Pre-med vs Pre-law? I need some opinions.

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hey! (:</p>

<p>I'm a very soon graduating senior and I'm also enrolled at my local community college as a freshman.</p>

<p>I decided to stay at my community college and I currently have a 3.6 cum. GPA - which will def. go up after this quarter - and I have been working on finishing up my AA.</p>

<p>I would graduate in Winter quarter '12 with my AA,</p>

<p>however,</p>

<p>I always wanted to become a doctor.</p>

<p>I would've tried to get my Associate in Biology to finish all the prerequisites for med. school... but I'm scared I won't make it.</p>

<p>I know that I'd love to be a doctor because I volunteered a lot at my local hospital and I always liked reading up on various illnesses, how to fix a broken bone, etc.</p>

<p>I also was a lifeguard for a few years and I know how to do CPR and first aid.</p>

<p>Medicine just always interested me - but I'm scared I won't get A's and B's in all the science classes and math classes that I'd need to have A's in...</p>

<p>Would it be wise to do what you love to do - and I really know that I'd love to be a doctor - or should I continue with pre-law (I'm currently double majoring in Poli Sci and Journalism).</p>

<p>I'm afraid I'd be a crappy doctor if I get crappy grades... but then again I could still re-take some classes and go to a not that well known med. school - and I could still do what interests me and what I know I like doing.</p>

<p>I also thought about nursing because it doesn't require that much science and math - but I realized when I did a job shadow that it wouldn't be the same.</p>

<p>BTW, my community college does not offer a lot of the classes that I'd have to take for pre-med (I was looking at the University of Washington's required pre-med classes: pre-med</a> course requirements | UW Medicine, Seattle).
They offer most of them but Physics, for instance, is only available in Fall quarter - as well as two other Bio. classes that I'd have to take for pre-med.
Bottom line: I'd have to take General Chem. I, Cell Biology, Physics, Precalculus and Human Anatomy all together in Fall quarter... and that's pretty much impossible.</p>

<p>BTW, I also know that Poli Sci and Journ. is easier than all the prerequisite courses for med. school but that's exactly why I need to hear a second opinion on this.</p>

<p>I'm open for any suggestions on what I should do. (:</p>

2

<p>If you are having reservations about how good you can do in pre-med, try taking the intro classes. There is no harm here, as you have freedom to explore during your UG. If you do bad, than go in another direction. It sounds like you are passionate about medicine so attempt that career first. If you get C’s in those course, maybe don’t go no further and try another path. Good Luck!</p>

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<p>Since you are open to suggestions, I would drop the Journalism program. In general, it will not be a plus for LS (which only care about gpa+lsat scores). Secondly, dropping journalism will free up some time in your schedule for premed courses. Start with Gen Chem + precalc and see how it goes. The magic for LS and med school is mostly A’s. Good luck.</p>

<p>btw: earning a AA degree is of no real value once you transfer to a four-year Uni. Med schools won’t care about it. Ditto law schools. Ditto employers. So if you can transfer without it…</p>

4

<p>I think your proposed schedule is too much too soon. Much better to take 1 or 2 classes science/math and do well in those.</p>

<p>Taking all the classes you have proposed at once–it’s a recipe for disaster.</p>

<p>I strongly recommend taking precalc before you attempt general chem or physics. You’ll need very strong algebra and trig skills to do well in those classes.</p>

<p>Human anatomy really isn’t a particularly useful course taken at the CC level. Save that for when you go to a 4 year college.</p>

<p>So maybe just cell bio and precalc for the fall. See how you do in those. If you do well, then you can move to the full pre med schedule when you get to your future college.</p>

<p>No harm in trying.</p>

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<p>maybe i’m misreading your post, but I believe you need a bachelor’s degree to enroll in medical school, so before you start worrying about getting into medical school, you should probably think about how you’re going to get into a 4 year college.</p>

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<p>i<em>wanna</em>be_Brown: I’m a HS senior right now. I applied to 3 colleges and got into 2 but the one university where I wanted to go (University of Washington) rejected me.
I did get a full tuition scholarship from Washington State University but I also received a scholarship from my community college - and when I visited WSU I really could not see myself there.
I’ll graduate with my AA this coming Winter quarter (March '12), I’m a member of PTK and my cum. GPA is a 3.6.
I really think I’ll have a shot to get into UW this year.</p>

