I am currently in my third year of university and decided that I really want to double major. I am decided between double majoring in Genetics and Public Health or Biochemistry and Public Health. I realized I really really enjoy lab work and research and being able to see how things work on the molecular level. I am pre-med and want to double major not because to make my application or resume more “impressive” or anything like that, I just genuinely enjoy both aspects of the major and think they compliment each other very well.
I have been told that it is better for your undergraduate field of study to be more broad. Meaning it would be “better” to study Mechanical engineering rather than Aerospace/petroleum/nuclear. But if you enjoy it, that is all that matters in my opinion. But in the field of science, I am unsure of which is more broad, genetics or biochemistry.
I think that biochemistry sounds more broad but in reality, it isn’t as broad as genetics.
You can major in anything and go to med school. What do you mean by “premed”? Are you in one of the few such programs?
Major in what most interests you. If you love research and lab work, maybe you should minor in public health or drop it and focus on a straight science.
Don’t worry so much about how broad one major is versus another. The generalist argument is often made for majors like English, too versus, say, undergrad business. In the short term, a more narrow focus can result in jobs, but over the long term, a broader major means more options. But I think in this case you are dancing on the head of a pin, so to speak.
I think you should use different criteria to choose your major. Do what most interests you and what you are good at.
Your plan is a public health major plus one of two sciences. If you end up in medical school your undergrad major does not matter. You will be taught what you need in medical school. Figure out your plan B for if you do not go to medical school. Many people like a lot of things but in college need to focus on one or two majors. What will you do with the public health major? Would you go on to grad school in it? Will you get a job? Will your undergrad credentials make you eligible for any jobs that are challenging enough for you? Likewise with either of the other two majors. Often the most interesting work in sciences involves advanced degrees.
Premed is an intention, so far the OP wants to become a physician. However, s/he may change or not get in.
OP- check with each department’s jobs available listings to see the types of jobs a BS/BA (yes, a BA- which degree you get depends on your school, I got a BA in chemistry since I liked the white tassel and met requirements for either) will be available. You may prefer the entry level in one field over the others. Or, seeing what you can do, you may want to tailor your coursework to get into grad school in one of the three fields as your plan B.
btw- I went on to medical school instead of the PhD route eons ago.
My advisors told me that when I graduate, I have will have a Bachelor’s of Science in Genetics/Biochemistry and Public Health and they have told me how I put them on my resume is up to me. The reason I picked up biochemistry/genetics is because
I realized I really enjoy lab work
it seems like every day you learn something new which to me, is not boring
I like to be challenged and i think it will be good for me in the long run.
I really like how complimentary it is to public health and how it applies. One of the research opportunities I have had thus far in university was gene-environmental interactions relating to breast cancer and how it applied to health disparities in populations.
I could have decided to major in a “super easy major” and just apply to medical school, but even if i were to get into medical school with said “super easy major”, i wouldn’t feel satisfied.
The double major wouldn’t be as hard as you would imagine since in the public health program, you have to take courses in science anyways, but of your choosing: genetics, upper level chemistry, upper level biology. its just a matter of what courses you decided to pick. Those who decided to go the epidemiology/environmental/medicine/toxicology route in public health take the sciences while those who want to do the administration/law/policy side may take more business/leadership courses.
All in all, it would make me graduate possibly a semester late (depends on when I can get my research credit out of the way).
Yes, I do realize that I will probably need to get a more advanced degree to a job that is more “worthwhile” but I am ready for that commitment if I decide.
Yes, I am also using this as somewhat as a plan B but not really. Overall, I just really like it and I would still graduate in a reasonable amount of time. I have shadowed multiple doctors and they seem to be quite aggressive toward nurses and thus far, they do paperwork about 80% of the time. Perhaps I am shadowing the wrong physicians but this alone is somewhat deterring me. I am still on the pre-med route though because I am already at my junior year, so why give up now? I want to have it as an option. Also, I have to take the classes in my public health and biochem/genetics degree plan anyways
It’s better for your undergrad field of study to be broad, not more broad or “the broadest it could possibly be.” Genetics and biochemistry are both pretty broad - you could pick either one. Doesn’t matter. Pick whichever one appeals to you the most!
You don’t have to decide what you want to do yet. You can stay pre-med and prepare for medical school, so that you have the prerequisites in case you need them. But you don’t have to go to med school right after college - or at all.
If you like them equally, take the major that fits best with your schedule, that allows you to finish first. Are there professors in one major who you like more? Go that way. Does one have 5 required courses and the other only 4 you’d need to take? Take that major.
It’s not that you are taking the easy path, just getting to med school faster (and cheaper). You’ll be challenged with either major.