pre-med requirements than civil engineering.)</p>
<p>Some other fields related to environmental engineering are ecology & environmental studies (in the bio dept.) and, IIRC, there is a specialty in landscape architecture that specifically deals with environmental remediation and rehabilitation.</p>
<p>wowmom - I was a civil/environmental engineer in former life. They mostly end up with in public utilities/consulting while the ones starting on Chemical side end up in industry/industry consulting.</p>
<p>His firm does toxic waste site remediation for provincial and national governments in Canada. He employs about 40 engineers plus support staff. </p>
<p>I guess it depends on what kind of environmental engineering the OP is interested in.</p>
<p>“How difficult would it be for me to major in Civil Engineering, fulfill pre-med requisites, and adequately prepare for the MCAT”
- Fullfilling pre-med reqs probably will take you less time than participation in Medical ECs. Some of you Engineering major math / science classes will cover pre-reqs and in addition, Mny UG (I do not know about yours) require 5 years in UG for getting engineering degree, so you definitely will have time for both. In regard to MCAT preps, you just make your schedule lighter in 1-2 cemesters (depending on your ECs involvement during school year) to make time for MCAT prep. As an example, D. has limited her junior year to about 16 hours in each semester to prep. for MCAT. However, she was very busy with ECs and had to spread her prep., while most just take several weeks to prep, instead of many months. On the other hand, D. did not have engineering major either, you will have much more challenging classes than most pre-meds, engineering major definitely puts you at disadvantage. So, you may need to take less hours per semester than 16. Just keep in mind also that your senior year has to be light becuase (hopefully!) of Med. School interviews. That is why you need to have a heavy schedule in first 2 years to be able to “slack off” in the last 2 years. Again, this was my D’s schedule and it has worked for her. Others may have a different experiences, would be valuable for you to hear from somebody with the engineering major in UG. But you are setting yourself for much more challenges than regular pre-meds, that is for sure. Good luck!!</p>
<p><<<
I’m also considering staying in college for an extra year to finish the Civil Engineering requirements (if I choose that major) and study/enroll in a MCAT preparation course the 5th year.<<<</p>
<p>What school do you attend and do you get any aid? Many schools don’t give institutional or state aid for a 5th year unless it is part of 5 year program, like architecture. </p>
<p>Doing CivilE and premed is possible. My kids’ undergrad actually has a CivilE premed track (which I thought was odd, but I guess some do it). My son was a ChemEng’g premed, which I think requires more credits.</p>
<p>Did you come in with any AP credits? If so, which ones? </p>
<p>@mom2collegekids You said your son was a Chem E/premed. Did he have a minor?</p>