<p>Hello everyone.
I'm in a bit of a pickle. I got accepted into UCSD as an Economics major (im a transfer from a CCC) but since i applied, i realized i want to pursue medicine and go to medical school. </p>
<p>I called UCSD and they said i can only transfer to a non-impacted major (all biological sciences are impacted)...so i could do something like Chemistry etc, as to fulfill pre-med requirements.</p>
<p>But i'm not sure what to do. I'm really happy with getting into Economics so it's hard to switch out. It's a big commitment.</p>
<p>What i'm wondering is, is there a way that i could major in Economics still, and take my pre reqs after UCSD? (just take some of them along the way, and finish them after i graduate)?
And how would i go about doing that because i know med schools don't want to see classes from community colleges...so am i allowed to take classes post grad? or are there any other universities i could take them at? state colleges maybe? do they look down upon that?
If anyone has any insight or what they think would be the best idea in my situation that would be great! thx!</p>
<p>--mark</p>
<p>TO SUM IT UP:
I’m wondering, when people graduate and still have pre med req’s to finish, what do they normally do, and how do med schools look at that?</p>
<p>Son was an econ major and pre-med. If you start taking some of the pre-reqs maybe during the summer at UCSD you might be able to complete them while still undergrad there. Look up what the pre-reqs are for the UC med schools and a few others.</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>Most med schools do not require you to have a major related to biology at all as long as you fulfill the required pre-med track so I do not see the problem, actually it could be an advantage. Many kids that do biology for instance as their major to get into med school ( mostly because is one if the easiest and most related to medicine), find themselves in a bind if they do not get accepted into med school ( it can happen). The end up with a major that pays very little, forced to work as a teacher, assistant until they can reapply or go for more advance classes. Someone with a business, finance or other degree has a better shot of finding work if they do not get accepted and if they do, the knowledge they have acquired is very valuable. Many doctors are great professionals but poor businessman.</p>
<p>I think it’s worth pointing out that the UC system seems to have way more rules and regulations about what classes you can take and when than other state school systems. The plan you seem to favor–keeping econ but “doing premed on the side”–would work just fine at my school, but there aren’t any restrictions I can think of in regards to classes at my school. I have no idea how the UC system works, but if you hang tight I’m sure a few of the regular posters here (who know a thing or two about UC) will chime in!</p>
<p>I would think the math requirement would be covered in econ, they ought to want calculus &/or statistics, so that leaves you with a year each of physics & bio and 2 years of chem. You should sit down and look at which classes are required for your major as grad requirements and see what else you will have room for. You probably need a science or two for a breadth requirement, so which sciences did you take at a CC?</p>
<p>You can also ask if there are any non-impacted majors which do require that broad science and math curriculum that is pre-med. Another option is to take some of the classes in summer school. I would not advise you to take only the pre-med in summer, though, as that would look bad. So you really need a plan in place as soon as your begin at UCSD.</p>
<p>Congrats on getting in!</p>
<p>CA med schools are really rough for admissions, they end up being very numbers driven due to the high number of applicants and there is a veritable diaspora of CA MD hopefuls at interviews at other med schools all across the country!</p>
<p>Wow, thank you all so much for the responses.</p>
<p>So, i was thinking of switching to BioChem before i even go to UCSD (instead of Econ), but now i am rethinking this. Yes i will have my math requirements done, most definitely…so i’m good there.
So maybe, during the 2-3 years that im at UCSD, on the side, i can take as many pre med classes as possible? Maybe even minor in bio or chemistry? What do you guys think of that? I am just worried because after i graduate from UCSD, im just confused as to where i’ll be able to take the rest of the pre-reqs that i didn’t finish…and if it would look bad on my app if i took them at a less prestigious school or even a community college (which i know is NOT good to take pre med courses at)</p>
<p>Any last insight to these few concerns would be amazing and thanks so much to everyone who responded thus far!!
–Mark</p>
<p>there’s no need to minor in bio or chem. The only reason to get a minor is if the answer to the following question is yes: If my school did not offer a minor in biology or chemistry, would I still take all the classes listed.</p>
<p>you would do one of these if you didn’t finish all your pre-med requirements: <a href=“https://services.aamc.org/postbac/[/url]”>https://services.aamc.org/postbac/</a></p>
<p>@i<em>wanna</em>be_brown</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your response!
OK, so your saying that you recommend me to just major in Econ, which i would like to do, and then take as many pre med pre reqs on the side as i can, and then do a post bac program for pre med?
Or are you saying that it’s not even necessary to take pre reqs while getting my econ major?
Thanks again in advance for your insight. I had no idea about pre med post bac programs, so your already a huge help
–Mark</p>
<p>And also, does anybody know if it is a good idea to be doing pre-med related volunteering/internships/research while pursuing my major in economics? or is it OK to be focused on business and economics related things during undergrad, and then during post bac start doing medical things?
thx in advance for any type of insight!
