<p>I definitely want to do the pre med track with a bio major, but I also want to have a backup plan in case I don't get into med school or I decide I don't want to. I'm thinking of double majoring in physics. The problem is that a B.S. in physics would be almost impossible to do with as a double major at my university due to an absurd number of math requirements. A B.A. in physics, however, has a lot of the same requirements as biology, and only has 2 math requirements. I'm worried that a B.A. wouldn't look as good as a B.S. if I decided to pursue a career in physics or go to grad school for physics. I really want to major in both, so what should I do? Would I be able to go to grad school for physics with a significantly lower number of math courses than a B.S.?</p>
<p>Why not just major in physics and take the pre-med courses on the side? You should have enough “breathing room” in your schedule, though it may depend on your university (which you did not mention).</p>
<p>A bachelor’s degree in physics should include at least sophomore level math, like multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations.</p>
<p>Just do something and do pre-med pre-reqs on the side. Economics/Business is not too difficult on top of pre-med requirements. You don’t have to choose something where the pre-reqs overlap like chem or physics or chemE. Even though you have some overlap in pre-req classes, it would still be easier to just do another major and do pre-med requirements on top of that.</p>
<p>Why even go to med school if you’re going to major in physics? You’ll have so much math, physics and programming knowledge by the time you get out you can just make more money programming.</p>
<p>Yeah I guess I don’t need to be bio major, I just figured that would be the easiest way to get the requirements for med school. Ok how does this sound: Physics/computer science major? Would doing the two together even be feasible if I still want to get the requirements for med school (difficulty and schedule wise)?</p>
<p>In terms of fitting stuff into your schedule, just count courses or credits needed. For example, using physics + CS + pre-med:</p>
<p>A = Courses/credits required for physics major.
B = Courses/credits required for CS major that are not fulfilled by physics major.
C = Courses/credits for pre-med that are fulfilled by A or B.
D = Breadth/GE courses/credits not fulfilled by A, B, or C.</p>
<p>Add all of these together. If the total is less than the total courses/credits you will take before graduation, then it is doable with careful schedule planning. Even if it is slightly more, you may be able to do it with slight overloads or summer courses.</p>
<p>Since you did not mention what school you are at, no one else here can help you with this calculation.</p>
<p>Forget med school. CS + Physics, Math + Physics, CS + Math, Econ + Math, Econ + CS, Physics + Econ are straight up good ways to make money right out of the gate with a BS. Seriously, any combination of Math, Physics, CS, Econ and Finance are highly employable. I know people who did Physics + Econ who have interned at Merill Lynch since year 3. My professor for an engineering class did his BS in Physics and Math. Medical school is seriously useless. A physician will be forever tied to that profession due to the costs of medical school. You might “think” you like being a doctor, but once you go to med school, you will be stuck being a doctor for 40-50 years. Can you stand that? But a BS in Physics + CS could be making more on Wall Street, or contributing more to humanity in research, than any doctor will ever see.</p>
<p>I haven’t had time to actually plan a schedule yet, but I’ll be going to the University of Mississippi in the fall, but the plan is to transfer to Vandy, WashU, or Rice after year 1 (got waitlisted at all 3 -.-) I haven’t even looked at the requirements for said majors at those other schools that I may transfer to, so it’s hard to establish a long term schedule, but if it’s possible, I think I want to major in CS/physics and take the pre med classes. Right now I kind of want to do everything, so this way, I should at least give myself some options I know I’d be happy with.</p>
<p>TenaciousE, I suggest you get advice from somewhere other than this forum.</p>
<p>TenaciousE–</p>
<p>It’s quite possible to be a physics & math major and still go to med school. You will need to add OChem and 2 semesters of general bio to the coursework you’ll need for a physics major. D1 did this, and is a starting med school in 2 months.</p>
<p>Med schools expect UG research now as part of your application portfolio, but any hands-on research will do–it doesn’t have to be in a medical or biological field. D1’s research was in high energy and not a single school counted that as negative. </p>
<p>BTW, D1 learned basic programming by taking 1 required CS course (for her physics major) and learned the rest on the job in her research lab where she wrote most of the program used for data acquisition in their experiments.</p>
<p>Thanks WayOutWestMom! Do you mind me asking a little bit more about your D. Where did she go to school, how were her grades, and where is she going to med school? I’m trying to put some things in perspective to determine if this is actually going to be a realistic idea!</p>
<p>No matter what, do not study pre-med. Pre-med is a useless major. Pre-med students do worse than any science or engineering student when taking the MCATs.</p>
<p>Don’t plan on double majoring in Physics and something else. That’s a huge course load, and you will be hard pressed to do all of that AND get your pre-med requirements out of the way. However, if you decide later on that you don’t want to go to medical school then Physics will open up lots of doors for you.</p>