<p>Currently I am a freshman at Emory University. As of now, I am just a chemistry major, but I'm thinking about triple majoring in Chemistry/Biology/Neuroscience, not because I want to, but because if I don't I'll be taking random courses my junior/senior year. With transfer credit, my 39 semester hours have already satisfied all of my GER's minus a foreign language. </p>
<p>I was initially planning on just getting a BA in Chemistry, but I realized that I'd be done a full 1.5 years early if I went that route. So now I'm thinking about a triple major to keep me busy. I don't even turn eighteen until the summer, so graduating early is not really in my agenda. I don't want to start medical school before I can even legally drink. </p>
<p>* I’m thinking about triple majoring in Chemistry/Biology/Neuroscience, not because I want to, but because if I don’t I’ll be taking random courses my junior/senior year. *</p>
<p>I don’t think you should triple major just for that reason. You could take some Bio and Neuro classes that you like along with some others, but if you try to triple major, that means taking classes that you might not like that might jeopardize your GPA.</p>
<p>Be glad that your senior year will be light. Your junior year can include some Bio and Neuro classes.</p>
<p>Thanks, good idea! I think I’ll complete the degree in biology and chemistry. In Texas (my state), many medical schools require two years of biology. After the spring of sophomore year, all I’ll need is cell biology (a topic I like) and an elective to complete the degree plan for a BA in bio. </p>
<p>I think I’ll just take a few classes in neuroscience for the fun of it. I’ll leave P.Chem until senior year so medical schools won’t see how poorly I do in it. LOL So my junior year will actually be my easy year.</p>
<p>You also will find it incredibly difficult to get all of the appropriate classes scheduled without conflicts in order to keep that schedule to 4 years.</p>
<p>Not really, I’ll always have priority over my peers due to my classification when registration time rolls around. Plus, there would be a little room for scheduling issues.</p>
<p>I like the idea of a double major and a lighter courseload. You can really use that to your advantage by having the time and energy to devote to extracurriculars. </p>
<p>Keep an eye out for cool special classes your school offers. I came in with a ton of credits too, and by scheduling classes creatively I was able to study abroad in ITaly for a summer, complete a bunch of service learning classes (which was a great “in” for volunteering and a great way to learn about the social context of health care in my community), spend 1 day/week for an entire semester interning at the state capitol with a representative who focuses on health care policy, shadow during morning or afternoon clinics, work as a science and math tutor, work in a research lab, hold a few highly respected leadership positions on campus, take classes just because they sounded cool, and still have more than enough time to hang out with my friends, relax, and study/get good grades. </p>
<p>No need to stress yourself out or spread yourself too thin. Focus on academics, but don’t lose sight of growing as a person too. You’ve set yourself up for success–now it’s time to really maximize it! Schedule your classes at your leisure, spend time on hobbies, and work on building up the softer aspects of your application. In my opinion, that’s what really makes or breaks you.</p>
<p>Priority registration has nothing to do with the problem. As you advance in those science classes, the number of alternative times plummets to essentially 0. There will be some conflicts of labs very likely.</p>
<p>Dowe: True, you have a point. Hopefully that doesn’t happen.</p>
<p>GAMom: I don’t see how me going to Oxford would make a difference? There is no shortage of science courses here. Why would you make such a statement?</p>
<p>If I get a BA in Chemistry and a BS in Neuroscience, will I get two separate degrees? LOL Just curious. I would think if I got a BS in Chemistry rather than a BA, I’d just get one degree for Neuroscience/Chemistry…but since one is a BA and one is a BS, I’d have to get two degrees. Correct?</p>
<p>If you meet all departmental requirements for a BA in Chem and a BS in neuro, you will get 2 separate degrees. The same will be true if you meet departmental requirements to earn a BS in Chem and BS in neuroscience–still 2 separate degrees.</p>
<p>Don’t mistakenly think that loading up on “difficult” majors or graduating with dual degrees will make you a better candidate in the admissions process. Find ways to make yourself more interesting and more well rounded. Spend the time that would be required to “load up” on medicine related ECs, travel, or volunteering. </p>
<p>At a party last year I met a husband and wife who were both on staff at UTSW who also were part of the admissions interview team. Both essentially said that there were plenty of applicants each year with the requisite GPA/MCAT/ECs whose resumes were “cookie cutter” and obviously tailored to some idea of what it would take to gain admission.</p>
<p>Both said they were VERY tired of seeing these “perfect” applicants who could not carry on a conversation about anything unrelated to their studies and often, if accepted, these same applicants really struggled in MS3 year when they needed to relate and empathize with real patients not to mention fellow students as well as residents and attendings.</p>
<p>Use the time to take non-science electives in areas that either interest you or will stretch you. Remember that after undergrad (if you are fortunate enough to gain admission to Med school) you will be taking ONLY science/medicine classes. Undergrad is your last chance to really enjoy and broaden yourself. Take advantage of that time while you still can.</p>
<p>On a side note, my S is currently interviewing for his residency and he’s found that those doing the interviews really like the fact that he had unusual undergrad majors and played lead guitar in a very popular band in the town he went to school in. They feel it makes him stand out from the pack and really humanizes him. After all, he will be spending the next 5-7 years with them and they want people who would “fit in” with their culture which is really important for all parties involved.</p>
<p>*Texas (my state), many medical schools require two years of biology. After the spring of sophomore year, all I’ll need is cell biology (a topic I like) and an elective to complete the degree plan for a BA in bio. </p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Does that mean that the “second year” of bio classes are upper division? If not, it doesn’t seem that you’d have enough 300/400 level classes to fulfill a major.</p>
<p>And, Mmmcdowe is right…it’s hard to schedule all those classes…especially if some have labs.</p>
<p>^many take at least 2 years anyway because of MCAT.
One of D’s friends’ (currently Medical student) has graduated with triple major, 2 of them completely non-science, not medically related. D. took lots of neuro classes and graudted 2 classed short of having a minor, but she still manged to have Music minor, lots of science unrelated work that was fun for her and has helped her to relax. D’s comment was that her neuro classes were somewhat easier than her general Bio classes and many of them overlap her major anyway. She did not have many AP credits, her private HS did not believe in calling classes AP, she had few and used only about 3, but she has not taken single summer class and she was not allowed to graduate earlier because of requiremnts of her bs/md. she also could not skip first Bio despite of “5” on AP exam.<br>
I would say that triple major is very possible, more so that they are overlapping.</p>
<p>So, I really would LOVE becoming a physician for the military (preferably air force–that’s where my mother went). Unfortunately, I have a disease known as Glycogen Storage Disease V (no one knows what it is, took physicians sixteen years to diagnose me).Technically I can’t do any rigorous physical activity–hint, PT with the air force; however, my body is really unique in physical limitations. I can’t lift heavy weights or run long distances, but I can swim several miles nonstop and do about a hundred pushups with no problem. My mom told me when she went to the air force to work as critical care nurse, she didn’t have to do anything physical during officer school; however, when I was looking at the requirements for ER Physicians in the air force, physical training was part of the entrance procedures. </p>
<p>I know this might be the wrong place to ask, but is there any military branch I can work with that won’t require physical training? If not, can I be exempt? I don’t want my kidneys to fail during officer training.</p>