<p>Hows it going everyone? So I'm almost out of high school (yeeehaw) and I'm pretty much all set to go to San Diego Mesa College and then hopefully transfer to UCLA, UCSC, or Cal. I am determined to get a high GPA at CC and right now, I am almost done with my Eagle Scout project so that will look really good on any future applications. </p>
<p>My problem is I have no clue what to major in once I'm at a UC. I have always thought psychology would be the best fit for me, but it has a low starting career income and graduate school is super competetive yada, yada, yada... </p>
<p>So I'm considering anything from poli-sci to physics (astrophysics) to engineering to something the medical field (neuroscience? anesthesieology??)</p>
<p>I'm like a kid in a candy store!</p>
<p>So, anyway... I'm gonna do the IGETC. What else? </p>
<p>I've been plugging in different majors/4 year college combinations on ASSIST.org, trying to see whats best for me, but I still don't know..</p>
<p>Should I just take a class in every subject like the IGETC requires me to? That way, would I get a feel for what I want to focus on? When do I need to make up my mind? How can I make up my mind? I don't want to waste two years bumming around not even knowing what major I will be. All I know is I want to go to a UC school.</p>
<p>Does anyone understand what I'm saying? I'd really appreciate some advice Thank you</p>
<p>Focus on IGETC for now, so you can get your GE out of the way and find something your interesting by then</p>
<p>@lawlking That sounds good. But I was just thinking should I take certain classes (offered as part of the IGETC) and try to line them up with classes required for a particular major? Like killing 2 birds with one stone… Or is this even allowed?</p>
<p>Yes, it actually is. So, lets say you take a class that satisfies both the pre-reqs for your major + GE then you will get credit for both. However, at the end, you will still need 60 units minimum regardless.</p>
<p>if you’re going to do the “medical thing” you should pick an area you like and immediately finish those pre-reqs. say you want to major in botany/plant science, UCLA and UCB dont have those majors as far as i know. </p>
<p>anything in the humanities/soft science are available at almost all UCs, just go through assist. </p>
<p>btw, you dont need a B.S or hard science major to enter medical school if that is in fact your goal.</p>
<p>Also, this reminds me. Besure to get both your English classes and your math requirements out of the way!!</p>
<p>Physics and engineering tend to have the most requirements and the longest prerequisite sequences, so it makes sense to plan your courses so that you start them early (you can still take humanities and social studies while you are taking the physics or engineering prerequisites). That way, you won’t be delayed in transferring if you decide to go those majors after a few semesters of not taking their courses. The good news is, even if you do start late on a major with a lot of requirements and long prerequisite sequences, extra semesters at community college are less expensive than extra semesters at a four year school.</p>
<p>Pre-med is not a major; you can take the pre-med courses alongside any major. However, medical schools are said to prefer seeing at least some of the pre-med or science courses at a four year school.</p>
<p>If you want to have an option of going into any kind of science or math related major, you will need to take calc 1,2, and 3 differential equations, and linear algebra. There are also chem classes and physics classes. These classes are required for most STEM majors (the math is required for all STEM majors). Calc is also required for Econ and business majors too.</p>
<p>Yeah I would do…</p>
<p>Math & English & IGETC —(once your done with math and english)-> </p>
<p>IGETC—(by now you most likely will know what you want to do because of the IGETC)-></p>
<p>IGETC & Focus on your area of interest–</p>
<p>A lot of similar majors have overlaps. So if you want to do a science degree (or medical school without a B.S. degree (lol, bachelors in science) you will need at least a year of general chem, a year of organic chem, a year and a half of bio, a year of physics and a year of english. Yes, there will be some overlap but if you are going to be a non science major you will have to do: lower divisions (assist stuff), IGETC, and science stuff.</p>
<p>If there is one thing I learned in college so far it’s that there is a lot of interesting options and your are exposed to many though the IGETC so don’t worry just let it happen. And above all only do what you really like, don’t force yourself to do what you think others want you to do and if you find your GPA is going down start getting into some easy classes and find a better route (area of interest).</p>
<p>if i were you i would definitely start by getting my English, math and chemistry out of the way, since those need pre-requisites! I wish i would have taken chem before :l you’ll be doing about 4 semesters (plus pre-requisites depending on you school!) worth of chem for any science related major plus you’ll be fullfilling your igetc science lab section</p>
<p>Okay so it sounds like I need to just worry about the IGETC for now and get all the basics out of the way. I know something will spark my interests, I just need to be patient. </p>
<p>The only thing is if I end up trying to go for psychology at UCLA, all of the pre-reqs on assist.org are actually included in the IGETC. So that would be nice and straightforward. I am still really leaning towards psych, but like I said I’ll just need to let it happen naturally</p>
<p>Thanks guys</p>
<p>gettinthatfosho, one more thing:</p>
<p>If you are majoring in psych don’t do just the minimums because there will be other applicants that have classes beyond them like physio psych, social psych and dev psych. You will also want these classes for when you are applying to your backup schools. Don’t just look at assist for UCLA look at it for all the UCs. And get some experience outside of classes doing things like clubs and volunteering, these really help when writing your personal statement.</p>
<p>Yeah same here. Do IGETC. Not the elective part of IGETC just yet, because you might have something in your eventual major that you decide on that you can satisfy in the electives section, but you should definitely work on math and english RIGHT AWAY and try to decide through some other classes on what topic really interests you. Mind me asking, what was your favorite subject in highschool?</p>
<p>Dude… during your first semester, focus on IGETC requirements and, if you can, take classes that also qualify to satisfy psych prereqs. If you feel like changing your major, then change your major. It won’t be difficult. If, however, you think you want to do a STEM major, it’s in your interest to get started on that right away. Regardless, first semester: English, Math, Intro to Psych, Intro to Physics/Bio/Anthro/Econ/Whatever. Worry about the rest later, once you’ve had more time and exposure to consider what you actually want to study.</p>
<p>do not do psychology -_- i was like that in the beginning… and regret it… it’s the most impacted major in california and the least paying for that same reason… do chemistry math and english and then you’ll find a major of interest, look for all the majors in the UC’s and look for a major that interests you.</p>
<p>^ “I didn’t like it, so you won’t like it, even though you have an interest it, but do what interests you.”</p>
<p>SOLID ADVICE</p>
<p>^ i never said i didn’t like it and never said he wouldn’t like it, go back and re-read my post before getting all sarcastic</p>
<p>he is confused about majors so researching about what majors would spark an interest is preferable than just choosing psychology</p>
<p>^ I don’t think words mean what you think they mean… :/</p>
<p>Ignore CosmicBubble, you should do what you like. I was forcing myself to do science because that’s what makes money (also I was being pressured by others to do it) now that I have switched to psych I feel sooooooooo happy. You MUST do what you like and are good at otherwise you will most likely be miserable, unable to concentrate in classes and getting bad grades.</p>
<p>The best thing I learned in college so far is to do what you want and to look out for yourself and your needs.</p>