Advice on what classes I should take besides pre-rec? Advice for how psych majors fair in med-school? Etc. I just need advice
What kind of advice? Are you in college or HS?
You need to meet with the health professions advisor when you get to your college and use a spreadsheet + the college’s course catalog to map out a 4 year plan that includes all the graduation requirements for your major PLUS med school pre-reqs (bio, gen chem, ochem, biochem, physics, statistics, calc1, 2 semesters of composition/writing skills) PLUS any GEs required by your college for graduation (foreign languages, freshman seminar, etc.).
If at all possible, you should plan to take general chemistry as a freshman since the chem sequence required for med school is the longest–5 semesters.
If you have room in your schedule during your later years of college, think about adding a genetics or a human anatomy or physiology class. Both or either are useful for the MCAT, although a general bio class will give you enough background in both areas to take the MCAT. If you want to take an additional humanities class, consider taking medical ethics, if it’s offered by your college.
Social science majors do OK in med school admissions, assuming their GPA, sGPA and MCAT scores are competitive–
[Table A-17: MCAT and GPAs for Applicants and Matriculants to U.S. Medical Schools by Primary Undergraduate Major, 2017-2018](https://www.aamc.org/download/321496/data/factstablea17.pdf)
Medical school adcomms don’t particularly care what your undergrad major is and having any one particular major isn’t a boost or detriment to your application.
In med school, any academic advantage a physical or biological science majors have disappears fast. Med school coursework will cover a whole semester of undergrad UL bio material (immunology, embryology, advanced biochemistry, etc) in 2 or 3 lectures (about 1 week of class). Everybody, regardless of major, is seeing most of the material for the first time.
As most premeds change their minds about med school, or if they apply, fail to get even one acceptance, what do you plan to do with the psych (or whatever) degree you earn? I don’t need an answer… something for you to think about.
college. currently a sophomore. 22 credits- orgo & lab, physics & lab, physiology & lab, developmental psych, a seminar, an independent study
debating taking physiology off but don’t want to risk looking bad to med schools because I didn’t take it
In college, currently a sophomore. 22 credits- orgo & lab, physics & lab, physiology & lab, developmental psych, a seminar, an independent study.
Already took all of gen bio, gen chem, 2 semesters of English, and calc 1.
debating taking physiology off but don’t want to risk looking bad to med schools because I didn’t take it. Will it hurt my chances if I drop physiology and never take it?
I figured, my options are: take it and risk doing poorly (hurting my 3.9 GPA), not taking it and risk not looking good to med schools because I lack challenging coursework, or the slim chance of taking it and doing well but might suffer in my other classes.
Made a pro and cons list and they seem pretty balanced. Already discussed it with my advisor and she thinks ill burn myself out mentally and physically trying to balance three horrid classes (orgo, physio, and physics) amongst my other classes.
Also, just a random, I’m out of the ballpark for a 4.0 already. What GPA should I aim for now?
It won’t hurt your chances (unless you plant to apply to one of the handful of med school where physiology is a required pre-req–OSU, for example).
As high as possible.
Drop physio. Take later if need be.
The semester you take Orgo should have 14 credits (because a 3-4 Orgo class really is more like 6) so ideally you’d drop physio and another class. You need high grades to have a shot at med school and that means knowing how to balance your schedule.
What’s your current GPA? Your science GPA?
Have you taken Sociology? Cognitive science?
I’d suggest taking one advanced science class each semester in addition to your Psychology requirements, then make sure you have classes in bioethics, neuroscience, biochemistry, a diversity-docused class. If the clinic or health center or hospital where you volunteer caters to specific populations, see if you can reinforce that orientation with a class (about rural challenges, the elderly, immigration history, Spanish…)
Currently, I have a 3.9 overall and a 4.0 in my science classes. Can my orgo count as my advanced science this semester then? Because 22 credits is literally killing me and its only week 3.
Yes, you can consider orgo as your advanced science this term.
Drop physiology and concentrate on doing well in Ochem.
IMHO
You do not have to take all kinds of science classes if you have 4.0 in BCMP, the med school prerequisites are designed for med schools to measure your knowledge in science and that is what they need to make admission decisions. Of course, you need a high Mcat to balance out the other side of equation.
Most of the candidates take advanced science courses for GPA repair and you do not have a problem in that.
Yes, Orgo counts, yes you should drop physio, and yes 22 credits is INSANE so drop to 14-16 immediately to protect your mental health, your learning, and your GPA.
How did your college allow a premed to take 22 credits? Drop the independent study or seminar in addition to physiology. This a marathon, not a sprint. A bad semester caused by unnecessary over scheduling will kill your GPA.
U will look bad to med schools if you have a bad MCAT and bad GPA. They don’t care about how many classes you took one semester, only that at the end of college you graduated w a good GPA and did your premed prereqs.
Advice???
@suzyQ7 I was allowed to take 22 credits mainly because of the high GPA
thank you so much, everyone!!! I’ll definitely drop physio this semester and focus on doing well in orgo since its known to be a killer!
My advice: make sure you want to be a psychiatrist and not a psychologist