Scheduling

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hi, I need help on how to schedule my next four years as a premed. I am a senior now, I know it may seem early, but I don't want to have any regrets.
I plan on attending UPitt for premed, and wanted to do a double major. One on Molecular Biology and the other in Political Science. There are two tracks available for Molecular Bio, Cell & Developmental Biology or Biochemistry - which one would be better for me (as a premed, MCATs ... I know biochem helps)? Also, do you think I will be able to do this double major, because they don't coincide at all, and scheduling is hard.</p>

<p>I want to get done with the required courses first, but after that .. ?</p>

2

<p>Why do you want a double major? If you’re really into PoliSci, major in PoliSci and take the required premed courses. If you’re into bio, be one of the bio majors and take the poli sci classes that interest you.</p>

<p>I’m certainly no expert, but I think you should look through the Coursework thread (there’s a link to it in the FAQ I think) for which classes are ideal MCAT “prep”. Then compare that to which courses are required by the two Bio majors you listed. Either way, I don’t think choosing one Bio major instead of the other would limit what courses you are allowed to take, so it shouldn’t matter either way.</p>

3

<p>First, if you really really want two degrees - yes, you will be able to do it. Knowing what exact path you want (in your case, Bio/Poli Sci double) makes scheduling easier on you. They’re very different, yes, but certainly doable.</p>

<p>Second, I’m just going to guess that you want a Biology major since you’re premed. If you want to major in Poli Sci, go for it. You don’t need to have a Bio or Chem major to be prepared for medical school, and you can take Bio courses outside of your Poli Sci major to do so without having to meet the strictest requirements of that additional second major.</p>

4

<p>I really want to do a humanities major, and I love International relations so I was thinking Poli sci would be best. I have been too math/science oriented and have always found I lack in humanities and need more writing opportunities to improve. Not that I am doing this for med school, (seriously), but, its it beneficial in any way to be a humanities major versus a typical bio major? I hear that they like humanities majors because of social skills/speaking skills. </p>

<p>So, I could complete my premed courses and have a political science major. Is that advisable over a bio major?</p>

5

<p>Nothing’s “advisable”, really, except you should get an academic major instead of a vocational one. If you have an interest in Poli Sci, it’s advisable to major in that over Bio. If you have an interest in Bio, then major in that.</p>

<p>As a social science major, I didn’t consider how it would affect my medical school admissions but instead how it could help me as a physician. I didn’t see that sort of benefit from being a Bio major, so I didn’t pick that.</p>

6

<p>I decided that doing a political science major would be close to impossible and sometimes counterproductive towards my premed ed. I am satisfied doing political science related ECs, which tend to be more fun anyway. But, I am taking Molecular Biology (Biochem track), and Philosophy. UPitt is rated really high for Phil, and its manageable in my schedule. I had a few questions…</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Is it ok to take your math classes the last year, to fulfill the premed requirement? I hope to test out of Calc 1 and 2 with AP BC, and plan on taking Calc III stats.</p></li>
<li><p>Also, apart from the regular Bio, Chem, O Chem, what other courses are recommended during the first two years if I plan on taking MCATs after Soph summer? </p></li>
</ul>

<p>-I want to take physics the third year, this is because I have already had HS physics for two years, it comes easy. So I want to take the MCAT after sophomore summer just on that HS Physics and some studying. If I don’t o well, I want to take it again right after Junior year, after I have had physics (in case if Physics brought my score down, then it will be convenient)</p>

<p>-The science courses I can take the first two years are,
Bio 1, 2, Chem 1,2, O Chem 1,2, Genetics, Human Physiology, Biophysical Chemistry, and Microbiology. I cannot take Human Anatomy and Physiology, it has too many prereqs, nor can I take Animal Physiology for the same reason.</p>

<p>Are these courses good for those extra MCAT courses I was asking about before?</p>

<ul>
<li>Last Q, :), I am doing the biochemistry track in Molecular Bio, but I cannot take Biochem the second year because I would not have completed the prereqs. Is not having that course that much of a down?</li>
</ul>

7

<p>Bump please.</p>