Hi guys, this may sound strange, but I need to make a college decision by May 1st and I can’t decide between Medicine and Computer Science. I would go to Georgia Tech for computer science, because I know it is a top school for that, I am just scared of what to do if I end up not liking it or not being good at it.
I would go to UGA Honors for medicine, I am a little doubtful as to the prestige of UGA, because some students that did not work nearly as hard as me and my peers in highschool have also made it in. I don’t know if that is a valid concern or not, just something in my mind…(is it really true that the school doesn’t matter but what you do there matters?). I also am not entirely sure if I could study for so long in med school (I will not mind it if I know I am passionate about medicine, but I don’t really know, and I can’t shadow now due to corona outbreak).
I feel like I could be good at both, but I really don’t know what to do. If I choose UGA, I personally will have to stick to medicine even if I change my mind later. And if I choose Georgia Tech, I cannot do anything but computer science. The GPA I have heard will not be good for med school anyways. I prefer not to change around or transfer. I want to stick to what I decide. I don’t want to ruin my life by making the wrong decision now. And I would GREATLY APPRECIATE INPUT!
In undergraduate in the US, you do not study medicine. You would be a pre-med, entering a stressful highly competitive weed-out process (most frosh pre-meds do not eventually apply to medical school, and fewer than half of those who do get admitted to a medical school).
You can, however, do any major (including CS) alongside the pre-med course work.
There is no rule that says you can’t switch your major or career track. Most 18 year olds don’t know what they want to do with the rest of their lives and the majority of students do switch majors. It’s not CS/pre-med or bust. GT has 37 majors and 46 minors. UGA says they have 132.
However, you do need to start out with course work that makes progress to all of your possible goals (majors and/or course requirements like pre-med courses) so that you are not behind (to the point of needing more than 8 semesters to finish) on the one(s) that you eventually choose.
I understand the feeling of wanting to pick something now and stick to it, but know that there genuinely is nothing wrong with switching majors or career tracks! A lot of people start out pre-med (with many different majors) and then change their minds. Same with computer science.
As to the prestige of UGA, your GPA and MCAT will matter A LOT more than the overall prestige of your college for med school admissions, so don’t stress too much about it.
You still have some time before committing, so try to contact students at both schools, both CS and pre-med, and look more closely at the programs. Go with your gut!
