<p>I'm a high school senior going to the University of Michigan, College of Engineering next year, thinking about doing pre-med and I had a few questions.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I plan on majoring in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or something similar--AKA something that has nothing to do with medicine. U of M will let me do this while taking the premed classes (since a lot overlap), but would medical schools be okay with this? I'm worried because although this is a really hard major (and something I enjoy, in case I don't get in med school), it has nothing to do with medicine so it might hurt me.</p></li>
<li><p>Exactly what courses are needed for getting into medical school? I heard a couple semesters of bio, chem, and English, but what else exactly?</p></li>
<li><p>Is there a specific class in college I should take soon that would give me a better idea of what the medical field is, so I can make sure its something I want, or drop it if I don't?</p></li>
<li><p>Currently, I have no experience in medicine at all. No volunteering, no classes, or anything. Am I screwed, or is there still more time? I'm worried because by this time, most people are 100% sure they want to be a doctor/surgeon. I will try to job shadow between now and when I start college, and hopefully job shadow, volunteer, and research during college.</p></li>
<li><p>What type of medical schools are there, and how hard is it to get in? For example, I understand there's no such thing as a "safety" for medical schools, but are there some schools much better than others, and some much easier to get in?</p></li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li><p>You can major in anything (though vocational majors tend not to fare so well on the MCAT and med school admissions). You may want to consider avoiding engineering, but there are a lot of people that do major in engineering and go on to medical school.</p></li>
<li><p>1 year intro bio + lab, 1 year general chem + lab, 1 year organic chem + lab, 1 year physics + lab, 1 year English, and 0-1 years math; some schools recommend biochemistry and genetics, among other courses.</p></li>
<li><p>No class will give you an idea. You have to get some clinical experience; shadow a doctor, volunteer in a hospital or clinic, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>Your fears are completely unfounded. I’m not sure why you think pre-freshman year of college would be “too late” for anything?</p></li>
<li><p>DO schools tend to be “easier” to get into than MD schools, going by numbers alone. Aside from that, different schools have different areas of emphasis, eg some are more focused on research, some more focused on primary care, etc.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>OK thanks! I want to major in engineering, because that’s what I want to do if I get rejected from med school. </p>
<p>So by “1 year” you mean 8-10 credits (2 semesters), right? So if I take all of the pre-med classes and spend my other credits on my major (engineering stuffs), would this be okay? Is this what most people do?</p>
<p>For a lot of math and science oriented students, engineering/hard sciences are the easier majors. Many do not fare as well in classes where there are lengthy subjectively graded papers due every 10 days on 1000 pages of socially conscious Peruvian literature from the 19th century. What’s hard for one student may be easier for another, and vice versa. </p>
<p>And to specifically answer your question, maybe a smidgen at some schools. None at others. A student would not be well-served in choosing any type of engineering thinking it would impress a medical school adcom more than an English or Bio degree. Just doesn’t happen.</p>
<p>Ok thanks, I didn’t pick engineering to increase my chances anyways. Ignoring the possible lower GPA though, picking an engineering won’t hurt my chances will it?</p>
<p>GPA is GPA they dont care if your an english major or a nuclear physical astrophysics major (I know it dosent exist who ever has a higher gpa and mcat will be looked for favorably upon</p>
<p>kk thanks, I wasn’t planning on majoring in engineering to impress the adcoms anyways. BUT, wouldn’t having a high GPA with a 16-18 credit per semester schedule help you out compared to someone with a high GPA and 12-14 credits per semester?</p>
who ever has a higher gpa and mcat will be looked for favorably upon</p>