I got into SDSU for biology and plan on being on the Pre-med track. I was wondering how SDSU was for students interested in Pre-Med. Are there good research opportunities? Are the classes difficult?
@WayOutWestMom can comment.
All pre med classes are going to be difficult without any regard to what college you attend because: 1) the material is complex and deep; and 2) there is lots of competition for those A grades premeds need to have a strong GPA to support a med school application.
So the difficulty of classes at SDSU is going depends on your preparation for the class, your work ethic, your native aptitude for the material AND which professor happens to be teaching your class and his/her policies/grading schema AND how strong the other students in your classes are academically.
Basically, there’s no way to answer this.
SDSU does offer individual guidance and peer mentoring to freshmen pre-med hopefuls
https://hpao.sdsu.edu/getting-started-with-hpao/
Research opportunities are there, but you will need to seek them out. No one is going to tap you on the shoulder after lecture one day to offer you a research position.
You can improve your chances of finding positions by reading the information pages of various research groups in the Bio Dept. and knowing who is doing what. Once you find a topic that appeals to you, dive deeper into what each lab in that group does. Maybe even look up & read some of the papers the professor has published. Send a email to the principle investigator for any lab that looks interesting and offer your services. If you can include a CV with your email, even better.
You should also write up your CV ASAP, emphasizing any special skills you have or any prior research experience you’ve had. (If you don’t know how to create an effective CV, make an appointment with the premed advising office or career center at SDSU for help)
Now, a word from your sponsor…
research is important, but both pre-meds and their parents often overvalue the importance of having research when developing a med school application. Medicine is not the same as science. Medicine is a patient care profession. Having the right set of patient-facing experiences is more important than having research in one’s CV when applying to med school. So do try to get some lab experience, but also realize = clinical experience and physician shadowing is more important. (Also it lets you know if you’re not cut out for patient care–and not everyone is-- before you invest too much time into all the coursework and other expected ECs pre-meds need to have.)
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The health professions advising team at SDSU has always provided students, who are interested in pre med, with many opportunities to achieve the goal of med school.
You need to take advantage of every opportunity that is available. I had friends who did apply to med school from SDSU and got in. Their advising staff has always been strong and caring. As long as you take the requisite coursework, and avail yourself to all of the clinical and volunteer recommendations, and study hard, you stand a good chance.
My niece whom graduated last year from SDSU, was on the Pre-PA track as a Biology major. She found the classes challenging especially Organic Chemistry but the professors approachable and helpful if you attended their office hours. As noted by WayoutwestMom, any premed curriculum will be challenging and as long as you utilize the resources available especially the Health Professionals advising center, you will have a chance to reach your goals. Shadowing, health-related volunteering or direct patient contact jobs/internships are far more important than Research. Did you apply to SDSU’s Honors college? Honors college students will have greater access to Research opportunities so it might be something to consider once you enroll and apply during Sophomore year.
Best of luck.
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