<p>While I have gotten good feedback about the colleges I wish to apply to (Florida State, Brown, Cornell, Duke, UF, maybe UCF, Yale, and Notre Dame) when it comes to the majors I have chosen things aren't as...positive as I would hope. With good reasons I know. Who has ever heard of a dual major in Pre-Med and Theatre, and I'm beginning to wonder if it is at all possible. I understand that many schools (or at least most that I have taken a great interest in) allow the liberal/professional approach to ones college undertakings. Which I take it mean that if you wanted to you could take the career path of say a lawyer while also treading the creative writing way (but if I am wrong, please don't hesitate to correct me). I know that Pre-Med by itself is already a difficult task to undertake and paired with Theatre which is just as demanding, though on a different level, would probably be just asking for trouble. The work that pursing these two paths would create for me isn't the daunting part of things, but rather the choice I would potentially have to make if I were forced to chose between these two passions of mine. Medicine and Theatre. I am accustomed to heavy workloads. Having took on three AP classes last year and this year (my senior year) while running track, working (mostly on the weekends), volunteering (at my church and in Student Government), NHS, Multicultural Club (in which I am president), partaking in Theatre (major roles), and whatever else activities that spring up. I maintain a good GPA (3.8 unweighted) and do not shy away from leadership roles (I have received on numerous occasions different awards and scholarships). But all this, while thoroughly demonstrating my capabilities, could mean very little if it is humanly impossible to pursue both Pre-Med and Theatre as majors (and call me crazy if you will, a minor in education, since I have been told by numerous educators that it doesn't hurt to have some sort of educational background).</p>
<p>kelloggs, I see absolutely no reason why you couldn't major in theater (or double major in theater and one of the sciences) and still go on to medical school. </p>
<p>I don't know anything about the major requirements of the schools on your list so this is just a general observation, but pre-med is not a major per se. It is a destination that can be reached by many different paths. I don't personally know any actors who later became doctors, but I do know kids who majored in philosophy, art history and music who are doing okay in medical school right now.</p>
<p>Most academically rigorous colleges have medical school advisors who will make sure you fulfill the requirements to get into medical school. The requirements do include some specific science courses, but are not so restrictive to preclude majoring in one of the humanities or social sciences. </p>
<p>So I say go to the college that most fits your personality and learning style. Major in theater, be a star, enjoy yourself and at the same time do what it takes to get noticed by the medical school of your choice. The two are not mutually exclusive.</p>
<p>Sure it's possible. You can major in anything and pre-med, as long as you are in some way prepared to do well on the mcats (and, as momrath says, meet the other requirements to get into med school - major isn't required.)</p>
<p>I know several non-science-major + premed people. Political science or whatever other humanities major doesn't prepare you any more or less than theater does, and plenty of people choose a similar path.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reassurement. When I talked to my guidance counselor she was pointing me more in the direction of following medicine and less on theatre. I guess the way she saw it was that much of my potential would be wasted, so that was discouraging. But theatre is a passion of mine as well, so I couldn't just turn my back on that. I'm glad to see that my ambitions aren't as impossible as I had been led to believe.</p>
<p>I had a buddy in college who was a theater major who is now at a fourth year med student at Wash U. Keep in mind though, med school admissions require more than just the standard rundown of courses eg bio, ochem, analytical chem, physics, calc, biochem, genetics, gen chem and so on. </p>
<p>They also have a de facto requirement of research experience (you can kill around 15 hours a week on that), clinical experience (3 hours or more per week), studying for the MCAT (10 hours a week for about half a year) as well as whatever other courses it would take to finish out your breadth requirements and major requirements. One of the great things about taking all the courses for the pre med is that a major in the sciences usually only takes another four classes or so beyond the courses I mentioned. </p>
<p>Also, average ages of newly enrolled students at med schools are in the 26 year old range, so you can guess that the average med students had to have some sort of medically oriented work experience after undergrad (theater might not provide that).</p>
<p>It's not impossible but it would be pretty rough. With such disparate interests, maybe you should consider other careers. Is it that you enjoy science and interacting with others? If so, consider public health or science writing etc</p>
<p>Whatever you choose, enjoy the ride, make lifelong friends in college, and best of luck.</p>
<p>yes you can major in theatre or even double major in that or and the sciences. Remember that pre-med is not a major but just certain courses needed to get into med school and do well on the MCAT.</p>
<p>whoa, whoa...the general message is good here. but there's some misinformation, some little details that aren't correct.</p>
<p>1) Yes you can do theater and pre-med</p>
<p>2) pre-med not a major. pre-med requirements = 1 year of biology, 1 year inorganic (general) chem, 1 year organic, 1 year physics, all of these with labs. Throw in a semester of calc, and a semester of stats, along with liberal arts curriculum and you've covered 85% of the schools out there. Classes like analytic chem, physical chem, and more advance physics are not requirements. There are a few medical schools that require biochem and/or genetics, and you certainly may have a personal interest in them, but for the majority of schools they are not required.</p>
