<p>I know it's important to get good grades in the premed science classes, but is it also important to take other science classes as well?</p>
<p>I'm a high school senior and I think I'd like to major in psychology and take premed classes on the side. I know I want to be in medicine, but I don't particularly enjoy science classes. So I was hoping to just take the req science classes, do well in those, do well in my psych classes, and call it a day. Is that looked down upon?</p>
<p>No, it's fine. You can major in whatever you want.</p>
<p>Wont it be more difficult to get in all your pre-med requirments and all your major requirmed classes in 4 years? Say you're majoring in somethign completley opposite to science like History, wont that be even more pressure on you?</p>
<p>"Wont it be more difficult to get in all your pre-med requirments and all your major requirmed classes in 4 years?"</p>
<p>No. This will not be a problem. </p>
<p>There are only a few courses and I have never heard of a college that gave you so little time for electives that you could not do it. There are only a one year course in physics, one in calculus (for most schools), one in biology, and two in chemistry. This is 5 math/science courses total. Nearly all colleges will offer these courses every year. Some places require an English course, but this would fit in with most non-science majors. </p>
<p>Many doctors majored in something outside science and had no trouble getting in their courses in 4 years.</p>
<p>Afan: wait, wait, wait. This is rather misleading information about the prereqs for med school application. There are 8 semester classes you have to take: a year of biology with labs, a year of regular chemistry with labs, a year of organic chemistry with labs, and a year of physics. You also need one semester of calculus and many schools recommend genetics and a year of microbiology. It's not such a snap to fit that all in, especially since many of the classes are sequential, and also if it is on top of another non-science major.</p>
<p>Good point bookieom. Afan, best thing to do is to talk to your future advisor. I talked to mine over the summer leading into my Freshman year and we mapped out my four year academic schedule. </p>
<p>~El Sol</p>
<p>Bookiemom "5 courses" meant "5 year-long courses". Sorry if it was not clear that "one year course" applied to each course I listed. If you count by semesters, then it is usually 10. Some places reduce the physics or calculus requirements, some do add more biochem, cell biology, or molecular biology. It is worthwhile to talk to an advisor about this. It is not worthwhile, as a high school senior, or college freshman, to go through the requirements at each school, there are simply too many. Of course, if you are on trimesters, then it could be 15 courses.</p>
<p>Believe me, there are thousands of people who complete these requirements during their 4 years, without being science majors. I know doctors who majored in history, classics, English, Economics, French...</p>
<p>Good advice El sol, but it is masha and anon311 who need to talk to premed advisors. It is important to map out which courses to take and when. Science majors tend to assume that they are the only ones who work hard, but from any major, one does want to be sure to create a schedule that leaves enough time to really well in the premed courses. </p>
<p>I realize the other part of the original question concerned taking extra courses. You do not need to do this, but it could be helpful. The requirements are really minimal requirements. People who do only one year of biology tend to have relatively weak backgrounds in the areas noted above. Since medical schools also provide a minimal science background, you could find yourself struggling to understand the science of your field. This does not mean you would have trouble passing your med school classes, it refers more to the continuing learning you do throughout your career. So a stronger science background is certainly helpful, but it is definitely not required.</p>
<p>Some people who have not done as well as med schools like in their introductory science classes take further courses to prove they can do the work. Hopefully you will not find yourself in this situation.</p>
<p>Of course, the more classes you take, the closer you become to being a science major. Since long term plans are required, go ahead and plan a 4 year curriculum that gets you through premed requirements as well as your major. But consider: if you dislike science that much, do you really want to be a doctor? Most doctors found it interesting, even if they wanted to major in something else. The common explanation is "I will be in medicine for the rest of my life. This was my last chance to learn in depth about something else."</p>
<p>Here is what the Ivies have to say about majors and premed</p>
<p>Dartmouth does not have a "standard premedical" curriculum. Successful
medical school applicants have majored in almost every discipline
available at Dartmouth. Choose courses and a major that you enjoy and
want to pursue.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/HCO/frosh.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/HCO/frosh.html</a>
In your undergraduate years your primary goal should be to get the
best education possible. Learn how to learn effectively and
efficiently. Pursue your broadest interests, since any concentration
is appropriate for the premed. In the process, you may discover other
career choices.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/preprofessional/health/premedical_curriculum/%5B/url%5D">http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/preprofessional/health/premedical_curriculum/</a>
Generally, medical/dental schools show no preference for one
particular undergraduate major over another. They like to see a range
of interests among students in their entering classes, and would
consider an art history major and a biochemistry major equally
prepared for medical school, as long as both successfully fulfilled
the aforementioned pre-requisites.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cals.cornell.edu/Major.cfm%5B/url%5D">http://www.cals.cornell.edu/Major.cfm</a>
Medical schools do not require or recommend any particular
undergraduate major course of study, and Cornell does not have a
premedical major. Therefore, you should pursue your own intellectual
interest in an academic major, such as history, chemistry, biology,
psychology, nutrition, or some other field. In any number of majors
throughout the university, you can complete the preprofessional core
courses while at the same time receiving a broad education and
exploring other interests and careers.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/careerresources/byfield/healthmedicine/coursereqs/2004premedguide.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/careerresources/byfield/healthmedicine/coursereqs/2004premedguide.pdf</a>
However, medical schools do not require that you major
in a science. The area of study that interests you the most and
that you wish to explore extensively is the one you can and should
choose for your concentration.
