So I’ve been stuck on what I want to do in college. I’ve been stuck between studying medicine and law. I love learning both social studies and the natural sciences (Pol Sci, Bio, Chem, Physics, etc.) I want to become either a lawyer or a surgeon. I’ve been trying to take classes in both subjects but college is what I’m worried about: what should I major in. Does anybody have advice into what I should do about making a choice between studying pre-med or pre-law?
For both law school and medical school, your actual major matters very little. Both require a high GPA for admission.
Law school admission is almost purely GPA +LSAT.
Med school admission is more complex. Med school admission requires completion of med school pre-reqs, a strong GPA and sGPA, MCAT, plus participation in pre-med ECs.
You don’t need to take choice between pre-med and pre-law immediately upon entering college. Most universities do not require you to declare a particular major until the end of your sophomore year.
You can explore your freshman year and experience a variety of different academic disciplines. Take a gen chem 1& 2, a stats class, then pick 4-5 social sci/poly sci classes and see which you prefer. You’ll have a better ideas of your academic strengths/preferences by the end of the first or second semester.
I also strongly suggest that during your remaining time high school and freshman year of college, you do some job shadowing in both the medical & legal professions. Also do some clinical volunteering–being in close proximity of actual patients–to see if being around the chronically, sick and dying is what you want to do.
The above comment encapsulates it very well, it doesn’t matter as much right now as you are just beginning your freshman year next year. One thing I would say keep in mind is explore opportunities that combine both Law and Medicine. You could do something like a Forensic Pathologist (basically CSI!) or a Medical Malpractice Lawyer. There are many colleges that offer an MD/JD combined degree, where you get both degrees, then you could take professions in either field!
@WayOutWestMom writes some of the most thoughtful & helpful posts on this website.
OP: While getting admitted to law school is–as written above–almost entirely about one’s LSAT (law school admissions test) & undergraduate GPA, the practice of law primarily involves analytical thinking & analytical expression in both written & verbal forms. Therefore, “pre-law” only requires that one take challenging, analytical thought-provoking courses.