<p>Hello, I will be attending Texas A&M next semester (Fall 2011). I am highly interested in Medical School, but at the same time I don't really know which path to take. I love the idea of a Pure Math Major, but at the same time, I also like an Applied Math in Bio or CS, or a Bio Chem degree. What does anyone suggest as a path to med School?</p>
<p>Can anyone just throw some thoughts out to ease my mind?</p>
<p>Thank You
Ken</p>
<p>Well, I have 2 Ds who did/are doing the applied math route. The older double majored in physics and applied math–and starts med school in July; the other is double majoring in neuroscience and applied math (and got a very prestigious national summer biomedical internship this year in part because of her background math).</p>
<p>Meaning–I know the applied math path works.</p>
<p>Pure math is a tough field and either you’re good at it or you’re not. If you have the aptitude and talent for pure math and you love the field–go for it. Just make sure you take your medical pre reqs and do well. As a group math and statistics majors have among the highest scores on the MCAT.</p>
<p>Interesting. Thanks for the info. What do you know about majoring in biochem and then going into med school?</p>
<p>Biochem is probably the most common major after biology and chemistry.</p>
<p>When people stress that major doesn’t matter, it’s because it really doesn’t–if anything, biological sciences have a lower acceptance rate than all other liberal arts majors. Take classes in both math and biology/chemistry early, and then you can decide.</p>
<p>Do you have to decide right now? It seems like there is enough overlap that you can wait a semester or two before finally deciding.</p>
<p>It would seem like your first year of classes would be the same (or nearly the same) if you start with Cal, Frosh Comp, Bio, Gen Chem, and/or some other General Ed courses.</p>
<p>I kind of do. My folks are really stressing me out about it. I guess what it boils down to is this: Which one will help me most for medical school Pure Math with a minor in something(Bio,Chem,CS, Phys, which one???) or Applied Math in Bio or CS? (I have thrown BioChem out)</p>
<p>The first 2 years of math coursework is pretty much the same whether you take the pure math or applied math track.</p>
<p>Neither one nor the other is more advantageous in med school admission.</p>
<p>About the only advantage I can see is that applied math with a CS emphasis offers more job possibilities should you change your mind about med school or don’t get accepted.</p>
<p>I kind of do. My folks are really stressing me out about it.</p>
<p>Not really. at this point, whatever you choose to “shut up” your parents is no guarantee that you’ll graduate with that major. At this point, you could say, Applied Math, and then a year from now, you could say Pure Math or something else. Your not signing a contract on a major.</p>
<p>So…relax. And just say anything…Applied Math…to shut the parents up so you can focus on what’s important.</p>
<p>Will you be going in with AP credits? If so, which ones will you be using for credits. If you have AP science credits, will you be using them.</p>
<p>I have AP credits but I will not be using them. Thank you for your responses and support. I think my main concern will be this. Out of these, which offers the most chance for a job while I’m in med school?</p>
<p>Pure Math with a minor in CS/Physics/ or Bio
Applied Math in Math
Applied Math in Biology
Applied math in CS
Biochemistry</p>
<p>Also does going to med school with a degree in bio, make u much more ahead/easier than the average major?</p>
<p>Once again. Thanks</p>
<p>Edit: With any of the Applied, I can also get a minor…</p>
<p>*Out of these, which offers the most chance for a job while I’m in med school?</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>??? Are you asking which of these majors will allow you to have a job while in med school? I don’t think you can have that kind of job while in med school.</p>
<p>mom2ck - I have heard from my friends who are in med school (who r bio majors), that they have small money jobs after class working in the lab. My question is, with any of those degrees, could I get a small job also?</p>
<p>Also does going to med school with a degree in bio, make u much more ahead/easier than the average major?</p>
<p>You can’t have job during med school. Why? Because the school year is basically year round with an occasional week or two off during the first 2 years. And once you start clinical training, it’s still basically year round plus you’ll be working odd irregular hours.</p>
<p>No summer vacations and too heavy a workload/not enough free time to be working part time during the school year.</p>
<p>EDIT to add: small lab jobs are at minimum wage and often may be part of work-study occasionally offered by med schools as part of your FA. No guarantees that you will get one even if you have a bio major/lab experience.</p>
<p>Bio does not confer much of an advantage, if any. During the first year, there may be a very, very slight advantage if the student took biochem, A&P, etc as an undergrad, but that advantage doesn’t last long. Med school biochem, for example, covers everything undergrad biochem did in the first 2 weeks of class. After that it’s new material for everyone.</p>
<p>As for the ‘employability’ of applied math with bio/physics/CS med student—give me 2 months and I can tell you since that when D1 will be starting. (She’s a physics & applied math double major, with significant experience in writing C++ and MatLab code.) However, because her school uses a small group problem-based learning, and starts clinical experience very early on (even before classes start this summer), she won’t have any free time to work. And she’ll have even less free time because she has to find a research group to work with (unpaid) this year so she can start work on her research thesis required for graduation.</p>
<p>Thank you so much wayoutwest for the information. Is your D going to med school? Also, how would APMS in Bio (applied Math) or CS, help me as a doctor?</p>
<p>Thanks
I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Edit: are you a doc wayoutwest?</p>
<p>I’m not a doc–I’m a librarian who works at a private not-for-profit medical research lab.
I work with all kinds of doctors: MDs, DVMs, PhDs. And one of my close friends is on faculty at the state med school.</p>
<p>D1 starts med school in July. But she has several friends who are already in med schools or residencies around the country.</p>
<p>Not sure that applied math (any field) is especially useful for a clinician, with a few limited exceptions. (Like radiation oncology, for example.) It may be useful if you’re leaning toward dual degree programs (MD/PhD, MS/MD, MPH/MD)or academic medicine or research.</p>
<p>But then most undergrad degrees are not esp. useful for clinicians.</p>
<p>Ah ok. Are there any recommendations to stay an extra year for a BS/MS fast track degree in Applied Math in Biology? or is it not worth it?</p>
<p>Thank you</p>
<p>It depends upon your ultimate goal. Are you interested in a research career? Or you want to be a clinician?</p>
<p>If you just want to go to medical school there is no advantage in having a MS or doing an extra year.</p>
<p>Clinician. Do you specialize in your desires during med school (like cardio/allergist/etc…) or is that after?</p>
<p>That is later, idk.</p>
<p>
I sympathized with those who go to a state school because they are required to choose a major sooner than those who are going to a private college.
I hope your folks happen to live at some distance from College Station :)</p>
<p>WOWM, I just learned from your post #15 that your work environment is related to medicine (and/or know many in the medical school circle.) No wonder it seems you appear to know quite a lot in this area, as a parent.</p>
<p>Haha it some distance. (Houston) What is this I hear about a new MCAT? Does this mean, I should definitely look into majoring in Biology or Biochem? or it is irrelevant. I plan on taking the MCAT, well, i dont know, when is it recommended to take the MCAT?</p>