There is no "premedical program" at Harvard.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradprof/healthprof/premed/Premedical_Opportunities.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradprof/healthprof/premed/Premedical_Opportunities.htm</a>
The best preparation for medical school is a challenging, diverse,
liberal arts education. At Penn, pre-med students are not required to
major in any particular discipline, like Biology, so Penn pre-meds are
free to choose any major, from each of the four undergraduate schools.
We encourage students to select a major that will enable them to
develop their academic strengths. Penn students can then explore their
interests and take advantage of Penn's diverse curriculum while
fulfilling the core requirements for medical school.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pub/ags/01/06.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pub/ags/01/06.htm</a>
PrincetonUniversity
Class of 2004 Sophomore Academic Handbook</p>
<p>Advice for Premedical Students on Choosing a Major
An interest in medicine often originates from a fascination with
science, and it makes sense to pursue this interest through
departmental work. Moreover, many students planning to apply to
medical school think that they should major in science and that they
will be less competitive candidates as humanities or social science
majors. This, however, is not the case. Premedical students should use
the same criteria for choosing a major that other students use: What
discipline is most interesting and most challenging? Which field draws
best on your talents and abilities? Where do you want to do your
independent work? Where will you do your best work?</p>
<p>Students who are excited by the opportunities at Princeton to study
the liberal arts, engineering, or the social sciences should take
advantage of the wonderful faculty and facilities here and major in
one of these areas. Premed course work can fit into a nonscience major
with careful planning and advice from the premed adviser, residential
college deans, and directors of studies.</p>
<p>When deciding on a major, several points are worth noting.</p>
<p> Medical schools are interested in applicants who are challenged in
the sciences and have demonstrated their abilities in science. They
also want to attract candidates who have a broad view of the human
condition, an understanding gained through the study of literature,
history, and the social and behavioral sciences.</p>
<p> Successful medical school applicants demonstrate both ability in
science and that broader understanding through a strong academic
record. Recent premedical students have majored in English, history,
the Woodrow Wilson School, engineering, and psychology, as well as the
more traditional science fields. Those with equally strong records
have been equally successful in gaining admission.</p>
<p> The undergraduate years may be the last opportunity to study the
liberal arts in depth; there will be plenty of science in medical
school, but little opportunity for Shakespeare, Mozart, classical
mythology, or economics.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbb.yale.edu/up/up_02d_gei.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.mbb.yale.edu/up/up_02d_gei.htm</a>
Yale offers students the opportunity to fulfill premedical
requirements without the restrictions of a specific "premedical
major". Students are encouraged to pursue a course of study which is
compatible with their interests and needs. Most premedical students
major in one of the sciences, although this is not mandatory. A
student who loves composing, for instance, may choose to major in
music while also taking science courses. It should be noted that Yale
students majoring in one of the humanities or social sciences have
enjoyed the same rate of acceptance to medical schools as science
majors. In recent years, the average rate of acceptance has been 92%.
The philosophies of education, specific premedical course
requirements, and other qualifications for enrollment vary among the
nation's medical schools. However, all medical schools recognize the
desirability of a broad education: strong foundations in the natural
sciences, well-developed communication skills, and a solid background
in the social sciences and humanities.
Most medical schools require one year each of biology, physics,
chemistry, and organic chemistry with laboratories. Most schools
further require a year of college level mathematics and English. An
Advanced Placement course from high school is not a substitute for any
of these, but may be used to qualify for a higher level course in a
particular department. Although not required by most medical schools,
advanced biology courses with particular relevance to medicine such as
biochemistry, cell biology and genetics may be helpful.</p>
<p>afan....you are my god</p>