Pre-Med and Pre-Law?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>I am still not sure which career path I want to take. Medicine has been something that I've wanted to pursue since the beginning of high school, and a few weeks ago I received an invitation to interview for my dream BS/MD program. Recently, however, I've been debating about whether I should pursue the law profession. Although I've had more experience with the sciences, I feel that I would also enjoy being a lawyer. There are pros and cons to both professions, and my choice would be largely swayed by the societal changes that are happening around us. My parents are also trying to decide which of these careers is the best for me. </p>

<p>I like to keep my options open, so I was thinking about being both a pre-law and a pre-med (is that even possible?) - majoring in something humanities-related (or even double majoring in math or science) while being on a pre-med track. Having been an extremely hard worker my whole life, I am confident that I can manage. I got a likely letter from Wellesley College, and they have great international relations and economics programs as well as a strong science department. I feel like Wellesley would be a wonderful place for me to explore my options and really build a solid foundation, regardless of which choice I eventually make.</p>

<p>The extracurricular side of things is what conflicts me. Although I have done minimal research on law school admissions, I know that both medical school and law school look well on research. However, the nature of the research is different. The former requires scientific or clinical research while the latter requires library research.</p>

<p>Basically, my question is, has anyone had this issue before? What advice do you have on how I can be both a pre-law and pre-med? How do I go about doing the ECs necessary for both professional schools? </p>

2

<p>There are MD/JD programs, so since there are whole programs dedicated to this, I’m sure there are lots of ways to go about it.
But it seems like you want to do either or and just aren’t sure? If that’s the case you’ll figure it out in college or you’ll end up doing the joint degree (the person I know who’s planning on the joint program really mainly wants to be a lawyer, I’m fairly positive you can’t simultaneously practice both). </p>

3

<p>“What advice do you have on how I can be both a pre-law and pre-med?”</p>

<p>Well, any premed student is technically also pre-law since there isn’t anything req’d to be a pre-law student. A nursing student is pre-law, a music student is pre-law, an accounting student is pre-law. Anyone going to college is pre-law. </p>

<p>That said, if you want to major in something that may work best for both, then major in something like The Classics or Philosophy if either suits you and complete the premed prereqs.</p>

4

<p>MD/JD programs are a waste of time and money. Most MD/JDs in the world did not come from these but instead are career switchers. You really don’t need an MD to be a bioethics or malpractice lawyer nor do you need a JD to be an expert witness.</p>

<p>Have you shadowed either profession? Have you participated in either type of research? Most high school students don’t really understand what either career path is really like so once you start getting your feet wet you’ll probably find you like one a lot more than the other.</p>

5

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<p>Agreed. But I do think that a JD/MPH has great value for those lawyers specializing in the health care realm. </p>