–Mark</p>
<p>assuming you could fit it all in, I think doing an econ major and taking the pre-reqs is your best course of action. I do not know anything about UCSD and do not plan on looking up the various major requirements/course schedulings. That is on you to figure out if it will work. If it can’t work, then you should think about a post bacc. I do not have experience with post baccs so I don’t know whether it would be better for you to not take ANY pre-med classes or to take some.</p>
<p>In regard to volunteering/internships/research, think about it this way. Medical schools want to admit people who they can easily imagine as doctors. Which person is easier to imagine as a doctor: the one who spends his free time volunteering at an organization where he teaches kids how to use their asthma medicine as well as working in a lab researching oncogenes or the one who spends his summers at Barclay’s and does research on trade theory?</p>
<p>Have you completed any of the pre-reqs so far? Look them up and then make a list of what is left. The sequential ones are the ones to hold you up. You need 2 semesters of general chem before o-chem and biochem. But depending on how much you need of each it can be doable in 4 semesters. But if you utilize summer sessions it can help. Not necessarily the BEST thing to do (summer sessions) but you don’t have to take your pre-reqs during the summer, take some econ electives. </p>
<p>Make a very detailed plan and you can probably do it while at UCSD. Start your pre-med ECs NOW. You can always take a glide year (son did) and finish up. But a post-bacc can be pricey when you don’t necessarily need one.</p>
<p>Son’s econ research was healthcare economics so it fit med school apps. And his public health research was biostats doing econ analysis. All intertwined. </p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>@i<em>wanna</em>be_brown Thanks, makes sense</p>
<p>@katwkittens Thanks so much! Very insightful as well. I definitely plan to make a very detailed plan. I think i can do this! woohoo</p>
<p>I wouldn’t do a post bac unless I had to. If your parents are fine with paying all post bac costs then fine, but you won’t get any state or UC aid to do so. That could be very expensive…and extra year or so of UC costs…so about $36k more (at least with inflation for that time)</p>
<p>Instead, during summers, take as many non-pre med classes you can at a local CC to clear up space in your UC schedule to fit in the premed prereqs. For instance, during summers, you could take Ged Ed classes such as Frosh Comp or US history classes. Because CCs are semester and most UCs are quarter system, you’d have to make sure you get the req’d units. So, if taking Frosh Comp over the summer, I think 2 classes of Frosh Comp at a CC equals 3 quarters…but check on that. </p>
<p>Since you have Gen Ed req’ts anyway, you can fill some of them with prereqs.</p>
<p>I don’t know if Calif publics still require electives, but if they do, then some can be prereqs as well. </p>
<p>My nephew is premed at a UC and he’s just taking premed prereqs along side his unrelated major. He shadows doctors over the summer, while also volunteering at a church summer camp.</p>
<p>taking summer classes at UCSD would be better than taking them at a CC</p>
<p>Yes, if affordable. There isn’t aid awarded for summer classes, so unles the student’s parents will happily pay, that’s a non-starter. </p>
<p>That said, taking non-pre-reqs at a CC (like US history, etc) isn’t going to hurt his med school chances. A number of Calif students have DE credits that way. The Calif CC’s are very good. They’re not pathetic like some states’ CCs are. </p>
<p>Furthermore, med schools aren’t going to think, well we’ll overlook AP credits for US HIstory, but not CC credit. That would be ridiculous.</p>
<p>Taking the summer classes at a local CSU or UC could also be an option if affordable.</p>
<p>That said…I just noticed that the student is a transfer from a CC. That changes things a bit. The student already has all of his Gen Ed classes. Hmmmm</p>
<p>The problem this student may face is that if he’s on Calif aid, his aid wlll run out after 2 years. Transfers only get 2 years of aid at UCs. Since he started at a CC, I’m guessing that funds are an issue.</p>
<p>If he can take some upper division Econ classes at his local CSU or UC over the summer that might make some room in his schedule.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids – Thanks so much for your advice. That goes along with what @i<em>wanna</em>be_brown was saying, and so i think i will most definitely go that route.</p>
<p>And yes, i am a CCC transfer, so i only have 2 years. What i didn’t know was that aid runs out after 2 years? what if i was at community college for 3 years, does that mean i only get one more year of aid?? or will i be able to get 2 more years once i transfer? That is scary. If anyone has any insight, please do let me know!</p>
<p>Thanks again!
–Mark</p>
<p>You need to contact your UC. I think it works this way, but not sure.</p>
<p>You are given 4 years of a Cal Grant. So, have you used 3 years? </p>
<p>But…I think UCs allow 2 years for Blue & Gold for transfers, so if you lose your Cal Grant after one year, then you’d get a bigger UC grant for that second year at the UC. </p>
<p>But…please get the written details from your UC FA office.</p>