Premed First Year Classes?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>Hey guys and gals,</p>

<p>Ok, so I'm starting in the fall and I am planning to go to medical school after undergrad. I have read through several different threads and I still am unsure of what to do. My question is: should I major in MCB (and follow the track to majoring in it) or should I major in something else? I realize that MCB will help me do well on the MCAT, but I am curious as to whether it is enough of an advantage as to justify majoring in MCB? Also, are the premed req's the hardest of the classes I would likely take as an MCB major? What classes should I take this semester if I do major in MCB? It seems that Chem 1A is recommended, but I've also heard that it is very difficult. And also, which professors should I try and get for those classes that I should take?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>MCB was the largest major in the 2010 graduating class, but its job and career prospects for those not going to medical school were not very good. See the [career</a> survey](<a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm]career”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm).</p>

<p>Here is the [pre-med</a> section of the career center web site](<a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Medical/MedPrep.stm]pre-med”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Medical/MedPrep.stm), including [typical</a> pre-med courses](<a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Medical/PrepPrereq.stm]typical”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Medical/PrepPrereq.stm). No specific major is required by medical schools, and it is possible to fit the pre-med courses around most majors.</p>

<p>Note, however, that you may have to take the “harder” versions of some courses if your major requires them. Specifically, if you major in Chemistry, Physics, or Engineering, you will likely have to take the “harder” versions of Math, Physics, and (for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) Chemistry.</p>

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<p>Chem 1A is one of the easiest of the pre-med sequence of courses - most find organic chem, bio 1a and physics to be more challenging. </p>

<p>Most typically, a pre-med would take Math 16A and Chem 1A in first semester, since these are both pre-reqs for a number of later courses and should be addressed right away. Generally, you would also take a pre-req towards your possible/likely undergrad major and perhaps address one of the general requirements (R&C, breadth, AC). </p>

<p>L&S will have an online self-paced training area available soon which you will go through in advance of your CalSO session. It walks you through these decisions and factors, helping you build a list of potential first classes. </p>

<p>No reason to be an MCB major, the pre-reqs are the courses you will take anyway for pre-med (and that will be the basis of the MCAT), you wouldn’t be any better prepared. The upside - no additional pre-req courses if you are a bio major of some type - is shared with other majors like IB, Public Health, some CNR majors. Generally you should pick your major by its interest to you, your passion for the subject and because not every pre-med ends up in medical school, it is your ‘plan B’. </p>

<p>If you are most intrigued by the mechanisms inside a cell, MCB is a great major. If you are most intrigued by larger scope biology, something like animal behavior, evolution, or development, then Integrative Biology is a great fit. If you are sure that you want to do something with public health and perhaps public service, the Public Health major might fit you best. This is a better way to pick than either the path of least resistance or because it is the most widely chosen one. </p>

<p>Med Schools don’t demand that their applicants have a bio background, they don’t seem to care much what the undergrad major is, as long as the applicant took the pre-med required classes, did well on them, and did well on the MCAT.</p>

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<p>thundercat- if you are doing pre-med at Berkeley, look into the psychology major. The upper division classes would be a bit easier than MCB, or even IB.</p>

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<p>Be pre-med but don’t do MCB.</p>

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<p>That’s a great site ucbalumnus. Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend being MCB either, unless your VERY VERY VERY dedicated and LOVE what you’re learning. It may sound strange right now, but once you come here, you’ll see what we mean.</p>

<p>On another note, I HIGHLY recommend taking 13 units for either your first semester or first two semesters here. You ARE coming to a new school, and it takes a while to get acquainted and figure out who you are and what not : P so you don’t want to ruin your gpa.</p>

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<p>Wow! Thanks for all the info guys. I just have a few more questions…Are the MCB upper divison classes easier than the premed req’s or more difficult? Someone told me they are easier, but it seems like most of you wouldn’t agree. Also, I do feel that I am more interested in larger scale bio, so do you think that IB would be a better fit for me? Would IB allow for more career opportunities? And would it be less beneficial than MCB in terms of preparing for the MCAT or the same? I know some of you sort of answered these, but I guess I would like a bit more specificity, if possible. Thank you!</p>

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<p>Ah, and if I do take Math 16A/ Chem 1A, are there any specific professors I should shoot for? Thanks again!</p>

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<p>what kind of jobs do people who do MCB but don’t do med school get? I want to do research in a lab (I have a lot of experience already working in 3 labs during high school)…and of course go to graduate school. I also remember seeing someone working as a waiter/ sales rep/ w/e in the career center data…lol…</p>

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<p>MCB upper divs are NOT easier than prerequisites for the large majority of people, except for people who are just really into molecular biology and/or have extensive lab experience.</p>

<p>Math 16A is an easy class so the professor you have doesn’t matter too much. For Chem 1A, it only matters if you’re taking it fall vs. spring because you can go to any of the three professors’ lectures since every Chem 1A student will get the same exam and grading.</p>

<p>Career opportunities for IB are the same or worse than those for MCB. If you plan on working in a lab after college, lab experience is probably more important than whether you did IB or MCB.</p>

<p>I don’t think doing MCB will really prepare you better for MCAT. MCAT biology is basically “Bio 1A level” material. However, it is likely that MCB majors do better than IB majors on the MCAT, but this is probably because quite a few IB majors were “weeded out” from MCB (ie they didn’t have as strong a GPA in lower divs).</p>

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<p>Would IB be a better choice in terms of competition then? (i.e. would the difficulty of upper division classes be signicantly lower?).</p>

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<p>Oh and what about Public Health? Would that be an easy/good major?</p>

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<p>i would say the best major for pre-med is psychology. This is good if your ultimate goal is to be a psychiatrist or a neurologist. </p>

<p>Do not do MCB or IB.</p>

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<p>does anyone know what the avg GPA for a pshy major students? </p>

<p>and another question, when people say that it is hard, does it mean that the materials are hard to understand or is it that the test are impossible and the competition is at peak. </p>

<p>and also, im not a smart person, but i am the hard working type, so do you think i can do well if i put my time into it?</p>

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<p>Did you go to a competitive high school, and did you mostly get straight A’s in your classes, particularly AP classes?</p>

<p>If so then you don’t have much to worry about.</p>

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<p>uc123cali- around a 3.75-3.80</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p><a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/MCB.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/MCB.stm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Other majors:</p>

<p><a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>What if I am not really a fan of psychology and do not intend to work in neurology or psychiatry? (I would like to work as a trauma surgeon). Would psychology still be a good choice? Also, one thing I am very curious about…are the bio majors difficult enough that studying as one would consume all of my time? I would like to have fun as well as study and I am a hard worker…so would I be able to pull off a difficult major and have a decent social life? I guess what I am asking is, how many hours per day would I have to put into studying?</p>

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<p>thundercat- Public health is another great option. A bit more difficult than psychology but still easier than MCB or IB.</p>

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<p>There are a few different ways to choose a major while doing pre-med:</p>

<p>a. Based on your other academic or professional interests.</p>

<p>b. To get better job and career options if you do not get into medical school. (Biology tends to have poor job and career options at the bachelor’s level.)</p>

<p>c. As a supporting subject for a medical career.</p>

<p>d. Whatever you can get the highest GPA in. (Sciences tend to have the least grade inflation, while humanities tend to have the most, though specific schools like Berkeley may or may not follow national trends.)</p>