<p>Why I worry about what classes to take now is because I will be a junior when I’ll transfer and that would mean that I’d only have 2 years left to finish my pre-med course and to prep for the MCAT.</p>

<p>WayOutWestMom: Thank you! I asked my counselor and did some research and it seems that taking pre-med classes at a community college is not a good option. Basically, it would be better to wait until I get to a 4-year and to then start with the pre-med classes. Is this true? I’d definitely take precalc and cell biology if it would not matter though.</p>

<p>bluebayou: I wanted to have another shot at getting into UW and they prefer people who went to a WA community college and who have completed an Associates degree.
I wanted to double major in Journalism and Political Science because I wanted to keep my options open, in case I won’t get into a good law school - or med school.</p>

<p>DWalker: Thank you! (:</p>

7

<p>OP- consider reapplying to transfer to UW, but also check out WWU, they have a vastly different feel than WSU. More crunchy granola than party-hardy. My DD is a USWOM med student and she has people in her class from WWU as well as UW & WSU. She also has people from assorted small private Washington schools, so consider those, too.</p>

<p>I think you could take your math or physics at the CC and possibly even take 1st year chem. You need a year of chem and a year of ochem, so if you take chem at the CC then you can take ochem at UW (or wherever) junior year.</p>

<p>If you can spread the pre med pre reqs out more evenly, say 2 per quarter, mixed with humanities course work, that would be smart. Don’t kill your schedule and GPA by over reaching</p>

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<p>somemom: </p>

<p>Thank you (: That’s exactly what I was planning on. Actually, the thing that I didn’t like about WSU was the location but I thought about applying to WWU as a backup because I already did get accepted there too. :slight_smile: </p>

<p>What do you think are some private schools that I should consider?</p>

<p>I was looking at FSU (Florida State U), the U of Texas and American University for pre-law already as well.</p>

<p>I have Fall and Winter quarter left at my CC and most classes are offered for Fall quarter but I have to squeeze in Statistics. </p>

<p>If I’d take Stats, precalculus, general chem and cell bio for Fall - would that be too much?</p>

<p>Otherwise I could just take precalculus, stats, and general chem - or cell bio.</p>

<p>Physics is full for Fall and they only offer it Fall because of budget cuts so I think I’ll take that maybe in Spring at another CC, when I’m done with my AA, or at a 4-year.</p>

<p>BTW, when should I start with my EC’s? And what kind of EC’s would I need?</p>

<p>Thank you so,so much for your advice! (:</p>

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<p>Definitely take precalc ASAP. You can take physics, and general chem at your CC without incurring any disadvantage when applying to medical school. Also freshman composition and calc 1.</p>

<p>Save OChem for your 4 year college. You can take bio at your CC if you plan to take higher level bio classes after you transfer. If you don’t plan to take additional bio, save the bio for your 4 year college.</p>

<p>You can start your ECs at any time. Be sure to balance your academics and your ECs. Academics come first.</p>

<p>ECs should be a mix of things–some hospital volunteering, some community service (your choice of activity), some clubs or sports at your school. And try not to be drudge–don’t spend all your time trying to be the perfect pre med. (There’s no such thing…)</p>

10

<p>

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<p>Yeah, I get that. But my point was that journalism is possibly a detriment to obtaining admission to both med and law. By spreading yourself so thin, med and law may not be an option 3 years hence. </p>

<p>For law schools, it’s all about A’s and LSAT. Right now you have a 3.6, which is good, but not great. You need a lot more A’s to get into a “good” law school. Moreover, “good” law schools don’t care much for journalism per se – they perceive it as a vocational degree, not a liberal arts degree (which they prefer). So, journalism does absolutely nothing to strengthen your LS app.</p>

<p>And by dropping the requirements for the journalism major (~10+ courses?), you will have more time to devote to earning A’s in the science classes and working on your medical-related ECs.</p>

<p>If professional school does not pan out, you could always apply to journalism grad school as an English major.</p>