<p>3) You shouldn't study more than 3 months for the MCAT. Anything more is excessive. And I'd certainly study more than 10 hours a week for it during that 8-12 week period. </p>
<p>4) Research can be an important undertaking, but is by no means required. Some med schools are very heavily research oriented, and having research experience will be a de facto requirement, but there are plenty of other schools that aren't research focused and research is simply another extracurricular, one that you'll have to explain why it will make you a better physician. </p>
<p>5) Clinical experience is a requirement, but most people never shadow or volunteer for 3 hours a week for months on end. The important thing is that you did it, and you can talk about it.</p>
<p>6) Average age for first year med students varies from 25 to 26, depending on the year, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it's because they're doing "medically" related activities. There are a million reasons why people don't matriculate right out of college. Family, Teach For America, Peace Corps, etc are all valid reasons why people don't go straight through.</p>
<p>7) Bottom line, follow your passions. Do the things that excite you and you'll know you'll be a better physician from having done them. Don't EVER do anything because you think that's what med schools want you to do.</p>
<p>You do have to check with the schools that you are applying if it is doable for instance, NYU has different schools you have to apply directly to the school. You cannot double major or do premed with a major outside of the school. CAS offers their pre med track and Tisch offers theatre/film. Under those circumstances you would not be able to do the both.</p>
<p>Check out Johns Hopkins. Everyone knows how strong it is for pre-med (and thereafter) but few realize that it also has an excellent, albeit small, theater program. Many students who minor in theater go on to medical school (and law school). The theater program is headed up by John Astin--a Hopkins alum--who is a well known actor perhaps most associated with his starring role in the Addams Family.</p>
<p>i have a brilliant acquaintance who majored in neuroscience, minored in music performance as well as theater at JHU, and she's premed</p>
<p>You can major in theater while taking the required classes for "pre-med", althought pre-med isn't exactly a major in most schools. Unless you're really dedicated to both, you COULD double major in theater and a science, but its up to you.</p>
<p>Looks like you are applying to some high ranked schools, but if you want a safety that is strong in both pre-med and theatre (with a couple of early assurance programs with med schools in Philly), check out Muhlenberg. New science building, and the theatre facilities are top-notch</p>
<p>Muhlenberg</a> College Department of Theatre and Dance | Productions
Drexel</a> 4-4</p>
<p>i'm probably repeating what's been said before. You can major in anything you want, as long as you complete the pre-medical courses required to gain admission to a medical school. These courses are: General Biology I and II, General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II, Physics I and II. You'll need to have the labs for all of these (Bio and Physics usually include the lab as part of the credit count, while Chemistry is usually 3 credits lecture plus 2 credits for the lab). Some schools will also require calculus and/or statistics. English is usually a requirement as well. Very few schools also will ask for genetics or biochemistry, many schools simply recommend them. You can do some of these courses during a summer session if necessary.</p>
<p>You do not need to do research to apply and be accepted to medical school. Many people do, many people don't. If you're interested in MD/PhD programs, you'll be required to show research experience. It is very much important to show that you have experience in the clinical setting, whether it's by volunteering, working in a hospital, etc. You need to show and talk about how you've seen some of what physicians do, and how this has strengthened your interest in medicine.</p>
<p>Do not study for half a year for the MCAT. If you performed well in the pre-med classes, you should focus on reviewing any material that you might not have completely understand, and do practice tests. You shouldn't be learning a lot of material at that point.</p>
<p>The average age is 26 because, as has been said before, many people come from different pathways to going to medical school. Some people didn't get in the first time. Others deferred to do a fellowship (a number of my friends are doing this). Others did an entirely different career for a number of years and found an interest in medicine. You do not have to have medical work experience after undergrad. No school mentions this as a requirement or a recommendation. </p>
<p>Remember, major in what you want to do, not what other people tell you to do. Don't be a bio major because many other pre-med students are. Major in what you like and know you'll do well in. Many of my pre-med friends now in medical school majored in areas such as psychology (myself and a few others), linguistics, finance, economics, biology, chemistry, physics, culture and politics, management, etc.</p>
<p>This thread makes me laugh because of an anecdotal experience of my D's in 2nd grade. When asked what the students wanted to be when they grew up, my D said a doctor and a dancer. Her teacher chastised her and said it was not possible, pick one or the other. She became the "bad" teacher we talked about for years for limiting students dreams.</p>
<p>Fast forward, my D is at an Ivy. In 4th grade her dream switched from medician to law. She is still per suing law, is studying information science (ie, computers) and is still dancing. </p>
<p>She interned at Goldman Sachs this summer and her dancing helped get her the job! </p>
<p>Go for it Kellogg. By the way, all 3 of my kids are at top 50 USNEWS Nationals or LACs. My S is a physics major, math minor and very involved in music and theater. He could probably have been a dual major.</p>