Undergraduate Degree - Confused Highschool Student

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hi, I'm a high school student (rising senior) and I'm utterly confused by the whole pre-med idea. </p>

<p>I understand that some medical schools look for certain prerequisites (e.g. courses you took as an undergraduate), so most people now a days take the required courses AND a few other courses (the ones that don't overlap) to get an undergraduate degree. </p>

<p>My question is: what degree should I take? I mean, I can aim for a degree in Biology, Maths or Music or any other ones I'm passionate about. But wouldn't it be reasonable to pick a degree that I can "work" on (not that Biology, Maths or Music isn't "workable"), if I decided to bail on medical school that is.</p>

<p>I heard about people who're taking the pre-med courses AND a degree in engineering. So if they don't get into medical school, they can still stick to their engineering career. But in a paradox, handling this amount of work will lower their GPAs and in turn, lower their chances of getting into medical school. </p>

<p>What degree would you recommend to future pre-meds? I've heard of Biomedical engineering, Biological engineering, Biochemical engineering, Neurobiology, etc. Is the point to pick a "back-up" job you can rely on? </p>

<p>And one more thing. Should I look into applying to universities with great pre-med programs or good universities that offer the "back-up" degree?</p>

2

<p>“Biology, Maths or Music or any other ones I’m passionate about”</p>

<p>Are you a US citizen or US permanent resident? Because the process is quite different if you are not.</p>

3

<p>Nope, I’m an international student.</p>

4

<p>The chances of obtaining admission to a US med school as an International is slim. Many/most do not accept any internationals.</p>

<p>But with regard to your major: med schools do not care. Major in what you like. Engineering & business & econ are probably the most marketable undergrad majors, but engineering is tough and difficult to maintain a high gpa for med school. But know that as an international it is not easy to obtain a job in the US either, even with a degree from a US college. A Student visa (allowing you to attend a US college) does not allow you to work in the US (with few exceptions). To work in the US, one needs a Work visa.</p>