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<p>WayOutWestMom: </p>

<p>Thank you so much for your great advice! I’ll sign up for Physics I and General Chem I for Fall :slight_smile:
BTW - is there a website where I could see what exact classes I’d have to take?
I looked at UW’s pre-med classes but it would probably be better if that wouldn’t be my only source.</p>

<p>bluebayou: </p>

<p>Yeah, my GPA will go up. I have one final left but for my other two classes I did get straight A’s - and I also have Summer and Fall quarter left before I’ll apply to colleges (again). </p>

<p>Thank you for letting me know about that! In that case I’ll definitely drop journalism.
That’s a great idea as well! Thanks for your advice! :slight_smile: </p>

<p>BTW, I know that when I transfer that my GPA won’t transfer with me - just my credits.
However, I asked LSAC once and they said that my GPA from my community college does still count - would that be the same for med school?</p>

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<p>AMCAS (the organization which is the central clearinghouse for all med school applications) counts every college level credit you’ve ever taken in your GPA. Even co-enrollment classes taken during high school. Every single class will count in your GPA.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a single list of pre reqs. Every med school sets its own pre reqs so you’ll need to check those schools you think you’re mostly likely to apply to.</p>

<p>In general, however, you should plan on taking the following:</p>

<p>general chemistry-- 2 semesters (3 quarters) with labs
organic chemistry-- 2 semesters with labs
introductory biology (or equivalent)–2 semesters with labs
introductory physics --2 semesters with labs
composition(freshman writing)–1 semester
mathematics–2 semesters of “college level mathematics” this is generally interpreted to mean 1 semester of calculus and 1 semester of statistics</p>

<p>Individual medical schools may impose additional requirements. These may include but are not limited to: biochemistry; genetics; anatomy & physiology; upper level humanities and social sciences; calculus 2; a second semester of composition or a “writing intensive” course.</p>

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<p>game:</p>

<p>unless you are really strong in math - and since you haven’t taken precalc yet… - I would put physics on the back burner. I’m a big believer of taking Gen Chem prior to Bio…</p>

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<p>don’t go to law school. Not saying go to med school, but I’m saying DON’T go to law school, unless you have a 4.0 and top LSATs and can get into a top 15 school</p>

<p>the law market is gabbage right now, so oversaturated that most law grads are either unemployed, working for 50K as a assistant DA, or working temp jobs shuffling papers for $15/hour. Even many grads at top schools do not any longer have lucrative job offers anymore. New schools open up like candy every year because of gov’t loans which are given to anyone, and the relatively easy nature of becoming accredited and building a facility. </p>

<p>IMO plumbing, electrician, garbage man is generally a better choice right now than law (srs). At least then you don’t have 200K in debt and no job prospects in sight.</p>

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<p>WayOutWestMom:</p>

<p>Thank you so much! :slight_smile: You really helped me out a lot! </p>

<p>BTW, I signed up for Precalculus, General Chem I and Cell Biology for Fall quarter - do you think that would be a good course load? </p>

<p>bluebayou:</p>

<p>Thanks again! :slight_smile: I took Precalculus and Calc in HS but it’s been two years so I’ll definitely take (college) Precalculus and then probably (college) Calculus later on.</p>

<p>I had Physics as well but I’m gonna wait and take that at a 4-year.</p>

<p>Do you think my above course load would be doable? </p>

<p>stonecold23:</p>

<p>Thank you so much for all this information! :slight_smile: </p>

<p>That’s almost exactly what I found out when I researched some more last month - but I had no idea how easy it is to open up new schools.That’s pretty scary actually.</p>

<p>I am 98% sure that I’ll follow through with pre-med.</p>

<p>The only 2% that I’m not sure about is how well I’ll do with all those science classes but I’ll work on it, get maybe a tutor and work my way through it. </p>

<p>Thank you again for all this eye-opening information!</p>

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<p>to ANYONE considering law, maybe read through this eye-opening NYT article about the state of law in america right now…before signing that 200K gov’t loan that makes you a slave to debt (but unlike medicine, with no means to pay it back)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/business/09law.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/business/09law.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;